U2 - Just Singing in the Rain

U2, originally uploaded by lucienphoto.

I went to see U2 here in Minneapolis. I learned a few things about myself in the process. I like people more than I think that I do. I had an interesting challenge because the person I bought the ticket from is a conservative through and through. We often taunt each other during the week in Facebook conversations and discussions. I take the more progressive or liberal tack and push against the conservative ideas that he espouses. In reality we are not all that different.

I learned more about myself during this wet and wild concert than I could have imagined. Tolerance, patience, desire, comfort, calmness. Standing there in the rain I wanted to leave but did not want to disappoint. I was getting incredibly uncomfortable when it no longer mattered anymore. The wetter I get, the more peaceful I got. I could not see clearly because the rain was distorting my vision through my eyeglasses. The jacket was dripping cold into my sodden jeans. My feet were screaming at me to move them instead of standing there in the rain. But I was OK.

Then the rain stopped and the concert ended. We had a short walk back to the motorcycle and then a chilly ride back to his car and a brisk ride back home. I was elated. The music was great, the show was spectacular. The camraderie with the myriad strangers surrounding me was almost palpable. Enough said. "Singing in the Rain"

Moonlight on Superior

Moonlight on Superior, originally uploaded by lucienphoto.

ol·i·gar·chy   
[ol-i-gahr-kee] Show IPA
–noun, plural -chies.
1. a form of government in which all power is vested in a few persons or in a dominant class or clique; government by the few.
2. a state or organization so ruled.
3. the persons or class so ruling.

He who has all the marbles makes the rules. Some boys just never grow up. Some never want to admit that they started the game with more marbles and some certainly do not want to admit that the rules they have created favor them! Let's all pretend the playing field is equal. Let's pretend that the rules don't change to fit the meant-to-be-intended winner.

to·tal·i·tar·i·an·ism   
[toh-tal-i-tair-ee-uh-niz-uhm] Show IPA
–noun
1. the practices and principles of a totalitarian regime.
2. absolute control by the state or a governing branch of a highly centralized institution.
3. the character or quality of an autocratic or authoritarian individual, group, or government: the totalitarianism of the father.

I am taking my marbles and going home. If we don't play by my rules, then we can't play at all? I am sorry you weren't involved in establishing the rules. That is just the way that it is. The "rules makers" were fair and just and were able to see into the unknown future and anticipate your present situation. But you should not need special accomodations now, because that wouldn't be fair to the people who did all the people who played the game before you.

Do you have home insurance? Ever buy auto insurance and ask for a refund when you did not use it? Isn't Social Security an insurance/annuity plan that pays out if/when you need it?

Why is that if a business chooses to discriminate or not employ someone it is OK because businesses have the right to choose?

Are the "tax reformists" going to exclaim that we have too much spending next time, too and demand more tax cuts and less spending? What happens when there is no money for services, for roads, bridges and safety? Will we find a way to privatize our communities? Who will be served first then? Ask yourself these questions before you look at what needs to be cut next!

something or the other

Mottled Pattern
Originally uploaded by lucienphoto 

I am surrounded by unending conflict. I have it at home, in my community, and at my job. Everyone wants to blame someone else. My casework is exploding at my job because everybody needs to have it their way.

There does not appear to be an "us" in the midst of everyone looking after his/her own self interests. My wife is cancelling our vacation because she is feeling overwhelmed and is in conflict with someone close to us..No discussion, simply stating that she is cancelling the trip.  I am determined not to interfere. I have expressed my opinion (which is not in agreement with her) but I will not interfere.

She is planning to take off for the weekend because she is all stressed out. She isn't asking for help; just waiting until she "feels" overwhelmed and "abandoning ship" for a couple of days. Oh well, I think I (we) will be OK.

State of MN is in shutdown mode because the Governor and the Legislature can't reach agreement. More of the same. I think it could be pulled off if we all started caring for each other. Take that!

Dimensions

I was thinking about the complexity of the human being while pondering why the USA is caught in the whirlpool of persistent bickering.  Sometimes we agree about this or that, but more often than not I think we don't use our full human potential for problem solving.  I see that we have a technological dimension.  We create and destroy using our technology.  We put immense effort and money into developing our technology.  We value technology.  But we have other important dimensions that have not kept pace with our technology.  We have a spiritual dimension.  It is a mystical and unscientific portion of our completeness that we often minimize or ignore.  We also have a cultural dimension.  In this country we have cultural separateness and cultural togetherness.  These sub-dimensions criss-cross each other as we continue to define our unique personal, and geographical cultures.

Our cultural and spiritual dimensions have not kept pace with our technology.  I think it is part of the massive problem here.

Rain Slicked Streets of Minneapolis

Rain Slicked Streets of Minneapolis, originally uploaded by lucienphoto.

It is summer in Minneapolis. Hot days and warm nights. The AC runs and the compressor outside hums along. Mosquitos are starting to be a problem. The grass is growing. The early coolness and freshness of spring has turned into the ongoing problem of keeping cool, moving as much air around myself as I can. I sleep at night with a fan blowing. It gently rattles and reverberates on the cold tile of the en suite 1/2 bath.

I waken to some cooler air in the morning just after and sometimes just before sunrise. Twittering birds let me know that the day will be starting much like every other day. The falling rain whispers sibilantly and mutes the myriad sounds of bees and bugs.

A nice summer rain comes and cools the blistering humid day and makes the evening bearable. Friday comes and goes on the beginning of a holiday weekend. We start the weekend with hope that we will have fun. Dinner, movie, keeping cool. Saturday comes along and the anticipation of fireworks comes sneaking through the shades and curtains in the house.

Shut Down

Dear Minnesota Citizens

It is with deep regret that I tell you that your government has ceased to function.  Politicization of government has overshadowed the responsibilities of your duly elected representatives to lead and provide specific services to the populace.  Demagoguery has taken your leaders by the brains and instead of sharing and caring we have the ever prevalent grabbing for the perceived last toy in the sandbox.

Your neighbors may be out of work for a spell.  Do not worry about them because they should have been better prepared for this anticipated down turn in the economy.  If they have been frugal they will have set aside a significant portion of their income for this rainy day.  Corporate America pays a living wage for all who labor and toil, even though the evil government continues to over regulate, over tax and make extremely unrealistic demands on how this private entities should be managed.

Your church will likely pick up the slack for the dearth of services to the poor, needy, vulnerable and homeless.  It is the Christian thing to do.  Of course, you should have a say as to how your money is allocated because you would not wish to be implicit in funding abortions, divorce, drug abuse, homosexuality or terrorism.  And it is unpatriotic to care for illegal aliens who are stealing jobs from our hardworking good Christian neighbors.

By the way, please feel free to come by and join us for the union-bashing, anti-government, 4th of July celebration being held now in our backyard because the state park is closed.