Beauty in Differences

Two things usually happen when you meet someone who is very different than you.  Your differences keep you polarized or they can help you reach a higher level of empathy, knowledge and interest.  Usually for me, it's been the ladder. 

Today was a good example of that.  I went to lay down guitar over some beats from a producer I met in the streets. He's very talented and has produced tracks for some artists big in the bay rap scene. We made some music happen which was nice, but nicer was the meeting of minds.  An understanding, positive spirit that defies skin color, culture, etc.  And when it defies these things, it only reinforces it's own strength...

I hold these encounters dear and hope to have a slew of them in Europe!

"The world is just a small town, we all know how people like to get down." -Slug

Too Much of Nothing

"Now, too much of nothing
Can make a man feel ill at ease.
One man's temper might rise
While another man's temper might freeze.
In the day of confession
We cannot mock a soul.
Oh, when there's too much of nothing,
No one has control.

Too much of nothing
Can make a man abuse a king.
He can walk the streets and boast like most
But he wouldn't know a thing.
Now, it's all been done before,
It's all been written in the book,
But when there's too much of nothing,
Nobody should look.

Too much of nothing
Can turn a man into a liar,
It can cause one man to sleep on nails
And another man to eat fire.
Ev'rybody's doin' somethin',
I heard it in a dream,
But when there's too much of nothing,
It just makes a fella mean."

-Bob Dylan

John Lennon quote

When asked about the people who tried to deport him out of America:  "I don't worry about them because time wounds all heels."

Ahahaha.  John Lennon = Funniest Beatle.

Benjamin Zander on success

"I have a definition of success.  For me it's very simple.  It's not about wealth and fame and power, it's about how many shiny eyes I have around me."

This is worth 20 minutes of your time, trust me: www.ted.com/index.php/talks/benjamin_zander_on_music_and_passion.html

San Francisco

McDonald's and murals.  People walking briskly, head down, mp3 device in use.  Another people crowded together dark and soil, day laborers.  The buildings block the sky and if death struck the sidewalk I'd be suprised if someone was suprised.  

Jeff Dunham fans display arrogance/ignorance. I'm not suprised.

For those of you who don't know this comedian, he is a ventriloquist who has a bunch of puppets that he does stand up shows with.  Personally, I don't think he's funny but he's very popular (type in a single "j" in youtube and he comes up) He has an old man puppet.  On Jeff's Xmas special, he says, "Happy Holidays." Old man puppet says, "It's not Happy Holidays, it's Merry Christmas!"  The audience goes into cheers and applause, louder than the rest of the whole show.  Dunham: "You know there are other belief systems other than yours." Old Man: "Yeah, but they're wrong!"  Audience cheers again.

This was recorded in late 2008...this is where we're at culturally, folks. [Sigh]

She inspiringly releases her serpent

by showing nothing but her beauty

before flying away 

into her own sky

So it seems

that those who cower in their worship in God

cower from themselves

and those that find strength in their worship in God

find strength from themselves

because whether you are cowering or finding strength

the relationship is the same

whether you are living at peace 

with this connection in God

or fighting against it

Rumi

Listen, O drop, give yourself up without regret,

and in exchange gain the Ocean.

Listen, O drop, bestow upon yourself this honor,

and in the arms of the Sea be secure.

Who indeed should be so fortunate?

An Ocean wooing a drop!

In God's name, in God's name, sell and buy at once!

Give a drop, and take this sea of pearls