This blog has moved

This blog is now located at http://randygrenier.blogspot.com/.
You will be automatically redirected in 30 seconds, or you may click here.

For feed subscribers, please update your feed subscriptions to
http://randygrenier.blogspot.com/feeds/posts/default.

What is Peace?

Review of Sony Vaio VGN-SR520G Laptop Computer

I had spent a lot of time at Best Buy, COSTCO, and on the Internet trying to find a laptop for business use. I looked at HP, Dell, and Sony. I tried Circuit City online and Amazon.com. I was surprised at how hard it is to find a laptop with Windows 7 Professional. Computer after computer that I looked at came with Windows Home Premium. I wanted the professional edition because I was planning to install Oracle and some other business applications. I also wanted security features like a fingerprint reader and password/fingerprint access to the hard disk in addition to password/fingerprint login. I also wanted a 500 GB hard disk, 4 GB memory, and a decent dual core processor. I wasn’t interested in huge HD displays or Blu-ray. I just needed a very portable but powerful computer for taking care of business.

Then one fine day after having gone completely around the laptop section of a local Best Buy, I had my Vaio moment. There it was! Small and lightweight in a magnesium alloy case. Intel Core 2 Duo T6670 processor. 500 GB storage. And….ah, yes… Microsoft® Windows® 7 Professional 64-bit edition. And, of course, all of the features one would expect of a modern laptop including Wi-Fi (802.11a/b/g/n), a CD/DVD writer, and built-in camera and mike that work with Skype. Although this is primarily a business computer, it has a few fun things like Bluetooth stereo (A2DP), Windows Media Center, and so on. (See full specs below). And… how sweet… it’s Energy Star 5.0 compliant. I had found it. Only $900 bucks at Best Buy.

I admit that I’m still in the new-gadget euphoria phase, so my review isn’t entirely objective. That being said, I can’t find anything to complain about this computer. It is fast and powerful. I have installed the full Oracle Enterprise database (not just the client), though I have yet to load up much data. I’m creating a UMLS Metathesaurus database application with significant data—that should put this computer through its paces. Having a 500 gigabyte hard drive helps a lot since most laptops I looked at had only 320 gigabytes. The keyboard is particularly nice which is important to me personally. I would venture to say that the keyboard is the best I’ve experienced on a laptop. And all of this on an ultra-portable that’s just over an inch thick weighing in at 4.3 pounds.

I've been using Windows XP for quite a few years now on company laptops and on my home computer. I find the transition to Windows 7 to be easy, and the user experience for me is sweet. It’s a nice clean desktop that finally delivers on the promise of an “intuitive” interface. It is gorgeous without trying to be too fancy. Most importantly, it is functional and useful. Also, Sony provides some nice utilities for configuration and maintenance. (They also provide some multi-media toys. It’s Sony, after all.)

Anyway, I’m looking forward to finishing up some development projects and presenting them to clients on this awesome laptop. Anything that makes my work more fun helps.

Oh yeah, though I’m embarrassed to admit it, in a sea of laptop users in one of the larger Starbucks, I was feeling a lot of attention. Definitely felt the love! Was it my laptop?

More specs for the Sony Vaio VGN-SR520G/B:

General
Computer Type: Notebook
Type of Use: Ultra-portable
Action Buttons: Switch Mode
Pointing Device: Electro-static touch pad
Security: Biometric Fingerprint Sensor

Hardware
Keyboard: QWERTY, 82 keys with 2.0mm stroke and 19.05mm pitch
Camera: Built-in MOTION EYE® camera and microphone with face-tracking technology

Processor
Type: Intel® Core™ 2 Duo Processor T6670
Speed: 2.20GHz
Front Side Bus Speed: 800MHz
L2 Cache: 2MB
Technology: Intel® Dual Core® processor technology

Memory
Installed: 4GB PC2-6400 (2GBx2)
Maximum: 8GB
Type/Speed: DDR2/800MHz

Hard Drive
Capacity: 500GB
Speed: 5400rpm
Type: Serial ATA
Impact Protection: G-Sensor™ Shock Protection – Hard Disk Drive Protection

Optical Drive
CD Support: Read / Write (CD/-R/-RW)
DVD Support: Read / Write (DVD±R/±RW/±R DL/-RAM)

Expansion Slots
Multimedia Card Reader: One Memory Stick PRO™ (Standard / Duo) media slot with MagicGate® functionality
One ExpressCard® /34 media slot
One Secure Digital (SD memory card) media slot

Audio
Sound System: Intel® High Definition Audio

Display
Screen Size: 13.3"
Resolution: 1280 x 800
Back Light Technology: LED

Graphics
Processor: Mobile Intel® Graphics Media Accelerator
4500MHD with Intel® Clear Video Technology
Total Available Graphics Memory: 1695MB (max.)
Chipset: Mobile Intel® GM45 Express Chipset
Max. External Resolution via VGA: 2048 x 1536

Inputs and Outputs
Modem Jack: 1
Microphone Input: 1
Port Replicator Connector(s): 1 (Bottom)
USB Port(s): 2 (2.0 compliant)
VGA Output(s): 1
DC-In: 1
i.LINK® Connection: 1 (4pin) i.LINK® connector (IEEE 1394)
Ethernet Connection (s): 1

Power
Battery Type: Standard Capacity Lithium-ion Battery
Estimated Battery Life: Up to 6.5 hours Standard Capacity Battery
Up to 9.5 hours Large Capacity Battery
Power Requirements: 121W + 10%

Wireless/Networking
Ethernet Protocol: 10Base-T/100Base-TX
Ethernet Speed: Fast Ethernet (RJ-45)
Wi-Fi: Intel® WiFi Link 5100AGN (802.11a/b/g/n)
Bluetooth® Technology: Integrated Stereo A2DP (2.1 + EDR)
Modem Type: Integrated V.92/V.90 Modem (RJ-11)

Software
Operating System: Microsoft® Windows® 7 Professional 64-bit with XP Professional downgrade disc
The VAIO® Software Experience: VAIO Care™ - System diagnostics and maintenance
VAIO® Multimedia Suite: VAIO® Movie Story – Simple Movie Creation
VAIO® Media plus - Multimedia Streaming Software
*Please access VAIO® Help and Support from your PC for a complete list of software applications and trials.
Anti-Virus Software: Norton Internet Security™ 2009 30-Day Trial Offer

Service and Warranty Information
Telephone Support: 1 year toll-free technical assistance available 24/7 at 888-476-6972
Online and Email Support: Available at http://www.esupport.sony.com/EN/VAIO
Onsite/In-Home Service: 1 year limited warranty with Onsite/In-Home Service . See actual warranty for details.
International Service: 1 year international service plan.
Registration required. See www.sony.com/IRSP for details.
Limited Warranty Term: 1 year limited warranty . See actual warranty for details.

Environmental Information
EPEAT™ : Gold
RoHS®: Compliant
ENERGY STAR®: 5.0

Dimensions
Weight: 4.30 lbs (with standard battery)
Measurements: 12.4"(W) x 0.98-1.34"(H) x 9.2"(D)

Supplied Accessories
Standard Capacity Lithium-ion battery
AC Adapter
Power Cord

The Autumn Song

The autumn wind it whistles through the trees

The harbinger of the winter it reprieves

It sings a song and makes the forest dance

I wonder if each leaf falls where it does by chance

Under an oak I sit and contemplate

Do I really choose as master of my fate?

Or has the script been written out for me?

Is my life ruled by tyrant destiny?

O teacher, teach me more

Come to my gilded cage and open up the door

Remove the veil and help me see

Please teacher don't relent 'till I'm completely free

The rabbit runs from what I cannot see

Is her fear like the fear inside of me?

The squirrel seems to be the master of his tree

I wonder if that's what he really wants to be

The forest floor is a carpet made of gold

It hides so many stories never told

What makes the geese to warmer places fly?

What makes a million generations die?

O teacher, teach me more

Come to my gilded cage and open up the door

Remove the veil and help me see

Please teacher don't relent 'till I'm completely free

O see the deer, they graze and sniff and run

Ten thousand ants all live and work and move as one

A million stars all sparkle in the sky

I look upon them all and wonder ‘Who am I’

But as I gaze and feel and dream my cell phone rings

I walk back to my car and think of other things

My weighty burdens and responsibilities

Could my life flow and grow and turn more like trees

O teacher, teach me more

Come to my gilded cage and open up the door

Remove the veil and help me see

Please teacher don't relent 'till I'm completely free

Copyright © 2009 Randy Grenier

I've completely ignored this blog since 2008, so I'll add an entry to get warmed up again. I'll try to get away from politics.

Below are some pictures I took at a Boston Celtics vs. Orlando Magic game the other day. I was pretty close to the action. The pictures were taken with a cheap camera phone with no zoom. Click on any image for a larger view.

Deceit

Put an old lady in a perfectly good car, and have her go to, say 10 auto repair shops and ask for a checkup. How many of the 10 do you think will give her estimates for needed repairs? $100? $200? $500? What do you think?

Someone at work by accident deletes some important data. He or she isn't detected but is in a position to explain where the data went. Do you think the truth would be told?

A father has been preaching to his kids about values, yet he went out and lost money gambling and drinking. Will he tell them the truth?

The common thread here is deceit. OK, these are examples of the experiences of common folk, but what about the deceit that has more severe consequences? What about the deceit that affects millions of people? What about the deceit that contributes to death and human suffering?

In a democracy where people have an opportunity to look out for their own interests, their families and neighbors, and the common good, deceit is employed to manipulate voters to do otherwise. People in fact end up voting for those who do them harm.

People who have railed against taxes were really extremely wealthy and didn't want to pay their share. They deceived working class people into voting for their puppets who merely cut taxes for the rich.

People who screamed about regulation were in fact those who would dump poison in the water for money. Who would expose workers to industrial levels of asbestos fibers without protective equipment. Who would lie about the ingredients in their products. Who would sell drugs not tested for safety. And so on. So they deceived "average joes" into thinking that deregulation was good.

There is a symbiotic relationship between deceit and ignorance. It is harder to deceive the informed. In a democracy, it is critical that those who participate are alert and informed. Turn off your TV and radio and go to a library. Take night classes. Get information from highly-educated people--not from know-it-all blabbermouths. Beware of so-called conservative TV pundits and radio talking heads. They are merely a part of the deceit machinery

John McCain has clearly been using deceit in this presidential campaign, but that's not surprising. It is a Republican proven method for winning elections. Nixon did it. Reagan did it. Bush did it. Deceit has always worked. Why should it not work this time?

Oh, and to those who know better, be a guardian of your polling place. Elections can and have been rigged. Bring your video camera or camera phone and make videos if people are turned away from the polls because the polling place couldn't accommodate the long lines of people who arrived on time. Report any false mailings with misinformation about changes to polling locations. Demand paper trails where electronic voting machines are used. And don't be afraid to scream for recounts in obviously suspicious situations. The "system" won't do anything. It's we the people who have to.

There are hundreds of billions of dollars in war contracts, big oil profits, and tax breaks for the rich at stake. They will do anything to win. BE READY TO FIGHT FOR OUR DEMOCRACY!!!

Yes We Can

There are logical and intelligent reasons to vote for change. And then there's a feeling...

Death Stood Before Me

In the thick chaotic swirl of my dreams
Strange netherworld that only seems
No sense of order could I find
Fragmented thoughts of a broken mind

When not by choice, desire nor will
The dreams all stopped and thoughts turned still
My scattered mind became so clear
Leaving only a forgotten, familiar fear

Death stood before me.

Ten feet tall and cloaked in gray
Like a dark wet cloud on a dismal day
I felt his gaze though he had no face
I shivered from his cold embrace

Ephemeral moments somehow last
He stood so still yet moved so fast
He looked down on my mortal frame
The one called Death yet has no name

Like a mighty king I waved my hand
"Be gone! Be gone!" was my command
My pride, my strength, O did I wield
Yet not an inch did Death he yield

Then more like beggar, humble and weak
Groveling coward I did speak
"Please! Please! One more day!"
Yet not a bit did Death I sway

I finally saw there's no escape
I could not slip from Death's broad cape
Not even time to see my past
The final moment come at last

Death stood before me.

When suddenly within my breast
A feeling full and real did crest
My heart was bursting full and proud
And feeling that I said aloud

"Thank you for this life!"
"Thank you for this life!"

To whom I spoke I do not know
But somewhere did my prayer flow
What was to come I did not see
But gentle peace did glow in me

And before Death could make his stroke
My dream did end, and I awoke
Not the slightest tinge of fear
Eyes wide open; crystal clear

No longer did I think of Death
I drew the deepest, sweetest breath
With understanding I was blessed
That each new moment is the best

No longer will I yield to strife
The precious moments of this life
There's nothing left that I can say
'Xcept Death did grant me one more day

What's Wrong With Talking?

Today there are headlines about Iran testing missiles. There are comments from the Iranian government that it will defend itself against attacks from Israel and comments from Israel that they will defend themselves against Iran. Of course, the U.S. is responding with words like Secretary of State Rice’s comments about “our obligation to help our allies defend themselves.”

Doesn’t it all sound very familiar? Each side pounding their chests saying “Don’t mess with me!” Each side putting on the tough front. Each side trying to mask fear with the hard line. The worst part is that events like these often escalate to full scale war, and thousands end up loosing their lives. Yet we repeat the same old patterns… patterns that don’t work.

On a visit to the John F. Kennedy Museum in Boston, I had the privilege of viewing the actual correspondences between President Kennedy and Soviet Premier Khrushchev during the Cuban missile crisis. (Of course, the English translations of Khrushchev’s correspondences were presented.) Keep in mind the both of these men were known for tough rhetoric. Kennedy had made many anti-communist speeches, and Khrushchev was famous for telling America “We will bury you!” However, the two leaders communicated directly with each other. They talked. Neither showed weakness in these letters, and they had a lot to sort out. But they communicated.

Many have said that the Cuban missile crisis brought us very close to a nuclear war. I can imagine if today’s leadership was in place during that time. Tougher and tougher language would get used more to appease the public than to address the crisis. Leaders would refuse to communicate directly with each other out of fear of being perceived as weak. There’s no way of knowing what would have happened, but a very reasonable guess is that thousands—if not millions—would have died.

It’s sad that that mentality is so prevalent in America. The Republicans are constantly attacking Obama’s plans to talk directly with leaders in countries perceived as our enemies. Why? What you’re doing now isn’t working. Never has. Never will. We’re not gorillas. We are homo sapiens which means “wise man.” Let’s act like it.

I don’t’ think Obama is any kind of savior. He has his blind spots and imperfections like the rest of us, and should he become president I’ll be the first to criticize anything I disagree with. But I’m voting for him because I think he is just plain smarter than McCain and other so-called conservative thinkers. We need intelligent leadership, not some silly tough guy image. Our safety and security is a really important issue in this election.

Oh yeah, one more caveat. The Bush administration is using this as justification for their “missile shield.” Again, the contractors are the only winners.

Fox News is a propadanda machine. That is not an exageration, and it is not partisan bickering. It is a fact. The management at Fox news deliberately manipulate uninformed and uneducated people to vote for Republicans. Please try to understand that there are hundreds of billions of dollars at stake in this election. The petroleum power structure, the war contractors, and those who profit from creating greenhouse gases all want to preserve the status quo.

Throughout history, there have been ruthless individuals who will do whatever it takes for wealth and power. They have no regard for any death or human suffering they may cause or contribute to. They have no reservations about using deceit or deception. Those individuals tend to rise to positions of power. That also happens in America. Our government is under their sway.

In a constitutional democracy where the people have the means to protect themselves from all of this, those who would wield power must manipulate the thinking of those who vote. In an information age, they must insert sufficient misinformation to confuse. Hence we have Fox News, talk radio, and various propaganda web sites and blogs. It is all to manipulate our thinking for someone else's profits.

Turn off your TV. Turn off your car radio. Put down the booze. Open an encyclopedia. Take a night class. Educate yourself. Exercise your intellect. Don't be a mind-controlled fool.

http://www.outfoxed.org

The Real John McCain

Typical Fox News Commentator

Some Fox News commentator (typical) tried to associate Obama's name with "Osama" and then she jokingly makes a comment about killing Obama. Pretty sick.

In spite of the hatred and fear mongering, there are good people in America. There have always been those who fight for change for the better. It's happening now.

Getting Tough

I feel like puking when I hear people go on and on about being “tough on terrorism” and so on. They are just being manipulated by crooks who are robbing us blind in the name of defense and the war on terrorism. Paying thousands of dollars for wrenches and hundreds of dollars for toilet seats doesn’t create a strong defense. Paying contractors to do soldiers’ laundry at $100 a bag or paying Halliburton/KBR to build oil rigs in Iraq with tax payer money instead of allowing the petroleum companies to pay for it themselves does nothing to protect us from terrorism. A major military deployment in Iraq makes a lot of contractors really rich, but does nothing to secure us from the real threats to our security.

People need to pull their heads out of their… the sand… and face reality. The administration has knowingly and willingly lied again and again about the war in Iraq. The defense establishment is corrupted. Private contractors have taken over military functions without accountability. When will people see that our government has become a puppet show for those who are blinded by greed?

An effective defense requires non-corrupted and intelligent leadership. However, it is hard for non-corrupted individuals to break into the inner circles of government, and it is hard for intelligent individuals to win elections.

Any solutions will have to start with us. We need to become more awake and aware. We need to put down the alcohol and turn off the TV’s. We need to exercise our intellects. We need to learn to discriminate between information and garbage. We need to become responsible for the so-called leaders we elect. Ignorance is getting harder and harder to excuse.

Let’s get tough on corruption. Let’s get tough on lies and deceit and deception. Let’s get tough on the lobbyists and special interests. Let’s get tough on ignorance. Let’s get tough on ourselves. Then we can be in a better position to deal with the very real threats to our security.

...

Within You Without You / Tomorrow Never Knows

The real psychedelic!!! :-)

Desire and Fulfillment

One of the English translations of The Second Noble Truth of Buddha is “The cause of sorrow is desire.” A more formal translation:

"Now this ... is the noble truth of the origin of suffering: it is this craving which leads to renewed existence, accompanied by delight and lust, seeking delight here and there, that is, craving for sensual pleasures, craving for existence, craving for extermination."

Dhammacakkappavattana Sutta (SN 56.11), trans. Bodhi (2000), pp. 1843-47.

Many would interpret this to mean that one should refrain from the objects of desire. This concept is not exclusively Buddhist. Many Christians, Hindus, and others practice monastic lifestyles to avoid things that humans typically desire such as relationships and material things.

Having listened quite a bit to Maharaji and having practiced the know-how that he teaches for going within to try to experience inner contentment, I’ve come to a simple but amazing realization. It is not about a monastic lifestyle or a Spartan discipline. It is the understanding that the things we desire cannot completely fulfill us, and that we must find that one thing that can.

The deepest desire in a human being, for lack of better words, is to be fulfilled… to be happy. There is a part of us that cannot be fulfilled by things corporal or material or by “seeking delight here and there.” That part of ourselves can only be fulfilled by something within which brings inner contentment and peace.

Once we have achieved inner contentment, then we do not try to find it in other things. Materialism is just materialism. Family is just family. Friends are just friends. Once we have found fulfillment, we can enjoy those things for what they are because we are no longer trying to make something out of them that they are not.

“Happiness is the meaning and the purpose of life, the whole aim and end of human existence”

Aristotle

The answers are not hidden. We just need a little light to be able to see them.

Phew! I just read some blogs about Clinton vs. Obama. Between those and the debates and the political pundits on TV, I think I need a break from this election. In other news, there are corrupt governments and human rights abuses and diseases and poverty and wars being waged and more wars brewing and vast human suffering. Oh, yeah, and everyone seems to have forgot that there are STILL thousands of nuclear warheads out there.

I don't think that politics holds the answers. I don't believe that any leader figure is going to make it all better. Sure, try to sort out the best candidate and vote, but don't make more out of that then what it is.

I think that a little bit of consciousness can make a big difference in this world. Not just consciousness of the issues and problems, but consciousness of what life is made out of. Maybe if human beings woke up to what exists within them, things could become more balanced. Turning on a light can make a lot of difference when it's really dark. I'm not just talking about some flaky spiritualism or group hugging movement. I'm talking about genuinely becoming more awake and aware. Becoming more conscious.

I guess I have to start with myself.

New Hybrid Car

Well, I up and bought a Prius. Leased, actually. A 2008 Magnetic Gray Toyota Prius with option Package #6. This package adds smart key, backup camera, vehicle stability control, really good JBL sound system, Bluetooth, satellite navigation with voice control, high intensity discharge headlights, very nice leather seats, and a few other things. Really cool!

OK, so this is no high-performance car. It does not have head-jerking acceleration or road-racing steering. It certainly is no luxury car (though it has many of the amenities--see option package above). But this car is an engineering marvel. Try Googling "Hybrid Synergy Drive" and learn more. It's actually more complex than the simplistic portrayal of an electric motor supplementing an internal combustion engine. Much more complex. Read up if you’re interested.

Truth be told, greenhouse gases are a serious problem. Global warming is a reality. Politics and economics related to petroleum resources is creating a lot of death and suffering. It's easy to talk about these things at tea parties, but I as an individual want to do a little more. I want to at least reduce my energy consumption. I use energy-efficient light bulbs in my home, I only buy Energy Star compliant appliances, I don’t waste paper, and I recycle plastics. And now I drive an extremely fuel-efficient car.

When I'm on the highway surrounded by thousands of huge trucks and SUV's, I have no illusion that I'm making a big difference in reducing greenhouse gases. However, one more person buying a very fuel-efficient car may influence one or two others to do so. One person can contribute to creating more of a market for fuel-efficient cars influencing manufacturers to make and sell more of them. This is already happening. You may have read in the financial sections that Toyota is kicking butt with their hybrid cars while GM is having a hard time with little more than TV commercials promising them in the near future.

However, to my surprise, there’s no big sacrifice. Sure, I could have bought a Cadillac CTS or Acura RL and had a little more luxury and prestige, but as it turns out the Prius is actually quite fun to drive. You can watch the hybrid system status screen and see exactly when you’re using the internal combustion engine, the electric motor, or both, when you are generating electricity to the battery, and your average miles per gallon. The car is completely silent when it is running only on electricity. Even wind noise is minimal due to an extremely low drag coefficient (i.e. it’s very aerodynamic). I’m no expert on sound systems, but the JBL system creates crystal clear music with excellent thumping base. There are steering wheel controls for just about everything. The navigation is awesome. It’s pretty cool to just press a voice command button and say “Home” to have the voice-guidance system direct you home. My cell phone connects automatically via Bluetooth when I start the car allowing me to make and receive calls with the press of a button using the sound system as a speakerphone This car has a lot of goodies.

As far as prestige, there are different kinds. I’m not particularly concerned with what others think when I’m driving, but I’ve noticed a lot of heads turning especially around universities (there are many where I live) and in places like Whole Foods parking lots. People sometimes respect consciousness more than wealth. I’m all for that.

The Military-Industrial Complex

After World War II, weapons industries became a permanent, major component of the American economy. They have also become a major influence on government policy due to the movement of high-ranking individuals between the government, the military, and weapons industries.

In this video, President Eisenhower explains the necessity for the development of the military-industrial complex, but he also warns us of the dire consequences if we are not diligent. We have not been diligent.

I Want a Hybrid

I was reading some comments online about hybrid cars. Several comments were to the effect that you're not really saving money by driving a hybrid. Some even described hybrid owners as "eco-poseurs."

I want a hybrid. My next car will definitely be a hybrid. I don't want a car that uses hybrid technology to crank up horsepower and torque. Rather I want a car that uses hybrid technology to reduce gasoline usage.

My reason is not just to save money. Although I am not rich, I could easily afford a mid-size luxury sedan or SUV with lots of horsepower, and I can afford to buy fuel for it.

I'm also not interested in posing for others. I'm not trying to prove I'm hip. In fact, I care little of what others think of me when I'm on the road short of wanting to shoot me out of road rage.

My desire to buy a hybrid is based on the following logic:

• If more people by hybrids or other super fuel-efficient cars, they encourage automakers to produce more of them.

• If automakers produce more hybrid and fuel-efficient cars, they will want to market what they've produced.

• If automakers invest more into marketing of hybrid and fuel-efficient cars, even more people will buy them.

• If more and more people buy hybrid and fuel-efficient cars, less greenhouse gases will be created.

• If less greenhouse gases are created, the world will be a better place for all of us.

Why is something so simple so hard for so many to get?

...

I just wanted to point out that this is a personal blog, and it only contains my personal expressions and opinions. I do not represent any organization or group or other individual. I do not represent any religion or political party. I post my real name, and I stand accountable for what I say.

It is unfortunate that the Internet is more and more becoming the misinformation superhighway. Of course, people are going to have different views, and I am a staunch advocate of free expression. But it is also a fact that we live in a word full of liars. People will lie for money. People will lie for position. People will lie just out of hatred.

There are many web sites, blogs and other commentaries on the Internet that are nothing more than vicious attacks motivated by hatred. The commentaries are full of lies, and their only purpose is to hurt. The authors of these commentaries rarely reveal themselves and use anonymous monikers like sug8656. They do not stand accountable for what they say.

Sometimes those in pain lash out at others. Misery loves company. I do not place myself above others when I say this because I’ve been there and I’ve done that. However, I’ve come to realize that the way out of frustration and despair is to consciously seek inner peace. Lashing out at others just perpetuates a vicious cycle of pain, misery, and yes, war.

Peace!

I'm Not Here

I'm not here
I'm not in the office
Not in the prison cell
Not in the statistics
Not in the study

I sail the tumultuous waters
The tempests of insecurity
Adrift yet self-contained
Adroit yet tentative
Alert yet tranquil

I embark on great adventures
I dance on the battlefield
To the relentless tempo of time
To conflicting dreams and aspirations
To Death's stark breath upon my neck

I reach the sweet nirvana
A bottomless cup
A poignant reminder
A steady pillar
A spirited wind

I’m not here
Not in the programming
Not in the discourse
Of what’s to be expected
Not in the pretentious
The broken
The contained

But rather I go within
To a secret haunt
To a heartfelt purpose
Where smiles and tears
Need not be explained
Where minds cannot be led
And hearts cannot be deceived

...

A Definition of Patriot

My patriotism has been questioned because I have disagreed with some policies of decision makers in our government. Somehow, a certain group of people have decided that they are the “patriots” and those of us who don’t think like them are not. Consequently, I would like to put forth my own definition of a patriot. In this definition, I use pronouns “he” and “his” but it applies to women and men alike.

A patriot keeps his mind sharp. This is the information age, and only a clear, sharp mind can make a meaningful contribution. A patriot doesn’t sit in front of a TV for four or five hours a day because he knows that too much TV makes his intellect weak. A patriot doesn’t drink alcohol more than occasionally because he knows that alcohol makes one dull and dimwitted. A patriot studies, whether it is science or math or literature or history or whatever, because a patriot exercises his brain. A patriot doesn’t read big headlines with little information; he reads and digests the many long paragraphs in the better information resources.

A real patriot doesn’t do a lot of flag waving. He understands that the flag is the symbol of our nation, but that human beings are the reality of our nation. He understands that a single human life is far more precious than any symbol. A patriot doesn’t need to make public displays of his patriotism. Instead he knows what he stands for and acts accordingly with or without recognition. Anyone can publicly pledge allegiance to a flag, but a real patriot is the one who has the courage to do the right thing in the most difficult times.

A patriot doesn’t think American blood is more precious than the blood of any other human being on this planet. That kind of thinking is the thinking of a Nazi. A patriot believes in one of the founding principles of our nation that all men are created equal. He understands that although we must be strong, we must also be just and humane. All men are created equal.

A patriot would never try to use the government to force his religion on others. He believes what he needs to believe, but he knows that the government should never be used to institute a religion. A patriot would never try to use the public schools to force his religion on other people's kids. A patriot would never use religion as an excuse to deny someone else their rights. A patriot does not use the name of God to push his political agenda, and he does not allow himself to be manipulated by those who do.

Finally, a patriot has integrity. Chronic liars need not apply. Thieves don’t qualify. Someone with integrity is someone who lives in reality. Someone who lives in reality doesn’t deceive. Someone who doesn’t deceive is difficult to deceive. Our nation needs more people who are difficult to deceive.

Well, that’s my definition of a patriot. I’m sure I’ll get a lot of disagreement, but it works for me.