Here’s my presentation for last week’s Reno/Tahoe Wordcamp 09. What a great time, and what great people came out for it! My presentation goes over why I use Wordpress as a content management system (CMS) and not just a blogging platform, and how I implemented it in 3 different sites, MyStrategicPlan’s resource section, the Reno Passport, and Globes for the Globe. Special thanks to Colin Loretz and the rest of the gang that put this together- what a great time.
No, it isn’t, because America is more than a collection of policies. We are, or at least we used to be, a nation of moral ideals. In the past, our government has sometimes done an imperfect job of upholding those ideals. But never before have our leaders so utterly betrayed everything our nation stands for. “This government does not torture people,” declared former President Bush, but it did, and all the world knows it.
Want to do your part to save the environment, but find all the talk about sacrifice and investment a little tough to swallow? Well, a spoonful of sugar, or in this case a handful, does make the medicine go down, no?
Enter GlobesfortheGlobe.com: tips you can use to save the environment that are written on ta-tas. It’s a humble contribution to the green movement, crafted by @colinloretz and myself.
I figure, if you’re going to have to start separating your recyclables, why not learn about it from a source you trust. Go check it out today and start feeling better about having to buy new light bulbs, or installing solar panels or biking to work. Believe me, it works.
Have boobies? Why not submit your message today and we’ll post it up there so you can do your part as well. Thanks!
In the Katha Veda found in the Upanishads, Nachiketa is praised by the god reffered to as the King of Death for choosing to know the secret of death rather than choosing the many earthly desires he was tempted with. Immediately upon granting Nachiketa his wish, the god issues a statement about why his decision was so noteworthy.
The good is one thing; the pleasant is another. These two, differing in their ends, both prompt to action. Blessed are they that choose the good; they that choose the pleasant miss the goal.
I think upon first examination, all decisions fall in the diagram above. Sometimes the good and the pleasant meet up- you get to choose one thing that is both the right thing to do and the fun thing to do. That’s sweet and easy. What makes life such a bitch is that most of the time the two don’t overlap. Usually you’re asked to choose between both of those.
On the one hand, I’ve found that you can sometimes force yourself to make the right decisions- to choose the good over the pleasant. A lot of people I know can do that- they’ll sacrifice what they could have right now for something better in the future. I admire those folks, but I’m not always ready to do that.
For several years I did. I lead what some people see as an ascetic lifestyle, foregoing a lot of the stuff that at the time was labeled “pleasant, but sinful.” During that time I accomplished some great things, I grew up a lot, and I got a lot of what I have right now. I also got really burnt out.
Nowadays, I look for more opportunities to choose both the good AND the pleasant. It’s not always possible, but if you look around there’s ways to stretch those circles and make the overlap larger:
So I look for the opportunities to be able to do the rightish thing- to chose both the Good AND the Pleasant. I know it’s cheating but it’s been working for a while. It’s also not always possible, and that’s where we all have to be big boys and girls and do the right thing.
I stumble a lot in my goal to choose the Good, because the Pleasant is just so immediately gratifying. I still spend too much money, procrastinate too much and indulge in the firewater a bit more than my liver probably wants. I know that by doing so, I’m not building the kind of character that sacrifice does, and I’m not learning the things that Nachiketa did. But life isn’t just about doing the right thing, and it’s not all about building character- there’s something to be said about doing the wrong thing on occasion. That’s for a another post, though.
I’m starting a new thing here at EADC, for now it’s called “Books I’m Reading.” I started over reading the Upanishads recently, and plan on posting what occurs to me each day that I read it. Today’s verse comes from the Katha Veda. I’m reading the version translated by Swami Prabhavananda and Frederick Manchester.
This verse strikes me where I’ve been lately. This dude has a chance to ask Yama, the god of departed spirits, for whatever he wants. He says he wants him to explain the meaning of death- and that really shakes the god. He tries to offer him chicks, money, everything BUT the secret of death- but the dude just won’t accept them.
Celestial maidens, beautiful to behold, such indeed as were not meant for mortals—even these, together with their bright chariots and their musical instruments, will I give unto thee, to serve thee. But for the secret of death, O Nachiketa, do not ask!”
But Nachiketa stood fast, and said: “These things endure only till the morrow, O Destroyer of Life, and the pleasures they give wear out the senses. Keep thou therefore horses and chariots, keep dance and song, for thyself I How shall he desire wealth, O Death, who once has seen thy face?
All my life I’ve searched for the meaning of everything, and death has always been where I looked to find the meaning. My whole foray into religion was spawned from this night spent along on the couch, tripping balls, when I came to the conclusion that we’re all just futily keeping ourselves alive until we die. Coincidentally, I don’t recommend taking 2 hits of acid and hanging out alone playing Super Mario unless you want to do some serious soul searching.
I spent the next couple years chasing after anything that could distract me from the thought of death.
Anyway, it’s not like I obsess over death anymore, but I do think about it a lot. I’d like to think that if presented with what Nachiketa gets offered, that I’d ask that same thing- knowledge. As of now, I think of my inevitable death as the motivator to make the most of my life, and nothing more. I do know, though, that all the things he was offered are usually what we turn to in order NOT to think about death- how fitting that death would do the same thing and try to distract him with them.
What he seems to be asking is more about understanding the nature of life, really. We don’t figure that out by living distracted; as fun as all the things are that he was offered, they are potential obstacles to figuring ourselves and everything around us. As Nachiketa says, “the pleasures they give wear out the senses.” Lately I’ve felt a little worn out from chasing some of that, but I’m refocusing a bit. Part of that is by reading this- I can’t wait to see what comes of it.
This has got to be the best video advocating gay marriage that I’ve ever seen. Here are like half a dozen people, in what’s described as a “rainbow coalition” (HA – YES!) describing how terrified they are of gay folks tieing the knot.
There’s a storm gathering. The clouds are dark, the winds are strong and I am afraid.
I guess terrorists are off their game when the most horrifying thing you can think of is two people who love each other so much they want it recognized by the (separated from church?) state.
Know what would really make these guys shit their pants? GAY TERRORISTS!!! GASP!!!!
Paige, it’s that time again. Last year I started the tradition of writing an annual message where I impart to you something I want you to pay close attention to. My first message is the cornerstone of what I dream for you: that you would live with empathy and that you will make all of your decisions based on what you believe to be right, given what you know at the time. This year, I have another message that I hope you will consider just as important.
Now, many parents hope their child grows up to be something, and I’m no exception. I’d really like you to take this to heart, but I do want you to know that if it doesn’t work out, I’m totally cool with it. My Dad was dead set on me being a football player and you’ve seen that I have the coordination of a dead squirrel. This, though, is totally within your grasp.
I know, I know. Even as progressive as the world may become, you will probably grow up knowing gay friends whose parents respond poorly to their child coming out of the closet, but I’d like to present the case that it’s at least worth considering.
As far as I’m concerned, I don’t have a preference. Butch, femme, tennis player-whatever type of lesbo you want to be is fine- I just want to be supportive. You decide you want a pickup truck and a mullet? No problem- I’ll help you cut the sleeves off your flannels. (Although, you strike me more of the hippie dyke type- like, you could listen to tons of Ani DiFranco without becoming militant about it.)
Well, you make your own decisions- I don’t want to influence you. I’ve gotta go fill an ipod full of Indigo Girls, Tegan & Sarah & Tori Amos.
(note: this birthday message is late, as we had an emergency trip we had to make this year)
Heidi (@heidalicious for all you twitterfolk), you are the absolute best. If April 1, 2002 had never happened, my world woudn’t exist- I wouldn’t have any of the things that bring me so much joy and I definately wouldn’t be who I am. You are the best friend I could imagine, the most loving, caring, supportive, fun human on the planet- and one ferocious lay.
Seven years ago, I decided that April Fools was the day I must propose to Heidi- if you know us, then you know that no other day would do. New Years is cliche. Halloween isn’t romantic enough. And Arbor Day, well, it’s already got so much going on.
I took Heidi to our favorite restaurant- this really cool Leboneese place run in a converted house, by a family that basically adopted us b/c we went there so much. They had given us half the place- I set up a spot with a table cloth, candles, the whole deal. It was pimp, in a cute way.
So the moment comes- I grab Heidi’s hand somewhere after the hummus plate & kibbeh, but before the mint tea. I looked in her eyes and began telling her how much our three years of dating had meant to me. Looking at her, it was so easy to see why I wanted this so badly- she’s perfect. You won’t find a sweeter, stronger, more passionate person on the planet. Especially not one with a booty like that. Serious, it could start a war or a religion.
So, the owner of the place brings out a tray with this custom wooden ringbox that I’d kept for years for this moment. “I’ve wanted to give you this for a while.” I pause- she gulps. I open the box.
“I got you this necklace! Do you like it?”
I know! I’m such an asshole! Like the perfect woman she is, Heidi picks it up and begins to put it on- cherishing it but visably shaken. I can’t let this go on.
“That’s actually not it, though.”
I pull out another ring box and put it in front of her. I open it.
“Matching earrings!”
At this point Heidi should have poured both of the candles in my lap and left with the Restaurant owner. He actually came over to congratulate us, since he didn’t quite get what I was doing. I told Heidi I had no idea what he meant. At this point, she’s putting the earrings in and crying just a little- she held up incredibly well.
Well, we rushed out of the restaurant and up into the Sandia foothills (Abq, NM), where my crack team of technicians had set up a little gazebo at the best spot to watch the sun set. Flowers along the path, memorable things framed waiting there- the whole nine yards. It was gorgeous. I got on the knee, she forgave me for the false attempts, we cried and headed to the massive engagement party waiting for us.
I love you, Princess Bunny Bear. I can’t believe you said yes, but it makes me all excited and teary whenever I think that you did.
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I live in Reno, NV, work as a web marketer, have a wife who's way out of my league, am dad to the coolest daughter on the planet and
