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Getting Things Done: “Process”

Learn from productivity expert David Allen how to organize your to-do lists based on what is doable and worth doing now.

When enough reminders, scribbled notes for project ideas and unpaid bills have piled up on your desk, a tiny piece of paper reading “pick up cat food” can trigger a meltdown. That’s because sitting on a mountain of potential to-do items often causes feelings of shame, exhaustion or defeat, which can turn the simplest of errands into a seemingly Herculean task.

It might seem like the only way to the other side of the mountain is to process every piece of paper on your desk, check off every line on your to-do list and follow through on every random note, but productivity consultant David Allen suggests a more rational and efficient way to reclaim your sanity: Simply clarify your relationship to all the things that are vying for your attention.

Do that, says the author of Getting Things Done (Penguin, 2002) and Making It All Work: Winning at the Game of Work and the Business of Life (Penguin, 2009), and you’ll be able to turn items cluttering your desk into concrete, actionable tasks. You’ll also be better equipped to jettison items that you don’t need and free up mental (and often physical) space.

This is the second in a series of five Experience Life articles about Allen’s organizational methodology. In the first installment, which describes the collecting stage (“Getting Things Done: ‘Collect’” January/February 2013), Allen recommends creating a comprehensive list of all the decisions and action items you face — from must-do, urgent obligations and pesky household tasks to someday-maybe dreams and get-rid-of-it garbage.

In this, the processing stage, you’ll go about the business of making basic, clarifying executive decisions about each item you’ve captured. What is it? Is it actionable and worth pursuing? What’s the next step? “This is the role of the processor: evaluating the raw inputs against all sorts of constraints and criteria,” Allen says.

For instance, in the course of rifling through all the items on your desk, you may have come across an invitation to a college friend’s wedding. In the processing stage, you’ll decide whether the invitation is actionable (awaiting your RSVP) or not (if the invitation dates from several years ago, it just belongs in the trash).

Ask the Right Questions

Oftentimes, the toughest thing about having a laundry list of unfinished projects is knowing where to start whittling away, and how.

The first question to ask about any matter that has snagged your attention, Allen suggests, whether it’s an unpaid bill or the possibility of remodeling the kitchen, is simply whether or not the item or possibility is actionable at this time. Your answer will inevitably be either “yes,” “no” or “not yet.”

If the answer is yes, Allen offers two follow-up questions: (1)What is the desired outcome or accomplishment?; and (2)What is the next action step required to move me toward this goal?

Maybe you’ve always wanted to start a photography business, but you haven’t made any concrete decisions about it for years. Now, after asking yourself, what’s the desired outcome, you realize that you want to turn a longtime passion into a steady stream of income.

Great, so what’s the next action step that will help you start moving toward your goal, even if only incrementally? Perhaps you can start by calling a friend with her own business and asking for advice. Or you can offer free portraits to a few friends to build up your portfolio. Or you can look into what it would cost to establish a workable studio space.

The key here is establishing some small and concrete next steps you’re willing to take in the direction of your goal. The very first next-step action might take just moments to complete, says Allen, “but it can be a light year of psychological space.”

When and How to Say No

So what if the answer to the “is it actionable” question is “no” or “not yet”? While it may be a relief to realize not every item on your desk involves action at this time, that doesn’t mean your work on “no” items is through. This is where some key distinctions are called for.

According to Allen, any items on your work surface or in your storage coffers that are not currently actionable fall into one of three categories: (1) items to deal with later; (2) reference material; or (3) trash.

In that third category, notes Allen,  are items like invitations, sale flyers and directions for events that have already passed, or junk emails that are just cluttering your inbox. These are the easy items to get rid of. Others are a little more challenging.

Perhaps it’s time to acknowledge that you’ll never read that copy of Ulysses that’s been on your nightstand for months. While this conclusion may feel disappointing, facing it directly now can free you from ever having to think about it again. The alternative — leaving it there to torment you indefinitely — is “psychic quicksand,” Allen says.

A “not yet” is basically a qualified “no” to something that might be an important or desirable action for the future. These may include commitments to yourself, like taking music lessons or writing a novel, or upcoming obligations like planning for an aging parent’s care.

For many people, says Allen, this holding tank of someday-maybe items is quite a bit bigger than their lists of current and active projects — which is fine. He simply suggests that the “holding tank” be routinely reviewed and refreshed (and that related items be appropriately filed or trashed) so the list doesn’t become a giant source of clutter and angst.

The goal here is to get to a new level of forthrightness with yourself, says Allen, and to consciously review each item on your list, making responsible decisions about whether you really can or must get to those actions soon.

The key to the processing stage, Allen emphasizes, isn’t simply to toss (or keep) as much as possible. Rather, the purpose is to judge and locate the appropriate status and place for things.

When you keep too many objects on your desktop (or in your purse, or in the kitchen drawer) while refusing to thoughtfully define them or assess next steps, they become oppressive clutter. But once you clarify the value and purpose of the objects you decide to keep, you reclaim your rightful relationship to them. You can start to use your things, rather than having them use you and your home as a storage locker.

“As soon as you determine what’s reference, what’s trash, what’s an item you need to move on . . . you can collect as much as you care to, and it won’t be disturbing to your clarity of focus,” he says. “It’s not about volume. It’s about coherence in your relationship to what it is.”

Pivot Point

In the third part of this series, we’ll explore how to organize what you’ve collected and processed. But you’ve already accomplished a great deal with these first two powerful steps toward “getting things done.” As Allen notes, “Collecting and processing what has your attention is a pivotal step to getting things under control.”

This article originally appeared as “Distill Your To-Do List” in the March 2013 print edition of Experience Life.

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Erin Peterson is a frequent contributor to Experience Life.

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Why Bother With Social Media?

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Social Media: A phrase that strikes up a series of emotions in each one of us. Some people enjoy using social media sites, thriving on the information they can gather and the contact with others, while others avoid it through fear or a lack of time or motivation. Many people have a love/hate relationship with it. Why does it cause so much consternation, when the aim has always been to connect and to share information? Each site takes time to navigate and to get used to, much like a new relationship or friendship in some ways! At first you post and respond to others, gradually gaining the confidence and understanding of how it all works. Each site has a different character and set of expectations. You step up your communication, post, wait, wonder. Sound familiar?

The earliest forms of social media were not electronic, but took the form of cave paintings. These were the earliest known signs of humans trying to communicate, to leave their mark. Now, we leave our mark, our knowledge and some of our personality, on sites like Twitter, Facebook, Google+, Pinterest, LinkedIn, WordPress, Tumblr or other blogging sites. We strike up connections with others and share information, often collaborating in a way that would have been difficult before the age of social media.

So, why take the time to engage with social media?

1. You meet an amazing range of people, both within and outside your field of expertise.

I have met some fantastic readers, writers, bloggers, editors, agents, marketing experts. Meeting people within the fields of writing and publishing have helped me to learn about the industry. Other authors have been a great encouragement to me along the way (which is something we all need). Readers have contacted me through my website and found me on other social media platforms. If they enjoy your work and like who you are as a person, chances are they will want to engage and follow what you are up to. I have also gained a great deal from others outside this group. I follow journalists and people who are interested in some of the things I enjoy outside writing: music, art, travel and skiing.

2. Sharing resources

The online community are a generous bunch! I find that people share information on writing competitions, tips on writing and publishing (both self-publishing and traditional publishing). It’s also a great way to find out about writing courses or retreats. I first heard about the Arvon Foundation through Twitter. They offer residential writing courses with a range of authors who teach specific courses throughout the year. Interviewing other authors on your blog and hosting posts is a good way of networking and sharing new work with your readers. You can also approach other bloggers and offer to write posts on their blogs (see my post on Optimising Facebook on 30 Day Books).

3. Finding books

Many people share books they have read and enjoyed. There are a few editors whose tastes are similar to mine and I almost always enjoy the books they suggest. Book bloggers are a great resource, reviewing books and giving honest opinions on popular or recent books, and often on classics I might have missed. I also review books as well as hosting interviews and posting about writing. Literary salons and author events in bookshops are also advertised on social media sites. Don’t miss these if there is one near you.

4. It keeps you up to date with what is going on in the publishing industry.

Within the publishing industry I have learned a great deal from people like Jane Friedman (former publisher of Writer’s Digest, who writes about the future of the publishing and media industry), Porter Anderson (journalist and publishing consultant) and The Future Book, a blog founded by Sam Missingham (formerly working for The Bookseller Group). If you are interested in a traditional publishing deal, social media sites are a good way to find agents who might be a good fit for your work. Follow the #askagent hashtag on Twitter for agent tips and #MSWL for individual manuscript wish lists. If you are self-publishing, there is a plethora of blogs and sites with all the information you will need.

5. It helps to develop your writing skills on many levels.

Blogging is a good extension of your writing. I wrote a post on blogging with a list of resources. It helps you to learn how to engage readers and to put forward your ideas in an interesting way. This is particularly useful for non-fiction writers who might need evidence of a platform before approaching an agency, and to connect with readers of your particular subject area. As far as fiction is concerned, there has been advice not to write about writing, but I find that these posts have a high level of engagement and readers often write to tell me that these have been helpful. I would run with what works, what you enjoy and what helps others. Social media is an important place to be a helpful resource for others. If you use Twitter it will keep your writing to a succinct 140 characters! This can be a challenge if you tend to over-write or over-describe.

6. You are available for people to contact you and find out about your work.

I have deliberately left this point until last because promoting your work should not be your primary focus on social media. It is called ‘social’ media for the very reason that you interact with people respectfully and share your ideas. If you are interesting and thoughtful, and readers like your style, they will often then look into your work. But you would not sit in a cafe or a bar with a friend saying “Buy my book, buy my book.” So, don’t do it online. It is one of people’s greatest bugbears. Leave an option for people to sign up to your newsletters and to follow your blog posts. I promise you this is enough. No one likes a hard sell and if you treat social media with the same approach as a double glazing salesman, you’ll get the same response.

What are your thoughts on social media? Are there sites that you use more often and why? Are there some sites you haven’t yet got to grips with? Share your ideas. I’ll leave you with some interesting stats:

Author: fcmalby

Award winning novelist and short story author. Debut novel, Take Me to the Castle, winner of The People's Book Awards 2013. Short fiction published in various online journals and anthologies. Hearing Voices (Kingston University Press, Summer 2015). Unthology 8 (Unthank Books, Nov 2015). www.fcmalby.com

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Tag Archives: Philippine House of Representatives

Arroyo was a no-show at yesterday’s first joint session of Congress

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Yesterday was historic because the unprecedented first joint session of Congress was held. Both members of the Senate and the House of Representatives convened for the first time in the history of Philippine politics to deliberate the merits of Arroyo’s surprising declaration of Martial Law in Maguindanáo.

But Arroyo wasn’t even there in the convention.

“Why is she not here? This is history. Does she not have the courtesy at all to report in person? We thought that with the President declaring martial law, the President herself should be here to explain to us,” asked Maguindanáo Rep. Didagen Dilangalen, his voice rising.

Together with fellow Maguindanáo Rep. Simeón Datumanong, Dilangalen said that they were the only lawmakers who were personally affected by Presidential Proclamation No. 1959.

Ms Arroyo issued the proclamation on Friday night to suppress a “rebellion in the offing” of disparate armed groups loyal to the Ampatuan clan, accused of masterminding the Nov. 23 killing of 57 people in Maguindanáo.

Since Friday’s proclamation read by Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita, Ms Arroyo has not spoken one word about exercising her extraordinary martial law powers. She also has yet to face the press.

Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile and House Speaker Próspero Nograles.

Those who presided over yesterday’s historic session, House Speaker Próspero Nograles and Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile were quick to defend Arroyo. They claimed that she already complied with the constitutional requirements when she submitted her report to Congress 48 hours after she declared Martial Law in Maguindanáo on the night of December 4.

Heto lang ang masasabi co dian: Less talk, less mistake. Zero talk, no mistake.

Arroyo’s such a clever girl.

GMA gunning for a House seat: an all-time low for her character

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Gloria has done it all.

First, she stole the presidency from Erap in 2001. Then in 2004, she lied about not running anymore, but she did. Then came the infamous “Hello Garci” scandal which divulged massive election fraud during the 2004 Philippine National Elections. FPJ should’ve been the president.

Several scandals followed her after that, the most infamous of them all was the ZTE-NBN scam which put all previous Erap accusations to shame.

But now, what is this?

GMA wants House seat

Ending speculation about her political plans, President Arroyo declared yesterday that she is running for Congress representing the second district of Pampanga next year.

Speaking over government-run Radyo ng Bayan, Mrs. Arroyo said she realized after “much contemplation” that “I am not ready to step down completely from public service.”

“As you know, the people of my home district in Pampanga want me to remain in public life,” she said in a mix of Filipino and English. “So after much soul-searching, I have decided to respond affirmatively to their call.”

Mrs. Arroyo said she hopes to be a champion for the poor in Congress and work to uplift the economy.

“To that end, I will file my candidacy for Congress in order to serve the hardworking people of my home province,” she said.

She vowed to remain focused on her work as President until her final day in office.

Rómulo Macalintal, Mrs. Arroyo’s lawyer, and Press Secretary Cerge Remonde were present during the interview.

Macalintal told reporters “some local mayors” authorized by Mrs. Arroyo will file her certificate of candidacy (COC) today.

Mrs. Arroyo is ready for any lawsuit after she files her COC, he added.

Macalintal said it was about a month ago that Mrs. Arroyo started contemplating about running for Congress.

“About a month ago, that was talked about, she consulted her family, some supporters in Pampanga,” he said.

“She thought she was still very young and can still serve. That’s the judgment call of the President.”

He was not aware of any dissent from Mrs. Arroyo’s family on her decision, Macalintal said.

Mrs. Arroyo said she studied several options before deciding on continuing to be in politics.

“While I’m very much looking forward to stepping down at the end of my term, I have been mulling different ways to stay involved,” she said.

“I looked at going back to teaching. I have also examined working with non-profit organizations on issues ranging from the environment to women’s issues.

“I thought of many opportunities. One day I hope to pursue them… work for causes near and dear to me, like the fight against climate change, improvement of education and the cause of women.”

Mrs. Arroyo dismissed allegations that she wants to be a member of the House of Representatives to obtain immunity from the torrent of lawsuits to be filed by her political enemies after she steps down from the presidency.

“The only congressional immunity is from libel suits, from utterances made in a congressional session—that’s not what I’m after,” she said.

“This move reflects my ongoing commitment to public service. I have given careful consideration to a number of options that I could pursue upon leaving office.

“But I have come to the conclusion that I can best serve the nation from a seat in Congress should I be elected.”

Mrs. Arroyo said she is determined to champion the poor, fight for a stronger economy, and ensure that health, education and jobs are within reach of all Kapampañgans.

Once elected to Congress, she would get a chance to continue her advocacies “closer to the people,” she added.

Mrs. Arroyo said she will remain “firmly in control of our national government until the last day I am in office,” while campaigning for a seat in the House of Representatives.

“As President, my first commitment is to the nation we all love,” she said.

“My bid for Congress will be only spirited but secondary to my duty as President. I will devote very little time for my campaign for Congress.

“We have come too far and too much is at stake for me to waver in these last few months on my commitment to the people of the nation. I will keep a steady hand on the tiller of the ship of state.”

Mrs. Arroyo said she would continue to pour resources to the Comelec to ensure free, fair and open elections next year.

“And then I will work cooperatively with the incoming administration so they can hit the ground running,” she said.

OK. Let’s put this into more simpler terms. Let us just say, for one hot minute, that all her excuses were acceptable.

BUT!!! —

Whatever happened to delicadeza? She should know what the word means; the last time I heard, Spanish is her language…

Her declaration only puts a black eye to the Maguindanáo Massacre. Instead of focusing on resolving this latest smear to her already scandal-riddened administration, she selfishly thought it best to announce her greed for power.

Shame on you.

GMA should expect to see more of this -- hopefully in Pampanga.

Desecrating the Philippine flag

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The Fourth Estate got too elated over Pacman’s systematic decimation of Miguel Cotto last November 15 that it failed to notice that a law was already being violated.

Many didn’t notice this, but the Philippine Daily Inquirer published a photo last November 17 showing a man unwittingly desecrating the Philippine flag at the expense of his admiration for Manny Pacquiáo(see below):

This action grossly violated the provisions of the Flag and Heraldic Code of the Philippines (Republic Act No. 8491):

Section 34 of the Prohibited Acts;
f. To add any word, figure, mark, picture, design, drawings, advertisements or imprints of any nature on the flag;

But what if that guy holding the flag is a Filipino who’s already a US citizen — would he still be exempted from Republic Act 8491? Besides, the crime was done overseas — would it still matter?

Right now, what matters most is that our local leaders, particularly Senators Richard “The Dick” Gordon, “Candid” Juan Miguel Zubiri, and Francis “El Queso” Escudero, have proposed to “legally desecrate” the flag that has been known to us –and to our patriots who first hoisted it– as a symbol of our nationhood for more than a century already. The details of this “legal desecration” can be found in the provisions of Senate Bill 3307 which proposes to amend Republic Act 8491.

The bill seeks to add a ninth ray to our flag’s sun. With tons of national problems continuously disturbing our lives every day, why do our solons want to do such a thing?

In a statement, Gordon, who’s the most vocal on this latest move to make a graffiti out of our country’s beloved symbol, has this to say: “We are a country that has had a conflict with our Muslim brothers for the last so many decades. I think this is a big step toward reuniting our country, recognizing the contributions of our fellow countrymen, the Filipino Muslims. We should recognize their deeds in our country.”

He did not say, however, what those contributions were, if there were any at all. We’re speaking here in the context of Philippine historiography, something that the good senator is trying to imply especially when he mentioned that our country has been in conflict with Mindanáo Muslims for decades.

Well, not exactly decades, but for centuries. Or perhaps since the Fall of the Byzantine Empire. Or perhaps since their “prophet” Muhammad ibn ‘Abdullāh wrote these hate-filled passages in the Qur’an:

“Fight those who believe not in Allah nor the Last Day, nor hold that forbidden which hath been forbidden by Allah and His Apostle, nor acknowledge the religion of Truth, (even if they are) of the People of the Book, until they pay the Jizya with willing submission, and feel themselves subdued.” (S IX 29)

“O ye who believe! Fight the unbelievers who gird you about, and let them find firmness in you; and know that Allah is with those who fear Him.” (S IX 123)

“O ye who believe! Take not the Jews and the Christians for your friends and protectors: They are but friends and protectors to each other. And he amongst you that turns to them (For friendship) is of them. Verily Allah guided not a people unjust.” (S V 54)

(The People of the Book are the Christians; jizya, on the other hand, is the tribute.)

As you can see, lasting peace between Muslims and non-Muslims is nothing but a pie in the sky.

Here in the Philippines, the government has tried everything it can to break the dividing wall between Muslim Filipinos and non-Muslims, particularly Christians. But it is the Muslims who keep on distancing themselves. And with much bravado. We long for peace, but they take pride in war. Why? Just refer to their Qur’an.

And now they have the nerve to claim Mindanáo for themselves. This should not be a surprise anymore because Filipinos today do not know much about Philippine history…

Renowned US historian John Leddy Phelan’s monumental work, The Hispanization of the Philippines (University of Wisconsin Press, Menasha, WI, 1959), recounts the story of one of the processes of how our nation was built:

In various provinces of the Philippines native chieftains and freeman were assembled during the year 1599 in order to “elect” the Castilian king as their natural lord and sovereign. These election ceremonies were organized upon the urging of a royal cedula from Spain. The Filipinos based their voluntary submission on the contractual promise that the king and his new subjects would render each other certain services.

To reiterate, the Filipino identity is the product of the Filipino State that began to exist in Spanish on 24 June 1571. The Filipino State was founded together with Manila on that same date, with the government having Spanish as its official language.

As stated in Phelan’s book, the previously existing native ethnic states went into the Filipino State as co-founding members in 1599. They incorporated themselves with the Filipino State when they elected the Spanish King (Rey Felipe II) as their natural sovereign. This election was verified during a synod-plebiscite held also that year.

From that time on, and after forming part of the 1571 Filipino State, our pre-Hispanic ancestors also accepted Spanish as their official and national language with their respective native languages as auxiliary official languages. Thus, the previously autonomous Ethnic States that existed before 1599 were respectively the ones that belonged to the Tagalogs, Ilocanos, Pampangueños, Bicolanos, Visayans, Mindanáo Lumads, etc. including the Moro Sultanates of Joló and Maguindanáo.

Yes, even Mindanáo’s Muslim leaders had a deal with the Spanish monarchy.

Thus, before we go off topic here, adding a ninth ray to the sun will not be a solution that there will be everlasting peace between Christian Filipinos and Muslim Filipinos. This is not to say that we should continue hating the Muslims. No, of course not. It’s useless. Jesus Christ didn’t teach us to hate. But the tenets of Islam teach Muslims to hate: “O ye who believe! Fight the unbelievers who gird you about…

Sadly, their fundamentalism can never be denied.

Now, let us discuss what the symbols of the flag stand for. The white triangle stands for equality and fraternity. The blue field is for peace, truth, and justice. The red field for patriotism, and valor, and bravery. The stars are for Luzón, Visayas, and Mindanáo. And the eight rays of the sun represent the first eight provinces which declared themselves in a state of rebellion against Spain: Manila, Cavite, Bulacan, Pampanga, Nueva Écija, Bataán, Laguna, and Batangas (these provinces were then placed under martial law by the Spanish government).

Adding a ninth ray to the sun tarnishes the significance of the meaning of the other eight rays. What province does the ninth ray represent? And what if other groups ask to be represented in the flag as well? Besides, the Moros fought the Spaniards in order not for them to be assimilated to the Philippine government. Is that what you call a fight for freedom? Yes, it is. But they fought only for themselves, not for the whole country.

To put it more bluntly, they fought against the Philippine government during the Spanish times, like what they’re still doing to this very day. And then our politicians want to reward them something that they never did?

In another angle, Emmanuel Libre Osorio postulated in a column of his in Business Mirror (25 June 2009) that “until the ninth ray is added to the Philippine flag, the Philippines cannot be a truly national community. It is that simple and yet its truth has eluded many.” (Business Mirror).

Simple? Unbeknownst to Mr. Osorio, the Philippines has been a national community since 24 June 1571. And that was when Manila was founded and declared as the capital city of the Philippine Islands during the reign of the first Spanish Governor-General, El Adelantado Miguel López de Legazpi.

The Filipino State, therefore, was simultaneously founded with the founding of the City of Manila. Logically speaking, why should there be a capital city, seat of a central government with its laws, without a corresponding state to govern?

We should thus celebrate June 24 each year as the birthdate of our country, and not merely as Araw ng Maynilà.

In the same article, Mr. Osorio also implied that this clamor for a ninth ray has much weight in it because it has been raised numerous times in the past by people of influence and political significance: former Cagayán de Oro City, Misamis Oriental Mayor (and now Senator) Aquilino Pimentel, Jr.; two-time Speaker of the House of Representatives José B. Laurel, Jr., and; Carmen Guerrero-Nakpil, ex-chairperson of the National Historical Institute. But that is beside the point. Mr. Osorio is already using appeal to authority here. Even if, say, José Rizal were alive today and he’d also opt for a ninth ray, that doesn’t necessarily mean that their argument would be correct already. Einstein may have been a genius, but that didn’t make him infallible.

Mr. Osorio then asks: is the addition of the ninth ray a constitutional heresy?

What does the Constitution say?

Article XVI, Section 1 of the Constitution states: “The flag of the Philippines shall be red, white and blue, with a sun and three stars, as consecrated and honored by the people and recognized by law.”

The Constitution is silent on the number of rays.

But that silence doesn’t mean that we should allow creativity –or should I say POLITICAL WHIMSICALITY– to meddle with what Marcela Marino de Agoncillo, together with her daughter Lorenza and Rizal’s niece Delfina Herbosa de Natividad, toiled for in Hong Kong way back in 1897. The constitution is also silent with the color of the sun and even on the shape of the flag. It can be “silent” about so many other things regarding the attributes of our flag; all one needs is an imaginative mind. I’m sure Mr. Osorio doesn’t want to encourage “creativity” such as what that boxing fan did when he hoisted the Philippine flag last Sunday with a “PACQUIAO FOR PRESIDENT” lettering, does he? But if Mr. Osorio is cool with that, then God save the Philippine flag and all other things which symbolize our national identity.

“The revolution, which is a commitment to freedom, is being recognized, symbolized by the rays. In the search for national unity, a common bond is sought and found. The common bond is the commitment to freedom. A commitment to freedom different from staging a revolution may also be symbolized by a ray or rays. It is all very simple.”

No, it is not all very simple. We are speaking of concepts here, beautiful concepts that exist only in the mind, in a distant future, a fevered dream, utopia. The “ninth ray advocates” may have a good intention: peace and harmony in Mindanáo. But no, adding a ninth ray to finally hault the neverending insurrection in the south is not a simple thing to do. Frankly speaking, it’s a waste of time, money, energy, effort, not to mention a crime against history. It is 100% guaranteed that the Muslim insurectos in Mindanáo and elsewhere will never give a monkey’s @$$ whether we add a ninth ray, or perhaps a tenth ray for Sultan Kudarat, or an eleventh for Shariff Kabunsuan, or a twelfth ray for Christmas, etc. The Muslims never asked for a ninth ray. The hungry and jobless Filipino masses do not need a ninth ray for their flag; what the masses are asking for are for food, stable jobs, and a trustworthy government. That is what the people are clamoring — THAT IS WHAT THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD GIVE. The Mindanáo Muslims (led by the Moro Islamic Liberation Front and other self-styled Islamic patriots) on the other hand, are asking for the whole island of Mindanáo, or at least the areas covered by the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanáo. That is what the government should focus, on how to make them understand that it is not possible because it’s tantamount to destroying Filipino patrimony which Spain bequeathed to us.

This futile effort of adding a ninth ray to the sun’s flag in order to achieve peace can be compared with those peace talks the government conducts with local communists under the leadership of José Mª Sison. Malacañang Palace should realize that the communists will not stop until they have set-up a dictatorship of the proletariat, something that is vague and strange under republican and big-business politicians that we have today.

Sad but true.

The government’s efforts to find a solution to end these hostilities are laudable. But please, not at the expense of our flag. It has been an unwavering symbol of our national identity.

To repeat Arnaldo Arnáiz, LEAVE THE FLAG ALONE.

Lawmakers Disrespect Cory

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Symbol of the Philippine House of Representatives

Up to the last minute, members of Philippine Congress are still doing the unspeakable… by using President Cory Aquino’s funeral as an excuse for — what? idleness?

Malacañang recently announced that tomorrow, Wednesday, the whole country will get a day off as a sign of national respect for the late President’s burial. But not to be outdone, members of the Senate and the House of Representatives have given themselves a week off!

Is it because they have filed numerous resolutions to honor the late President? Is it even protocol? Are they all compelled to attend the burial rites and guard her grave for a week? Please explain.

And the last time I checked, burials are done only once. So what’s with the week off?

How about explaining the logic behind this week off when there are numerous pending bills to be debated and given action? Such an explanation will save them from the thinking public’s backlash once this issue catches more attention.

This is too much. For sure, President Aquino would have wished to delay her death for a couple more years had she known about this appalling display of congressional slackness. May they show the icon of democracy more respect by not sinking into unexplainable shiftlessness.

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April 18, 2013

Edmunds' Case For Top RB

It's not set, but there's a good chance Trey Edmunds could find himself at the top of the RB totem pole. Will he stay there? He tells HokieHaven.com his thoughts on his standing.

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May 11, 2006

Milstead favors ACC and SEC programs

It seems the University of Georgia has made it pretty clear that they are looking to bring in some top offensive linemen in the class of 2007.

One of the guys the Bulldogs offered early in the process is Lamar Milstead of Washington, D.C. Milstead picked up an offer from Georgia over a year ago and is giving the SEC Champions a serious look.

"I am up to seven offers now," said Milstead. "I have picked up offers from Boston College, Auburn, and North Carolina State recently."

This 6-foot-6, 265-pound offensive tackle could be getting more offers after an impressive Elite Combine performance.

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3 Replies Latest reply: Nov 15, 2007 6:54 PM by John T Smith RSS

    Not a Valid Win32 Application

      Hello all, its been a while before I had to use the forum but I'm back. I have a Intel Core 2 PC with 1.86 GHZ, and 1.98 Gigs of RAM. I'm running Windows CP with Service Pack 2. I just recently purchased an older version of Encore 1.0 from Ebay, to which he is to transfer over the registration.

      When I tried to install the software, the computer recognized the disc in the drive, but the "autoplay" feature wouldn't work. I double clicked, and an error message appeared saying that the software is not a valid Win32 application. I tried to drag the software to the desktop, to see if it would download from there and still nothing. I thought for sure I was running the right specs for it. I downloaded newer trial versions before, and they worked fine. Any suggestions?


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TiVo’s Next Move

Almost a year ago, I had suggested TiVo should simply give away its boxes, and quickly scale up to 5 million users and live off the subscription fees. Tom Rodgers, told Bloomberg that a “subscription only” business model is being considered by the company. Hey, should have listened to me, it would have saved you some time and millions in losses. TiVo should adopt a premium experience strategy and shoot go after the high for the top end of the market. The user interface is their barrier to entry and they should capitalize on that, just like Apple has!

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MC Gravellahellacopter up in This Hizzouse

Mike Gravel, now running as a Libertarian candidate for president of the United States, apparently knows a thing or two about pandering to pop culture and tech geeks. In a video released today by Barely Political, he woos Obama Girl in song, dances the Soulja Boy, and name-drops Twitter. Getting a politician to play along — is it cringe-inducing or cold-heart-warming? Watch and see:

The video was made by Joe Sabia of political quiz site SexyPolitics (he’s also the guy who made 7-Minute Sopranos). For other Gravel online video moments, see our coverage of his interview in James Kotecki’s dorm room, and his collaboration DJ Mike Gravel & Rx Paranoia.

Update: We spoke with Sabia and David Eisenbach, Gravel’s communications director, about the making of the video and how it relates to Gravel’s campaign.

Sabia fondly recalled telling Gravel “we need more thug,” and eliciting a spirited performance from the candidate, who apparently had no reservations in the recording studio or in front of the green screen.

Sabia hits the nail on the head: “Hillary and Obama and McCain could never do something like this, but there’s a certain charm in realizing Gravel could do something like this, and he did it.”

Eisenbach said the campaign has willingly participated in online videos, though it hasn’t generated any of the ideas itself. He recalled Gravel’s famous video The Rock , in which he stares at a camera for over a minute before throwing a rock in a lake and walking off. Gravel agreed to the shoot and went through with it before being told what it was about. “It wasn’t until after he saw it that he saw the metaphor,” said Eisenbach.

While Eisenbach admitted the campaign’s degree of openness to new ideas could be abused, he also said, “We’re always open to what people have in mind, they should just let us know.”

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GigaOM Show: Twitter IP-Oh yes, it’s on! Stop bashing Ballmer, and suckiest of the suck

Since we already talked up Apple’s new iPhone(s) in a special edition podcast earlier this week, this episode of the GigaOM Show focuses on other big news you should know. Twitter did what we all expected it to do and filed for its IPO. And is it unfair to bag on Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer so much? Finally, net neutrality is back in the courts and you really. should. care. We mean it.

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Hosts: Chris Albrecht, Tom Krazit
Guests: Barb Darrow, Stacey Higginbotham, Signe Brewster

Today’s show is brought to you by Mobile Day.

Twitter makes IPO plans official: files confidential S-1, but expected value is about $14B

In defense of Steve Ballmer

The beast is back, the FCC’s net neutrality case gets its day in court

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Kyle's Notebook

This is my notebook. It's where I write articles before they get published. But most of the time it's where I write articles that never get published. Files that aren't in a published folder are probably unpublished for good reason.

This is most likely a bad idea, but I put it out here anyway.

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Shala Art

The Shala has some lovely pieces of art dotted around, from carvings of obstacle removing Ganesha

Paintings of the feet and hands that take us through practice

The words associated

And even in that little room at the end of the corridor is a mixture of humour, landscape and instructions. A new Boonchu cartoon has appeared, The truth about Pasasana

This new cartoon adding to the mountain landscape

And the instruction as Ashtangi’s queue outside as you laugh at the cartoon and take in the mountains

Despite actually being there early, it was busy today, I ended up in the left corner by the window, at first I thought I’m going to be chilly as the breeze cooled my left side, but it didn’t take long before the humidity and heat generated by 18 or so others practising had the torrents pouring off me. Having walls to my left and both directly in front and behind is quite focussing, only aware of Aki on my right.

Mostly left alone in standing, only Prasarita C assisted. I’m definitely moving through Primary faster now, especially when left alone, Supta K on my own before anyone spotted me, then only a 180 degree Garbha as I realised the Radiator was too close for a complete 360! Nice assist in Baddha Konasana, another of those postures that were once a problem, now I enjoy the assist, it helps to have good assisters who know when the body releases and opens and you are ready for full nose to floor.

By the time I got to Pasasana I was getting tired, heat, dehydration, fuel shortage? 2S is a case of be careful what you wish for it seems, going by the pounds I’ve lost of late. Salabhasana was good and surprisingly my right hand seems to have got the plot with Bhekasana, though the left is still struggling, even with L sitting on me somehow squashing my hands and feet down at the same time as pulling my shoulders back, how many hands does she have?

Urdva Dhanurasana was fine but could I stand up, 4 times I dropped back and was stuck with the weight seemingly going the wrong way. I was shattered and about to give up, but V came over and said my breath was too fast. She talked me down through the next drop back, then somehow back up to standing, getting me to control the breath and telling me I was coming up. Once I’ve done one I can do it, so I did 4 more before V returned for the assisted half way and full walk in and up. Most of the time we don’t need that much help, but the good assistants know when we are stuck and know what is needed to solve the blockage, both my breath and jaw need to chill!

Alas next Sunday is a Moon day, the last bit of art on the notice blackboard and instruction to “go out and lie in :-)

8 Responses to “Shala Art”

  1. susananda Says:

    I’m glad V has got you to take on board relaxing the face :))

  2. globie Says:

    The theory is fine, in practice it will take longer, but at least I (occasionally ) remember.

  3. Susie Says:

    All those pictures make m ‘homesick’ for that particular Shala! :)

  4. V Says:

    Be careful what you write, Globie. Someone might read and think that in a traditional shala we, you know….care about the breath (gasp!) or that we treat students individually (double gasp!). We can’t certainly have that.

  5. Susie Says:

    Fully intend to be back soon! Planning for next year … :)

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Brace Cove, Eastern Point

Brace Cove, Eastern Point ©Fredrik D. Bodin
My friends Surrey and Rob, who live on Eastern Point, have a view of Brace Cove and Brace Rock. Surrey once remarked that she loves it when the rock turns “pink” late in the day. I made this photograph as a wedding present for them. While setting up my tripod and camera to capture the fleeting light, I was attacked by swarms of tiny biting insects, who had colonized the piles of damp seaweed on the beach. After suffering through several exposures, I grabbed my fully extended tripod with camera still attached and ran for the car. I’ve since learned to wear pants and long sleeved shirts, a hat, and carry insect repellant on photographic outings, just as I do for clamming and fishing. Surrey and Rob loved their present, and it hangs in their house to this day. Although I didn’t have it mind when I shot this photo, there’s a similarity between my photo and luminist painter Fitz Henry Lane’s Brace’s Rock, circa 1863–1864. We’re fortunate to have many of his paintings reside at our Cape Ann Museum.
Shot on 6×7 centimeter transparency film. Printed from a 4×5 inch color internegative. Image #FDB9667-001c
Fredrik D. Bodin
Bodin Historic Photo
82 Main Street
Gloucester, MA 01930

One comment

  • xegloucesterite

    Thanks for posting that picture and the link to the painting, Fred. I grew up in E. Gloucester, just a short walk to the Brace Cove area and spent many happy days there – fishing from the rock, lobstering in the cove with a long-handled net from a friends canoe and duck hunting from the rock and in Niles pond.

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Posts tagged ‘Mohammed Abubakar’

Ejigbo Pepper Sodomy And Murder Case : Lagos Gov’t Moves Rest Of Victims And Family Into “Witness Protection”, Rewards Whistleblowers.

By SaharaReporters, New York

The Lagos State Assembly handed over the family of Mr. Freeman Agomah to the Office of the Public Defender today in the latest development in the Ejigbo pepper sodomy, torture and murder case.

The Lagos State Assembly told the family they would no longer live at their residence but live far away from the area to help them overcome the trauma. Mr. Agomah and his wife were given N500,000.

Mr. Agomah’s wife and two daughters were tortured and sodomized by a gang of men in Ejigbo, allegedly last February.  One of the daughter’s Juliana died as a result of her injuries two months later.

A video of the horrific incident went viral on the internet leading to public outrage and a demand for a full investigation.  The Lagos State Assembly held a public hearing this month.  A criminal gang has since been arrested accused of the torture, extorting money from Mr. Agomah, and banishing the family from their residence in Ejigbo. The Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar had earlier directed federal detectives in Lagos to take over the case from the Lagos command.

At the Assembly public hearing a reward of N1.25million  was offered for any information leading to an arrest of the perpetrators, and information about the family.  A woman who contacted Dr. Joe Okei-Odumakin, President of Women Arise through her Facebook page told her of the whereabouts of the family, was rewarded N500, 000. An elderly Ejigbo man whom gave information that led to the arrest of the gang was rewarded with N250,000.

Mr. Agomah’s daughter, a teenager also sodomized by the vigilante gang gave testimony today.   She was 12 years old when the incident happened.   The family had moved her to Ilorin, Kwara State to help her forget the incident, and continue her schooling.

During her testimony, she said she was sodomized with pepper after the gang had finished with her stepsister, Juliana.  She gave names of the gang members saying she knew them all, and that one of them had asked her out before but she had turned him down.

She said he made mockery and fun of her exposed parts during the torture, quoting him saying, “You rejected my love advances and now I hope you can see that I have it by other chance.”

Dr. Joe Okei-Odumakin, President of Women Arise told Saharareproters, only now could she relax since seeing the horrible video, “I could not sleep, I could not feed well and I did not actually feel we were in a festive period because I was totally devastated looking at how a fellow woman was being dehumanized.”

“But now that the perpetrators have been apprehended and the family rehabilitated, although it’s sad that one of them is dead, if someone greets me my own Christmas and New Year greeting, I will answer. I could not answer it at the time when I saw the clip,” she said.

She called on the government to enact a law that criminalizes jungle justice. She added that fellow citizens could relate similar injustices to her through her Facebook page, so that collective actions could be taken on issues of human dignity and violation of rights.

Inspector General of Romance: Police IG MD Abubakar Set To Remarry In September.

IGP MD Abubakar and lady Safiya in a photo shoot preparatory to their wedding
By SaharaReporters, New York

Nigeria‘s Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar is set to remarry about a year after he lost his wife, Maryam Abubakar, to cancer in January 2012.

The IGP will be engaging in a three-day wedding ritual to a popular 35 year-old Safiya according to sources close to the Mr. Abubakar. The wedding proper will take place on Septemeber 14, 2013. Saharareporters obtained a photo from a series of photos taken during a photo shoot in preparation for the grand wedding.

Abubakar resumes as IG.

Acting Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar

The acting Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar, assumed duties at the Force Headquarters, Abuja on Thursday.

Abubakar, who got to the Loius Edet House around 12.30pm, inspected a guard of honour at the gate before proceeding to the 7th floor office of the IG where he spent over two hours with his predecessor, Mr. Hafiz Ringim.

Addressing journalists after the handover, the acting IG declared his readiness to combat crime in the country and corruption within the Police, pledging to lead by example.

He promised his administration would be different from previous ones, saying every policeman would be involved in battling crime in the country.

He said he would take the training of policemen seriously, adding that a state of emergency would be declared in all police training institutions across the country.

Abubakar said, “We shall all fight crime and criminalities together, whatever name you give it, Nigeria is our country, lets join hands in solving the problem facing us.”

He said he was not new to the challenges before the police, adding that he would want to be briefed first before unveiling his plans.

He said, “I’m indeed delighted today, may the Almighty God see us through. I don’t have enough speech because I’m taking over. I want to be fully briefed about the challenges and the difficulties facing the NPF today. I’m not a newcomer and I cannot run away from it but I do know the fact that we have a very challenging task and I want to assure all Nigerians that this administration will be different from every other administration because every officer and men of the police belong to the same family.

“We shall go every nook and cranny of this country and do what is expected of us in fighting crime. This administration will not tolerate any act of indiscipline, corruption and I intend to leave good example.

“Training is one programme we are lacking. We are giving police college and training institution a very serious challenge to be able to train officers and men of the police force.”

by Adelani Adepegba.

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Apple reveals App Store Review Guidelines - 1 views

    In a shocking turn of events, Apple has finally given us a look at what it takes to get an app into the App Store. It's a pretty good read, check it out.
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1 2 3 Sheep! iPhone App Review | The iPhone App Review : iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad Ap... - 0 views

    Good for ESL/EFL and dsylexic learners of any age.\n\n"Each of the mini games features easy to follow instructions, cute and colorful graphics and an easily identifiable learning outcome. The difficulty ramps up with each level completed, and there are five levels for each of the three mini-games. If you've got a child of your own who is just starting to learn how to use numbers - 1 2 3 Sheep! is a fun way to help improve their counting skills."\n\nBacked by an online assessment system...\n
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Wellcome to my club for Magic: The Gathering players. Here at the Play Magic club you can chat with other Magic players, trade cards and play Magic Online useing Apprantice from dragon studios. If you don't have Apprentice no problem, we will send you a copy of it after you join or you can download Apprentice at www.dragonstudios.com. I is also a good idea to have ICQ or Yahoo Messanger to make it easyer to find someone to play with. I hope you have fun playing Magic Online and good luck!

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#1661 - Monday, December 29, 2003 - Editor: Jerry

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  • Jerry Katz
    #1661 - Monday, December 29, 2003 - Editor: Jerry This issue is dedicated to Neem Karoli Baba ... Ben Hassine NDS It is entirely against the traditions of the
    Message 1 of 1 , Dec 31, 2003
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      #1661 - Monday, December 29, 2003 - Editor: Jerry
      This issue is dedicated to Neem Karoli Baba

      Ben Hassine
      "It is entirely against the traditions of the ashram that people should get away without getting prasad."
      Neem Karoli Baba
      When I was in Kerala in Anandashram we had darshan of Swami Satchidananda. As a matter of fact we packed our bags and after circumbulating the samadhis my girlfriend and I tried to sneak away. To be honest I felt no reason to bother Swami Satchidanada with any tiresome social talk etc.
      When we approached the gate an old Brahmin, who took care of the compound we stayed in - and showed me a secret spot to smoke my cigarettes LOL- came running after us and insisted we had darshan and took the vibhuti and prasad before we left. With great hesitation we entered the room of Swami Satchidananda and just sat there staring at each other. He gave us fruit, sweets and vibuthi. I keep the vibuthi in one of the books I bought there.
      Just a couple of minutes ago, after reading the post of Michael Bowes I had a
      look at the sayings of Neem Karoli Baba and now I understand what happened at that moment.
      Hi Ben,

      Thanks for the posting about Neem Karoli Baba.  He is my guru.
      Whatever teaching or path I follow, he is there.  Only now
      am I gradually beginning to understand some of his sayings.

      We used to have a little xeroxed book that was passed around in India
      in the early 70's with his sayings in it.  We called it "The Cook's
      Book"  A tiny little square book held together with a rubber band
      threaded through a punch hole. That little book was my bible.

      Some sayings I continue to work with, "Never throw anyone out of your
      heart."   "Whoever comes is your guest."  These aren't always easy
      teachings for me.

      And of course the favorite quote which was accompanied by the mudra
      of one finger held aloft.  "Sub ek"  translation,  "All One"

      When one of my friends went to him with doubts about who her guru
      was, as she had had many, he replied to her before she had even asked
      her question, "Ek guru", translation, "There is only one guru".

      A variety of people consider Neem Karoli Baba as their guru, and each
      of them if asked will point to the one underlying thread that explains their connection to him, His love.

      Quoting my friend again from a story published in the recent Taos
      Hanuman Temple newsletter:  Maharaji leaned forward and said, "Do you
      think that by coming to temples like this it brings you closer to
      God?"  At that moment it was like a Zen koan.  I realized that I
      really didn't know the answer.  I experienced not-knowing in a very
      deep way, and my heart opened.  I burst into uncontrollable sobs.
      Maharaji was asking "What's the matter?" and calling for hot milk.
      Finally I could speak enough to say I was just feeling a lot of love.

      Maharji also used to say, "Eki rhoop hey"  One story, one form.
      Quotes from Neem Karoli Baba
      "Love EveryOne, Feed EveryOne, Remember God, Tell the Truth."
      "I am everybody's guru."
      "I don't want anything. I exist only to serve others."
      "I have no powers. I don't know anything."
      "I am the father of the world. The whole world is my child."
      "Ask God or Hanuman. I'm just an ordinary being. I can do nothing."
      "Love all men as God, even if they hurt you or shame you. Be like Gandhi and Christ."
      "If you want to see God, kill desires. Desires are in the mind. When you have a desire for something, don't act on it and it will go away. If you desire to drink this cup of tea, don't, and the desire for it will fall away."
      "Everything is impermanent, except the love of God."
      "It's better to see God in everything than to try to figure it out."

      "Attachment is the strongest block to realization."
      "The heart never grows old."
      "It doesn't matter if you are married or not, it only matters how much you love God."
      He chided: "This world is all attachment. Yet you get worried because you are attached."
      "Temples are but piles of stones. Attachment holds you back."
      "Keep God in your heart like you keep money in the bank."
      "Work is worship"
      "If you do not make it empty, how will you fill it up again?"
      "When you loan money to a saint, don't expect to get it back."
      "Money should be used to help others."
      "Whatever may be guru - he may be a lunatic or a common person. Once you have
      accepted him, he is the lord of lords."
      "The eyes of a saint are always concentrated on the supreme self. The minute he
      is aware of himself, sainthood is lost."

      Neem Karoli Baba Stories
      Maharaj-ji told Gurudat: "Even if you have lakhs (hundreds of thousands) of people as supporters, as followers, and as attendents always at your command, you must personally attend to:

      Khati* (kay-tee) - cultivation,
      Pati* (pa-tee) - writing letters,
      Binti* (bin-tee)(or vin-tee) - worship,
      Ghorey Katang* - The tying of the saddle on the back of the horse."

      (* Sanskrit)
      ~ ~ ~
      Regarding satsang and regarding ashram management:
      "Integration - cooperation in all things is good.
      Disintegration - with no cooperation things fall apart.
      Without integration, you don't deserve the Guru's grace."
      ~ ~ ~
      If you came to Maharaj-ji with an objective, He would not accept you. But if you
      were innocent and open and loving, He took you right in.
      ~ ~ ~
      If you invited Maharaj-ji to come to your home He might come, but not in His
      usual form. A man invited Maharaj-ji to a big party and Maharaj-ji did not
      attend. When the man saw Maharaj-ji again he said, "Maharaj-ji, why did you not
      come to my party?" Maharaj-ji said, "I did. I came as the dog. Why did to chase
      me away and turn me out of your home." Then the man remembered that, on the night
      of the party, a dog had entered the yard and he had angrily chased it away with a
      stick. You never know what form Maharaj-ji will take when He visits you.
      ~ ~ ~
      Maharaj-ji was living in a forest in Bihar. There was a report among the local
      people that Maharaj-ji had a lot of guns and ammunition there. When the police
      went there to investigate, they found only big bundles of sticks.

      How can I go about getting a letter of introduction to Maharaj-ji's ashram's in India?

      There is no one way to Maharaj-ji's ashrams. The principal reason that you would want a letter of introduction is so the people who run the ashrams in India know that you are aware of the etiquette, customs, and practices within these ashrams. At this time there is no answer to this question. It is all the lila of Maharaj-ji. A better answer to this question will be posted at a later date. The search for the answer will continue. Meanwhile, download the materials on the "Practice" page and after singing maybe a letter will just "appear when you need it."

      Well, so much for "Love Every One, Feed Every One." Unable to understand their Guru, his followers live in some vague atmosphere of the Guru's presence which is trusted to precipitate out the answers. Sure, that works. But it also works to just give the letter of introduction and get it over with. --Jerry, Highlights editor.

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Nick and Megan

December 31, 2006

Megan: February 19, 1989 – December 17, 2001
Nick: November 10, 1992 – December 6, 2006

The Mierz Family misses and will always love their dear collies, Megan the rough, and Nick the smooth–two absolutely wonderful, loving, and loyal life companions. We’ll see you both on the other side of the Rainbow Bridge some day! Thanks GVH for taking such good care of both of them all through their lives!

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Decolonization / Personal Is Political

Foundational Injustice & The Urgent Need For Reconciliation

Yesterday night, I was taken aback by the contents of several overlapping conversations about indigenous rights issues, and the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada — which is Vancouver-bound for a series of BC national events from September 18th to 22nd. All of these conversations manifested seemingly out of nowhere. This blog post will be focused on one of those conversations in particular.

A white male settler spontaneously solicited me (a white trans settler) for contacts within the local indigenous community, which he might get in contact with for the express purpose of having them as guests on his radio program, to speak to the matter of indigenous rights. He provided a short list of topics that might be useful to tackle on the program; including a sort of analysis or debate of the Indian Act, the recent “news” that residential school children were used as experimental subjects by being deliberately deprived of food (which, based on his phrasing, I am not sure he sufficiently understood when it became public knowledge), and a couple of others. He told me that I seem to be “connected” with the local indigenous community, which is true in an immediate sense, but also leaves me feeling somewhat puzzled and hesitant to get into specifics of what he meant as compared to what my connections to the community actually look like. I listed off some names, including a hereditary chief and four very intense indigenous women, and offered suggestions for what specific issues each contact might be most immediately or even urgently motivated to address based on what I know they are particularly passionate and well-spoken about as vocal activists and active members of their community. He also asked me if there were any other topics I can think of, and added that I would be welcome to participate as well, if I so chose to.

It just so happens that the day before yesterday, I was speaking to an elder (who is a residential school survivor who had been torn away from her very loving family to be incarcerated on the other side of the country) about this very scenario. She told me about the way she has approached healing from this trauma, which involves engaging as much as possible in the gifts life has to offer her. She told me about how, even after all this time (she is “a child of the 60s” in her own words) and all the effort she has invested towards her own healing, speaking about her time in the residential schools comes at the cost of reliving it, and it is in the interests of her emotional well-being that she chooses not to if she can avoid doing so at all. I expressed that, coming from my own history of trauma, I can certainly relate to her perspective, in a similar way to how I relate to the perspectives of people of colour who are triggered by racist displays on national television—I see it as my responsibility to educate my own people, who have not had to face the trauma of residential schools, are not the targets of racism, and can otherwise remain blissfully unaware of it all at their choosing, while continuing to privately entertain harmful stereotypes and racist narratives about people of colour (especially indigenous peoples). I emphasized however that I do not force this telling of truth, but share it when it is relevant to do so.

We also talked about trans-generational trauma, which indigenous peoples here have continuously inherited from European colonists and every subsequent generation of their descendants. She is not the first elder to tell me that the first colonists came here running away from the very oppressions they regurgitated upon the indigenous peoples, and I am confident that she won’t be the last. I told her that it’s been my experience that the same people who are ignorant of what indigenous nations have been forced to bear over the past several centuries are the same people who persistently avoid the same trauma in their own lineage. Just as an example, I know that I descend from a Viking clan, because that is where my surname at birth comes from. Yet when people speak of what happened to the Vikings, they generally say “the Vikings died out,” sometimes emphasizing that it is somewhat of a mystery. In actual fact, Viking ancestry has successfully propagated all over the world. We are very much still here. I am still here. It was the culture that was annihilated (i.e., cultural genocide). Likewise, I also know that I descend from a Scottish clan, because my paternal grandmother’s maiden name is one of the septs of the Gordon clan. Yet somehow, she had become convinced that she’s English, and denied her Scottish heritage (something I only very recently discovered when I looked up where her name comes from). But English isn’t a heritage—the Celts were invaded and occupied by Vikings, then Romans, and then two separate successions of Germanic peoples which are the namesake of the term Anglo-Saxon. English is a language and a culture, and it came to assume the place of the languages and cultures that existed prior to colonization. I said to this elder (my auntie) that it’s as if we (as in white people) devised the techniques of colonization on our own peoples first, then simply refined them when we made a run for it across the Atlantic ocean, but very few white people ever do the work of thinking through this and letting that hidden grief surface. I told her that the fact that I have done this on my own is why I perceive at all of the injustice that she’s had to live through, that her family has been and continues to go through, and that other racialized people face every day. It’s why I feel the responsibility to teach my own people to see it too.

Not having had this conversation with the white male settler who was asking me for contacts within the local indigenous community, however, he seems to have no idea where my passion comes from. So he asked, and I did the best I could to answer honestly. I had already mentioned that other topics he could address on his radio program (and that I am even willing to speak to from the perspective of a non-indigenous person/settler) are the missing and murdered indigenous women, police brutality faced by indigenous communities (especially men — who I did not emphasize at the time, often lose their lives in these violent interactions), or widespread ignorance about the legacy of residential schools in light of the forthcoming visit by Truth and Reconciliation Commission. I had also obliquely referred to the recent episode of Miley Cyrus’ misogynoir and the #solidarityisforwhitewomen hashtag on Twitter, which is being used to confront white feminists who neglect their responsibility to resist racism every time another event like Miley Cyrus happens on national television or anywhere else (regardless of whether or not it is actually Cyrus that particular time is irrelevant when the behaviour is the same kind of racism). I finally stated that until indigenous rights are of central concern to a given person’s resistance against racism, they are contradicting themselves and perpetuating another form of the same kind of racism they claim to be opposed to.

He didn’t understand why, and began asking “Why not [this racial/ethnic group]?” and “Why not [that racial/ethnic group]?” So I began trying to explain what amounts to foundational injustice — that indigenous peoples are continuously targeted for extinction, either as a race or as a culture, and that even though racism exists against other non-white racial and ethnic groups, members of those groups are still benefiting from the constant attempt to erase indigeneity (even though it goes without saying that, due to the effects of systemic racism, the “benefits”, or settler privileges, reaped by most non-indigenous people of colour are markedly reduced in comparison to that of white people).

He still didn’t understand what I was saying, and began asking how slavery alone fails to trump all that has happened to indigenous peoples aside from expropriation of their lands (more on why I find this a particularly remarkable exception to cherry-pick momentarily). And to grossly oversimplify it, I answered that indigenous peoples were also targeted for extinction during the Atlantic slave trade—to make the room for it to happen. That was about the conclusion of this aspect of our conversation yesterday night.

Now, I’ve just used the term foundational injustice to account for why I am so passionate about prioritizing indigenous rights issues and keeping those concerns central to all of my activism, but I haven’t explained what this term describes. Simply put, it means that until violations of indigenous rights are openly acknowledged and dealt with, and indigenous sovereignty restored, all the rest of us are doing is making our prison cells more comfortable to live in. All of North American society is founded on the systemic oppression of indigenous peoples and a flagrant disregard for this injustice. Once one fully acknowledges this and accepts it as fact, one cannot help but keep this issue central to the focus of everything else that they do from that moment forward. Even resistance to racism against other racial/ethnic groups becomes an intersectional form of activism tracing itself back to indigenous resistance. It doesn’t mean that an issue such as misogynoir is “trumped”, dominated, or otherwise overwhelmed by a narrative that explicitly centres indigenous struggles — rather; it means that one begins to engage with resisting issues such as misogynoir from a framework that keeps indigenous struggles central, even if that fact is only implicitly, obliquely, or quietly referenced. It’s a change in strategy—towards decolonizing one’s own politics and mindset—as a result of a major shift in world view.

Residential schools represent one of several faces of foundational injustice. For over 120 years, indigenous children were forcibly removed from their natal homes at the requirement of the Canadian government, moved across the country into remote locations where they were deprived of contact with their families, and subjected to a systematically orchestrated attempt to brainwash all connections to their natal culture out of every single one of them. RCMP were also authorized to jail parents who would attempt to interfere with the abduction of their children. Many residential schools were hostile and abusive environments in which children were separated by gender and withheld from their own siblings, often facing physical and sexual trauma as well in addition to disproportionately severe punishments for speaking their natal tongue, observing any aspect of their traditional culture, and sometimes even for laughing. Many recent news stories have brought to light for the general public that several residential schools also exploited the incarcerated children for unethical and involuntary experiments such as deliberately depriving them of food to study the effects of malnutrition to the benefit of non-indigenous families struggling throughout the rest of the country during the Great Depression, though this has been considered common knowledge among indigenous communities for several decades. It has also been common knowledge among indigenous communities that children were denied their birth names, often being involuntarily reassigned to an Anglicized name (see: that part I mentioned about where Anglo-Saxon comes from applies here), if they were afforded one at all (many residential schools simply assigned each child a number, which was printed on every piece of their assigned clothing to facilitate punishment for stealing or swapping with other children). Sound like anything you’ve heard of that happened in Europe in recent history? Because it ought to.

The last residential school only closed its doors in 1996, but most of the general public is either completely unaware of residential schools, or operating under the erroneous belief that it ended so long ago that there are no remaining survivors and that the perpetrators can no longer be brought to justice because they are no longer among the living. This is largely due to the mass destruction of residential school records (which were poorly kept to begin with) once their doors were closed, but also due to an abject refusal on the part of the Canadian government to acknowledge and reconcile this part of the nation’s history, aside from a) the formation of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission to settle a class action lawsuit by survivors against the government, from which the truth has gradually been coming out piece by piece as residential school documents are reluctantly released to the commission; and b) the 2008 apology by Prime Minister Harper, from which essentially no change has come to pass while Harper and the rest of Parliament continuously chip away at the rights and liberties of peoples from all nations (e.g., proposing for the second time in history to categorically abolish the Indian Act with no consultation with the people whose lives it prescribes nearly every detail of; and signing a 31-year treaty with China, without any consultation with Canada’s own citizens, that leaves Canada vulnerable to being sued for hundreds of millions of dollars if any of China’s interests in Canada’s resources are met with resistance).

If you knew that for over a century, children had been stolen from their own parents — and that this is actually continuing to this day through the Child Care system — and no justice had ever been served to those families for the trauma of being separated with the force of the state, would you not feel compelled to tell other people the truth of what happened? Would you not feel the need to relate back to this fact when confronted with ideas such as settler privilege, foundational injustice, and colonialism?

If you knew that the explicit reason those children were stolen was to shame, beat, and rape them into being afraid to honour their ancestral heritage, would you not feel you needed to seek justice alongside survivors and their families? Would you not accept the validity of trans-generational violence among these communities, and seek to support their right to heal themselves (including determining the best means of doing so)? Would you not feel a responsibility to educate those whose offensive attitude towards this collective trauma is summarized by the three words “get over it”?

If you knew that it was your own government that had done this, and that in order to avoid prosecuting itself for crimes against humanity all the way back in 1948 when a consensus on the term “cultural genocide” was reached in the United Nations, your own government had fabricated its own — suspiciously narrower — definition of genocide, and not only continued stealing those children from their families but actually dramatically increased doing so throughout the 1960s (i.e., the “sixties scoop”), would you not become radically disillusioned by the idea that this government is or ever was some sort of “democracy”?

Overlapping with the timeline of the residential schools, and continuing to this day, is the establishment and enforcement of the Indian Act—which played a critical role in granting the state authority over children of indigenous parents, when it wasn’t legally erasing indigenous lineage through disenfranchisement (i.e., loss of aboriginal status through childbirth or marriage with a non-indigenous person or disenfranchised indigenous person, and loss of associated treaty rights and access to one’s ancestral community as a result), and outright criminalization of traditional indigenous dance and ceremony, in addition to granting the state authority to expropriate reserve lands without proper treaty negotiations by enforcing a rule of “use it or lose it” with very specific requirements to qualify the meaning of “use”. At the tail-end of the sixties scoop, Prime Minister Trudeau proposed a full eradication of the Indian Act (i.e., the 1969 White Paper Policy), which would have meant legal erasure of indigenous identity across the board, while residential schools were still operating with the explicit purpose of erasing indigenous cultures, as the legal definition of who is indigenous by Canadian law — and therefore who is entitled to certain Charter rights and treaty rights — is written into the Indian Act. Let that idea sink in for a while: would residential schools have ever stopped until all indigenous cultures were fully eradicated, once and for all? While you’re letting that simmer, the 1969 White Paper Policy would have essentially abolished the 11 Crown treaties which serve as the legal foundation of this nation as an independent country and define its territorial borders. As much as the Indian Act needs to go, it is clearly in the best interests of indigenous peoples to continue to live with it rather than outright abolish it in one fell swoop. And though the treaties are with the Crown rather than the Canadian government, and Harper has passed a massive succession of bills that explicitly violate those treaties as well as Aboriginal Charter rights and the rights of all non-indigenous people across the country, the Crown is not willing to intervene.

Additionally, despite the marked absence of a treaty in the area now referred to as the province of British Columbia, the expropriation of ancestral territories by European colonists overlaps with the timeline of both the residential schools and the Indian Act. “How was that land expropriated?” you might be asking yourself. The answer (apart from the crimes against humanity already detailed and overlapping with the timeline of land theft in Coast Salish and Interior Salish territories) is with intentionally malicious exposure to multiple life-threatening diseases including smallpox, tuberculosis, and influenza; and turning gunpoint on the remaining survivors, followed by burning everything to the ground behind them and filling unmarked mass graves with their dead. In what is now called Vancouver, a great deal of this violence for the explicit purpose of expropriating unceded territory was perpetrated from about 1870 right into the early 1920s. People just one generation after the last family to be forced from the world-renowned “Stanley Park”, and from the upper-class Kitsilano neighbourhood (a former reserve) are still alive and well today, and can still recount being told this history directly from the people who experienced it themselves.

If you knew all of this history, could put it all together yourself in the context of the present day, and fully accepted that this wasn’t even that long ago, would you not feel compelled to the very core of your being to do everything you as an individual can do to demand justice and support the communities who are fighting for it by keeping their collective struggles your central priority? What could possibly be more urgent for anyone who lives directly on the land where those mass graves were filled, those children were stolen, and those lands expropriated with such horrendous force?

If you could ever possibly accept the full scale what has taken place and is taking place in this country, could you not see that your own liberation — and that of every person of colour — is inextricably tied to the fruition of indigenous justice and sovereignty? If you could you hear all of what has happened, and is still happening, is there any way that you could not be shaken into direct action?

Join the reconciliation process. Learn and share the local history. Learn and share your own history, or histories, as the case may be for many people with mixed ethnic and/or racial backgrounds from all across Europe and the globe. Learn who the traditional stewards of the land are where you live, and share this knowledge with as many people as you can reach with it. Learn about local indigenous languages, cultural traditions, skills, ceremonies, and protocols — from the traditional stewards of the land. Get to know them and let them get to know you. Build bridges and build solidarity. Learn about local indigenous peoples, and how much you have always had in common with them. Learn how to engage issues of social justice within the context of indigenous justice.

Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere — but if we are only chipping away from the top down, we are all condemning each other to live in a prison, no matter how comfortable we think we can make it for ourselves.

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21 Dec

A quick vlog on how to do your Christmas food shopping!

So you think I’m rich because I’m food intolerant?

2 Nov

Ok, so there has been a lot of discussion going on about being food intolerant and having money.. here’s my 2 cents on it ;)

Histamine and insomnia

6 Oct

Helpful link to meditation:

Finding a new doctor

18 Sep

After having moved, I faced the task of finding a doctor who would take me seriously…

Reintroducing Foods.

7 Aug

Yup. Finally a new video.

So you’re in THAT box…

18 Apr

And I wish I was referring to the Doctor Who police box. Unfortunately Im not.

This has been on my mind for quite some time, but today I finally felt the trigger to actually write about it. And I would like to point out that this post isn’t specifically about food intolerant people, but any type of gal or dude that is considered ‘limited’ in any sort of way. With ‘limited’ (please note the brackets, i honestly detest the term…) most people mean others that can not function the way they should in society. people who have severe food intolerances, fears, physical disabilities, chronic illnesses, mental disorders and/or illnesses… The list goes on.

What do I mean with THAT box? I’m going to try and explain this from my point of view, and more, experience. I have been chronically ill for almost all my life in one way or another *makes mental note to send grains a thank you gift * (NOT), plus I’m very chaotic, hectic and well…clumsy. Most people around me, who deal with me on a frequent basis, will notice this by simple means of deduction. For example: ‘ out of 10 times I try to go out with her, 9 times she will end up being too sick or too tired. So that 1 time she can go, I will tell her she is too tired or sick, and thus protect her against further consequences, and accepting that as her identity’. Or: ‘ she is very clumsy and will get into trouble. She is eager to try things, but always gets into trouble and I have to bail her out. Thus next time I will protect her and me and make sure she doesn’t venture out on her own, thus accepting the clumsyness as her identity’.

Noble as this may be, and I can perfectly understand why this is done, it is incredibly limiting on those you do this with. We are left with no chance to prove ourselves otherwise, to step outside THAT box that was created around us. Very often, this concerns people who have severe daily battles ahead of them, and fighting this on top of it might just be a little too much. A young man in a wheelchair is not his wheelchair. He is a young man with hopes and dreams. And maybe the wheelchair might not always get him everywhere he wants, there is absolutely no harm in letting him try. The beautiful mom with severe histamine intolerance is not her illness. Perhaps she gets tired so so rapidly, and can barely eat, but that doesn’t mean you have to decide for her what she can or can not do. The young woman who is seeminly so clumsy, always screwing everything up, might not be able to always get it right, or often even. But she too deserve a chance to prove herself otherwise.

It is very important to allow people to get energy out of things they CAN do, rather then to focus on things they can NOT do. Even if it means that 90% of the time it will fail, the remaining 10% it will succeed. And that 10% is not just us doing something we can, but it also shows you believe so much in us you allow us to try something, to challenge ourselves, to enable us to grow, and quite simply… let us do things for ourselves. It benefits us much more you are there when we try and fail, then when you prevent us from trying all together. Don’t be afraid, we will ask for help when things do not work out.

It’s up to us to step outside the box, but a little help never harmed anyone :)

As my father told my brother last week: ‘Just because someone is sick, or tired, doesn’t mean you should take away that one thing that gives them energy, or a spark of life. You should always respect that, no matter how ill, or tired, or poor they are.’

living with a histamine intolerant patient

21 Mar

A little rant ^_^

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Tag Archives: Captain Matthew Caldwell

family reunions – and family research – and curiosity

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Family reunions not only bring up memories but create new memories.  Sometimes, one meets cousins you don’t know and reconnect with folks you have not seen in some time.

My Caldwell and Sammon families (like all families) have interesting stories.  We ALL have stories.

The Caldwells come from a Scottish heritage (the rumor was/is that we are somehow related to Oliver Cromwell and King James I of England and VI of Scotland).  Who knows??

The Sammon family was PERHAPS Irish and English.  Again who knows?

Three generations back, two Caldwell brothers married two Sammon sisters – so I have countless double cousins.

Thanks to the internet and recently, Facebook, I’ve reconnected with some of the cousins and it is great!

Exchanging photographs with my Facebook relatives, I notice that  the family resemblance is uncanny (although of course that shouldn’t be at all surprising!).

Living in Seguin, Texas, I have read about Captain Matthew Caldwell.  Try as I may, I’ve not discovered anything about his parents; of course I’ve been curious to learn whether he is related to my Caldwell family.  Again – who knows?

From the Sons of Dewitt Colony Texas site:

Mathew (Old Paint) Caldwell was born in Kentucky about 1798 and is said to have acquired the nickname because of white spots in his hair, beard and on his breast like a paint horse. According to Kemp in The Signers of the Texas Declaration of Independence, Caldwell is thought, like the Burkett, Zumwalts, Kents, and DeWitts,  to have come from Missouri. Baker in Texas Scrapbook says he came from Tennessee. Other records indicate that Caldwell and his family were part of the party who came to the colony as part of the Tennessee-Texas Land Company.   Land records indicate that Caldwell arrived in the DeWitt Colony with a family of 5 on 20 Feb 1831. He received title to a sitio of land on 22 Jun 1831 southwest of current Hallettsville in Lavaca County near the Zumwalt Settlement.   In Gonzales Caldwell acquired the original James Hinds residence  on Water St. across from the Guadalupe River south of the Dickinson and Kimble Hat Factory.  Dixon in The Men Who Made Texas states that Caldwell was born 8 Mar 1798, moved with his parents to Missouri in 1818, became a skilled Indian fighter in Missouri and was involved in trading with local Indians in the territory.  Dixon further states he came to Texas from Missouri via Natchitoches by horseback in 1833 and first settled in current Sabine County where he was elected along with Stephen Blount and Martin Parmer to represent the area at the Independence Convention of 1836.  Election returns in Gonzales County show Caldwell and John Fisher were elected delegates from that municipality for the convention.  On 2 Mar, Caldwell along with William C. Crawford and William D. Lacy were appointed by the President to procure couriers to send expresses to the army “Believing it of vital importance that this convention know correctly the true situation of our enemy on the frontier, and also the condition of our army, they would recommend the convention to accept the services of Major Caldwell, who purposes to start this day to the frontier.”

In Nov 1835, he was appointed a subcontractor by William Pettus, main contractor appointed by the Provisional Government of Texas, to supply a Volunteer Army. On 1 Feb 1836, he and John Fisher were elected delegates from the Gonzales Municipality  to the Texas Independence Convention of 1836 at Washington-on-the Brazos and both were signers of the Texas Declaration of Independence. Caldwell was one on the committee of three appointed to assess the situation of the enemy on the frontier and the condition of the Texian army.

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How to Meditate:

excerpt taken from, “The Awakening of Kundalini” by Gopi Krishna

How to Meditation: an excerpt from Awakening Of Kundalini

The Awakening Of Kundalini by Gopi Krishna

“The only key to the understanding of mystical consciousness lies in treating the phenomenon as a metamorphosis in the cognitive capacity of the observer.  The soul grows mighty and the mental eye is immensely enlarged.  When the mind of an enlightened being is turned inward, the panorama that meets the inner eye is a colossal world of life that dwarfs the image of the external world–present in his imagination–into insignificance.”

“What is experienced is a living Presence, an inexpressible ocean of consciousness spread everywhere.  The world image seems to float like a reflection in a mirror, occupying but a small portion of its unbounded periphery.”

how to meditation

Teach Someone to Meditate

“So long as the distinction between the subject and the object of contemplation continues to exist, the real experience of Samadhi does not occur.  The subject and the object must become one and consciousness recoil on itself, leading to a new area of perception never experienced before.”

“The ultimate aim of Yoga is to create a consciousness which sees the visible world in a new light, not as something alien or foreign to it, but as an inseparable part of itself.  This clearly indicates a metamorphosis in the observer.”

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Project Detail
Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee (IACC) logo
Office of Autism Research Coordination (OARC) logo

Genetic and developmental analyses of fragile X syndrome

Fragile X syndrome is a developmental brain disorder with abnormal neuron architecture and functional plasticity of the developing brain. It is the most commonly inherited form of both mental retardation and autism spectrum disorders (ASD). The proposed research will use the fruit fly as a model organism to study the molecular and cellular basis of disease, focusing particularly on the role of the Fragile X Mental Retardation Protein (FMRP). Various methods will test whether FMRP is required during a certain period of time in neural development and will assess the protein's role in synaptic neurotransmission during brain neural circuit development. Additionally, proteomic screens will determine the presence or absence of FMRP during specific periods of brain development. Forward genetics will be used to identify genes that interact with the dfmr1 gene to cause the disease phenotype. This proposal directly tests therapeutic interventions aimed at correcting ASD-relevant brain developmental abnormalities, and future studies could lead to promising drug therapies for people with fragile X or other autism-related disorders. Project Status

Funder National Institutes of Health
Fiscal Year Funding $544,592.00
Current Award Period 2009-2011
Project Number 5R01MH084989-02
Principal Investigator Broadie, Kendal
Received ARRA Funding? Yes
Strategic Plan Question Question 2: How Can I Understand What Is Happening? (Biology)
Subcategory Molecular Pathways
Strategic Plan Objective Green dot: Objective has greater than or equal to the recommended funding. 2SD. Launch three studies that target improved understanding of the underlying biological pathways of genetic conditions related to autism (e.g. Fragile X, Rett syndrome, tuberous sclerosis complex) and how these conditions inform risk assessment and individualized intervention by 2012. IACC Recommended Budget: $9,000,000 over 5 years.
Federal or Private? Federal
Institution Vanderbilt University
State/Country Tennessee
Web Link 1 Genetic and developmental analyses of fragile X syndrome (External web link)
Web Link 2 No URL available.
Web Link 3 No URL available.
New! History/Related Projects Genetic and developmental analyses of fragile X syndrome | $532,205.00 | 2009 | 1R01MH084989-01A1