'Change', Barack Obama and the American People

 I wish I could be a believer. I have some Hope, that's about all... some prayer, that somehow the American people will wake up enough to provide some strong guidance for this good man.

It's been a long campaign. I've looked for sparks of an audacity of thought. A rebellious spirit that is willing to speak to the people with a refreshing honesty about the mess we are in. I must have missed much of those moments. Someone described Obama as having an 'agile mind' and I personally am very impressed in fact, almost in awe particularly as he sparred with John McCain, during the last debate at Hofstra. I was sitting at a restaurant at SFO after just arriving from the East Coast. The telecast was muted with the scrolling text, I don't remember much of the facts and the questions of that night. I thought he did an excellent job. I thought he looked very Presidential. I only saw about 30 minutes before I had to run to catch my bus back to Marin.

I have been rooting for him for some time, he got my vote in California's primary. I keep rooting for him to make me feel that he really represents 'Change'. I've been carrying a basic dissatisfaction with mainstream Democratic thought for more than 20 years. I voted for Perot in the 90's. (yes.. both times. Yes the second time was a  very difficult vote) The only one who got it really right during that time regarding 'Free Trade' in my opinion. So our countries Manufacturing base fled in the last 20 years. 'Trickle Down' became a way of life and now we are desperately trying to prop up the whole global network of Money Games on Planet Earth. 

  I  am not against people earning a living nor against the free exchange of currency across the planet to further the wealth of people. The Heath of Communities and Nature must become the foundation of a new dynamic stable global economy. No Man, Woman, company or Corporation should extract the wealth of this Planet from the land leaving a diminished planetary landscape. The level of Destruction of our Biosphere is a very real threat to our health and security. Here in the Biosphere, our realm of Life, with our cats and dogs, trees and grass and all the other species of animal and plant life, breathing our oxygen rich air and drinking in clean water, our activities are taking it's toll on our own lives.  Mankind is the dominant part of but ultimately dependent on all of Nature. A woman friend who's opinion I respect calls it 'the endless rape' this global rape of our Natural surroundings that threatens the lives of all mankind. It is not just the ugliness of a small project like the development on the slopes of Red Hill in the small town of San Anselmo that harms the local community but the fact that it is part of a Global Deforestation that continues at an astounding rate that is matched or rides the Global Population expansion and the Global Carbon Emissions and that reflects the increase of Atmospheric Heat that directly manifests in the melting of the Polar Ice and the growing erratic swings of Climate Change. Don't we all understand that we are all connected... yet. It seems fairly obvious to me. I am an optimist. I believe we are approaching the turning point. The turning point is shared knowledge, with the unmistakable and unshakable requirements of survival.

  What I hear from Obama is pretty vague, still I have hope.

  I find that their are some tenets of contemporary Republican thought that I agree with and am skeptical of some Obama proposals and am uncertain of his sense of Vision. Does he really think that Government can bring the 'Change' that we need? Isn't it just a password to get himself elected.

   As I say I am an optimist. I believe that problems can be solved, humans are resilient, but right now we are stuck in this belief system that we need this system of global land speculation and the casino environment of Wall Street. Positive change to my mind for my Country and my Planet, would be every human beginning the process of divestment of their wealth from the electronic files of Wall Street (whatever is remaining ). Rather than stick it under a mattress, how about begin investing directly into any local business that you can determine is guided by good principals of land preservation, local manufacture, good work ethic, etc. work out some principal returns on your investment that is probably going to be modest but accept that your reward will also be one that will enrich yourself by strengthening your place in your community.

  Anyways my train of thought took me here from my voting for Obama. The Change that we need is a grassroots independence movement. The President of the USA may not be as important as what the American people decide to do with their lives during the next 4 years

I vote for Obama as an act of Hope and perhaps some resignation. I cannot accept the actions

of 4 years of Republican leadership. I cannot accept the macho bluster diplomacy realm of American Foreign Policy. I am sorry that I see Obama joining in that technique.

It is profoundly disheartening that he thinks more 'American Boots on the ground' in Afghanistan will bring us closer to destroying terrorism. (I think we could put an end to that evil) It is extremely disheartening to hear that he supports the environmentally irresponsible growth of Nuclear Power. I vote in hope. Maybe he will learn that you can be open to changing your mind.

  My hopes are with the American People, my Hope is with Obama also.

  Yes, of course the greatest change in the USA and for the world will be this country electing an African American man as our leader.  It will be a momentous Change in the evolution of American Culture and will mark a moment of achievement that I expect even many Republicans

will give pause to acknowledge. The judgement of character or intelligence because of the color of a person's skin is a form of stupidity that needs to be eliminated for all of our good. Ultimately the color of one's skin is immaterial to what one brings to our lives. Let's hopefully celebrate Obama's victory and move on to the next great battles in mankind's evolution. The deepest respect for Nature and the end of organized warfare. Disorganized warfare doesn't cut it either. It's a long road up ahead.

    Guy

Back to Work

 Probably for the best that the Red Sox run is over. I have work to do. The Rays played great ball, they did not wilt and why should they. My shirt can relax now. Yes it is sad as a female Red Sox fan said last night, yes it is sad for Guys too. Emotional involvement with a sports team. 

That happens to some of us. Ultimately I think it is a great thing and so be it, one of these days

I would love to see millions of humans across the planet feel they are a wonderful part of a championship series that may take much of this century. The desire for Liberty, the hunger for a world that respects Nature more than extracting dollars from it's destruction, all of that combining for a vastly more independent, happier humanity. Great joy for the younger generations (coming.. it's coming), damn we are going to pass through this sad age of greed and fear. The transition can come with relative ease.. it is not enforced by Corporations or large scale Governments. It's truth and its bedrock connection to the Earth will come about through the work of people. Beware governments even well intentioned who throw money at you to make the world 'Green', I don't believe it will happen that way. Independence isn't given or bought it's going to have to be earned.

 Of course there is pain and suffering up ahead. That's life. It won't come easy.

 It's happening, it's a gradual thing and the tougher things get, that's when the greatest progress will likely happen. Am I saying anything? Indulging in crystal ball behaviour again? Everything I say whether right or wrong is based on my observations of Life in the present. You need not agree with anything I say. Be careful of the all that people try to push with the word 'Green'. If it's got a lot of money behind it, than chances are that is not the Green solution we need. Leaving 'It' alone does make sense. Particularly if we leave room for creative people to take practical steps for their own survival and success.

  This old brain is running on fumes. As a friend told me yesterday and she is right on.

'You aren't going to do the world any good if you can't take care of yourself.'

  Good Night,

     Guy

  

Red Sox, The Dead to Rise

 My brain is not fully functional today. Maybe that is nothing new.

Thank God I didn't leave the Flatiron Sports Bar back in San Rafael at the 7th inning stretch. My bill had been taken care of, the good tip to one of my new most favorite waitresses

still waited for her to pick up.

 My mind was wondering about how hard it was to just ignite, where was the kindling, where was the fire? What happened to the Sox. Dead in the water. I didn't think it was a good move to bring Papelbon in the top of the seventh. I thought it was a no-win situation.. He can't pitch three innings. I thought I spoke my thoughts out loud and a Guy a table behind me disagreed. Who else is there? Well there was Masterson and the lefty I forget. Desperation. I see your point I said to my neighbor, I think everyone was a Red Sox fan there maybe except the Bartender who was an Angels fan A nice guy thank god I wasn't around to see the pain and suffering for the Guy during that series.

 Let's step back in time... on the first day of the Virginia State Fair I was checking the place out and there was one booth filled with apparel, shirts, hats, belt buckles, extremely colorful stand and the most extremely colorful Tie Dye sports shirts I had ever seen. There was this Red Sox shirt it was undeniably - awesome. It cost $30, I held back. Maybe it was too bold for me. Maybe I was just holding on to my money til pay day. So ten days of the fair came and went and I caught some of the Angels Red Sox series. Sunday the last day of the fair 10-5-08

, I missed the game on TV where the Angels came back and took 1 from the Sox at Fenway. The last day of the fair and somehow I didn't get my ass over to pick up that shirt. I think I was wussing out. Who me? Wearing anything that wild? So that Monday AM the whole fair is being dismantled and I am making the last rounds of picking up the foul waste vegetable oil that would at some future time be converted into pristine B100 (100% biodiesel). The Angels had won the night before and lo and behold... the shirt stand hasn't packed up yet. 'Cmon Guy take a stand will you, you punk!' I say to myself. Still working on the ability to always say good things to myself.  'Hey you still got that Red Sox shirt?'

Done deal. I wore it that night and watched the Sox close out the Angels.

  The shirt does not have supernatural powers ... or does it? Heck no.

  The first game of the series I wore the shirt. Sweet. At the Abbey Tavern the upper west side near Columbia great night. Then Saturday no wear shirt, stay up to 1AM after exhausting day

at Greenmarket UNion Square, go t bed thinking Sox were not going to win. They lose.

  Two days later I didn't even get to see a game. Both horrible losses. Back in California at 5PM

PST I decide I might as well (Might as well, Might as Well) wear the shirt and go grab some good beer and hope that fine waitress is working the Flatiron.

  So anyways the shirt picks up a comment. 'The Red Sox and The Grateful Dead' someone says.

I think to myself well I can go back to my new apartment in a San Rafael flophouse, weekly rates, bathroom down the hall, after the game and change shirts and then walk the last few minutes of the farmer's market. Maybe you'll wear your shirt proudly even if they lose I am thinking (IPA kicking in). Anyways the bottom of the seventh came and the rest is history.

And the world became increasingly surrealistic as high fives with White Sox fans and people buying me more beer. I visualized really strongly Pedroia walking and loading the bases for Papi.. It didn't happen. The Man from Woodland Ca. slapped a single into the outfield. 7-1 woohoo finally Fenway comes alive.. he rest is history. The beautiful young blonde who sits next to me actually she didn't know what she was doing because I was out of my seat, when she took her seat, the rest is history. So I coolly got back in my chair, with my new company next

 door and before like 20 minutes ago, there I was/am congratulating the Rays and now I completely know this game is for the Sox.  Talking about how the Rays can taste the World Series in their mouth I was saying they (the young Rays) were like a pack of hounds joyously chasing their prey up a tree (tired old Red Sox). But what happened.. Of course my ears perk up when I hear my new neighbor(s). The girl friend toasts her blond friend (but was she really blond? who cares!)  happy birthday! But hey she's a few days early on the toast. Tuesday!?

 'Hey your birthday's Tuesday?!' So's mine. We exchange Driver's licenses. High Fives. Destiny I am thinking. Wow! JD Smashes home run somewhere in there more high Fives. My blond and her friend want to buy me another drink. Some kind of shot glass gets dropped into a pint of beer maybe a half glass all I know is tasted fine going down and  I marveled at how beautiful the empty shot glass and empty beer mug looked for one millisecond as it was raised up the lights of the bar shone through and everything sparkled. The rest was History.

                                                          (Elsa/Getty Images NYTimes)

 The Sox won as you all know well. I don't know where the girls went. I made it home to my new digs and decided it wasn't a good idea to get on my bike and ride to Fairfax. I am So-o-o-o tired today.  I better have that shirt ready for the weekend.

 

Lifesignsphoto

 Life has always been a experiment for the living. I take it as far as I can, or want or (closer to reality...) am able. It's Tuesday night, October 14 back at my brother's dining room table the sounds of 5th Avenue, upper Manhattan come up from the street 6 floors below.  This past weekend I was up at the Windfall farm for the Autumn bon fire celebration. My name is Guy I have been a photographer, videographer, cabdriver, longtime beginner musician and erstwhile blogger.

  Way over due, finding someway as basic and simple as getting all the html, all the technical frustrations, all that stuff that's beyond my control and abilities... out of my control. 

   Maybe this blogspot will work.

  Well the experiment goes on I want to share like so many of you all the path through that we must somehow find our way to an economy based on Ecological principals. I believe that the creation of such a economy will grow not through government effort but through the steps of creative individuals, motivated by economic survival. The bottom line is it's a mystery, how do humans respond, where is the leadership, where are the pioneers? What I want to do is keep a eye on that as well as continuing to enjoy Music wherever I find it.

  

  This is something I wrote yesterday feeling very optimistic after the Virginia State Fair event: 

 The story of the Biodiesel exposition at the Virginia State Fair will have to make it's way out of my video archives there was so much powerful excitement with the potential of BioDiesel to convert the economic woes of the Farm to a place of independence and decentralized wealth, the beginnings of the new American Economy.

I am a dreamer, true, but the reality is making itself manifest. Farmers can grow Oil producing crops often in a Winter rotation (in Virginia and other Southern States) Producing thousands of gallons or raw vegetable oil (Canola/Soy etc.) that can be converted directly to Biodiesel on their farms. Imagine mini refineries on every farm over 100 acres. Refineries that have no toxic byproducts. Imagine perhaps regional Farm Associations that operate independent Biodiesel service stations...throughout the USA and the Planet. Hazardous emissions way down, energy independence, localized energy, self-reliant and sustaining. Powering all the big diesel engines that run the commerce of the world. Complementing all the solar powered electric vehicles that can be powered by the solar panels on our houses. 

  Imagine a world where Community after Community competes in creating a green grid of Nature around and within our towns. No more will we watch hopelessy as our towns sell off our local and national Heritage, history and landscapes to the developers with all the speculative destruction of our civilization's outmoded collapsing economic system that extracts wealth from the loss of our Natural World. An economy that harms the Ecology of the Planet is an economy on the road to exctinction for the people it clams to serve. A world economy based on Ecological principles is going to emerge. That is where growth will occur, that is where wealth will be created, that is our future and it is a very heathy future if we can keep our eyes on the course and avoid the debris of the collapsing centralized wealth systems that will struggle to maintain their hold over our world.

Guy