Unlucky, 1 - 11 - 13

Lordy, Lordy,

I hope this doesn't establish a pattern for the year:

Luckily, we learned with 12 21 12

that numbers and their significance

may or may not 

be something to get our knickers in a twist about.

So I'll try not to take this idea that an entire year

numbered 13

could be bad luck,

but

bad stuff is happening, 

forcing people

to either stick their fingers in their ears and pretend it's not relevant

or twist the facts to suit their needs

or to look for a real answer.

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Well, I don't mean to make too strong of a parallel

between the suicide of a brilliant man

and controlling guns,

though there is something to be said 

for the fact that yes, I think Aaron Schwartz was chastised

for being too smart.

And sadly, we live in a country where 

being smart is not to be trusted.

And in that same country,

being armed is valued.

For some reason, the idea of anti-intellectual folks

armed with guns

makes me (a college teacher)

really frightened.

I'm going to have a lot more to say about Aaron Schwartz's death,

I think,

but for now I'll say:

something like this was bound to happen.

Aaron Schwartz may have understood,

innately, and early,

that ownership of texts 

is an archaic value.

Knowledge is to be shared,

and if we want to create an intelligent public,

we have to get it out there.

Aaron Schwartz knew that.

May he Rest In Peace.

Love Poem For Today

(from: senior hiker )

My grandmother always said

the honeymoon's over

when you fart in bed,

and then the test of true love starts,

a love that sometimes ignores the heart

and demands a patience greater than

that of the wisest fisherman.

Well,

 you and I are growing old

and seek a fairy tale more real

where companionship is the moral

and star-struck ever-afters, vile,

and bed a place to sleep,

to caress,

to talk and cry

and

to die.

I'll lie by your side,

my gentle prince

and forgive fragrant emissions.

They mark a life

well lived, and full

of wisdom and

forgiveness.

Of pain and disappointment too,

and respect for every hour,

and the worship

of the sacred

in a budding flower.

This love I welcome:

well worn,

flawed,

but always new,

and pray I give the same

to you.

(photo by me)

Diva For Today: Jill Bolte Taylor

Happy New Year, all.

I keep slipping in and out of blogland,

and this doesn't make me happy.

If I'm not blogging, that means I'm over extended somewhere else.

Not a good thing.

Today, I heard this TED talk, and it blew me away.

This woman is a diva, and what she's talking about

could change the world,

if we dare let it.

I also tend to think that what she's talking about is what is wrong with the world:

we're too left brained,

overburdened too with being linear and logical.

So we short circuit.

Listen to what this wonderful woman,

and hear her solution: