Tough and Vulnerable Street Cats, photos by Petar Mitchev and accompanied by Dire Straits - Brothers in Arms

These stirring photography were all taken by photographer Petar Mitchev in Varna, Bulgaria. These and more of Petar's work can be seen at PicCat website: http://piccat.com/

Jon Stewart on Palin Defenders' "Flip-Kops"

AMERICAN TRAGEDY

Bush's War - an American tragedy!

Naomi Wolf on Ten Steps to Tyranny- "The End of America: A Letter of Warning to a Young Patriot"

Naomi Wolf, recently penned a book The End of America: A Letter of Warning to a Young Patriot, which is basically a call to arms for citizens of the United States. Ms. Wolf is an excellent writer whose well-researched views are presented clearly, and in this case, with absolutely sobering effect. Her basic point is a comparison between the present-day government of the United States, and that of the Weimar Republic of pre-World War II Germany. It's interesting to note, the Weimar Republic was a parliamentary democracy, duly elected by Germans, who watched as their government systematically moved towards Hitler's dictatorship.

Hilary tells it like it is!

I want you to ask yourselves: Were you in this campaign just for me,
or were you in it for that young Marine and others like him?

Were you in it for that mom struggling with cancer while raising her kids?

Were you in it for that young boy and his mom surviving on the minimum wage?

Were you in it for all the people in this country who feel invisible?

We need leaders once again who can tap into that special blend of American confidence and optimism that has enabled generations before us to meet our toughest challenges, leaders who can help us show ourselves and the world that with our ingenuity, creativity, and innovative spirit, there are no limits to what is possible in America.

RECOVERY: A Process for Personal Transformation

10 Reasons Cats Love Us More Than Dogs

10 Reasons Cats Love Us More Than Dogs

KEYS TO RECOVERY - Finding Meaning

...and when He knew for certain only drowning men could see Him, He said all men shall be sailors then until the sea shall free them... Leonard Cohen, Suzanne

I "discovered" existential philosophy in the late 1960's at the tender age of 18, starting with the work of "Beat" writers Kerouac, Ginsberg and others, I followed the thread - only half comprehending, but sensing some profound truth anyway - through Sartre and Bouvier to Camus and eventually stumbling around in Nietche, and others much too heady for my comprehension at that point. I was reading on my own, out of desperation to find some explanations for the seeming meaninglessness all around me. I all seemed very important at the time. Then came Bob Dylan and then the psychedelic mystics - I found some kindred wonderers and wanderers and life unfolded as it would.

Over the ensuing years, the “key” to life’s puzzle evaded my attempts to understand or connect with a tangible "PURPOSE" - an explanation for my own (or anyone’s) existence. Nothing I tried out - or tried on - made any difference in my life. Not devouring the writings of eastern and western enlightened ones, not the elusive “soul-mate” that perhaps would make me whole, or vivid sexual and sensual explorations, not my music, not the drugs - and certainly not the relief and welcome oblivion my loyal companion, alcohol, provided day and night . . . at least there was that!

What I sought in vain was "spiritual connection" - but I certainly would not have used the term then. But in 1978, at the age of 32, I had a personal and conscious "experience" of this connection. An abiding awareness and certainty that it did, in fact, happen has remained with me these past 30 years, and yes . . . this experience has made a profound and lasting difference in my life.

It came, unexpected, when I, now completely naked and alone, faced the bottomless “pit” – a void so black and empty that I, literally, abandoned all hope. As I leapt, hopeless and desperate, into nothingness, I knew it was all over . . . At that instant, “the void" became everything . . . connecting to me, trembling and awestruck - like an unplugged electrical appliance whose cord had somehow found and connected with a live socket! It was as if I was, literally, drowning (the great “waterboarding” known as “Surrender”!?!) and reflexively clawing for something, anything . . . to save . . . me . . . The Unknowable . . . found . . . Me . . .

"...and when He knew for certain only drowning men could see Him, He said all men shall be sailors then until the sea shall free them... "

Leonard Cohen, Suzanne

UNDERSTANDING THE ROLES CHILDREN MAY PLAY WHEN LIVING WITH DOMESTIC VIOLENCE

Watch the video - Faces of Violence - featuring Ellen Bukstel's beautiful and haunting song:

"You're not Better Than Me"

THIS SAYS IT ALL!

Jerome Corsi (in May 2007) on Bush presidential "War Powers" directives

This clip - posted to "youtube" over a year ago brings our situation as "Free Americans" into sharp focus. A few muffled voices trying to sound the wake-up-call to Americans about this administration's self-awarded "war powers"! How could our elected representatives in congress (Democrats too!) have let this atrocity happen?
A few weeks ago, on July 4, 2008 I watched the fireworks show over our small town's football stadium. As a loudspeaker blasted out patriotic music (Stars & Stripes Forever, God Bless America, etc) to accompany the heart-stoppingly beautiful display of skyrockets overhead. I got the usual goosebumps - hell, I love this country too! None of these traditional songs, however, elicited the kind of fervent response from the crowd that occurred when post 911 country music hit "Proud to Be an American" was played. Young and old, people sang and shouted out the refrain again and again - . . . "I'M PROUD TO BE AN AMERICAN, WHERE AT LEAST I KNOW I'M FREE . . . and I wept for the loss of innocence - and for what I knew in my heart, in that moment, was a lie.

Think Progress » Nadler: In a ‘just system,’ Bush ‘would be impeached.’

I guess he is saying that it’s okay to just accept that we don’t have a "just system" and that Bush et al will just get away with their high crimes! Lets just "elect Barak Obama" and the problem will go away -right? WRONG!

Whatever happened to accountability?

This is becoming more alarming by the day. I expect the next move will be a “terrorist” attack on the US or Isreal “by Iran” - then a declaration of war, and martial law - then, guess what? NO ELECTIONS - as in “NATIONAL SECURITY”. I am afraid impeachment is the only way to prevent (maybe) what may already have been in motion.

YouTube - No Bravery in the Iraq War

This breaks my heart.

CHILDREN - THE HIDDEN VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE

CHILDREN - THE HIDDEN VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE

Could Bush Really Declare Martial Law and Stop Elections?

I heard some rumors yesterday that Bush's "plan" is to attack Iran in the next few months - probably once WMD are "confirmed" there and/or following another 9/11 type attack (by Iranians this time) that the neo-cons would orchestrate and the media would then sell to American public via the "owned" mainstream media

What really freaked me out most about the rumor was that the source stated that under Martial Law there would be no November 2008 presidential elections - that Bush/Cheney would remain in power indefinitely and that congress could not prevent this happening. This source said that because of the "revisions" Bush people managed to sneak into law there is currently nothing to stop him from doing these things.

I am trying to do some research on the truth of what I heard - but wondered if it's just me who is feeling "very afraid" if this really is possible. I believe the Bushies can also, under Martial Law, start rounding up "disinters" and putting us into FEMA - run "concentration camps". I don't mean to go off the deep end here, but can he really to all this? Especially the part about suspending the elections and any transfer of power!

Would congress beginning the impeachment process help to prevent this scenario from happening? Would the military and National Guard still have to take orders from him - or, worse yet, wouldn't these terrifying powers be then be held by Dick Cheney?

I am going to keep trying to find out if this stuff is really true. If so, we are really in deep shit - as in CIVIL WAR!

Bush Paves the Way for Martial Law: 2007 National Defense Authorization Act overturns Posse Comitatus Act

Bush Paves the Way for Martial Law: 2007 National Defense Authorization Act overturns Posse Comitatus Act

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The Bees are Missing

I think the horror and panic began when I really got it that they were missing . . . disappeared . . . gone. And that nobody knew why most of the honey bees went away or died - or could say for sure if or when they would come back. As implications of this sudden and undeniable disruption sunk in I experienced a sickening physical sensation - a sort of nausea . . . like the dizzy disorientation I've only ever been aware of in the immediate aftermath of the few largish earthquakes I've experienced in my life. For me, those rare experiences produced a horrifying understanding and absolute awareness of the truth that the ground beneath our feet is not what it seems to be - and that, in fact, everything was still slowly shifting and rocking.

It's not even that I'm really fond of bees - in fact I've always avoided getting too close to them lest I be stung - or, more truthfully, because all insects and crawly buzzing things tend to creep me out. Yes, I know bees are “good bugs” and all that, but still . . .

I had been successfully not noticing the absence of these mildly irritating creatures, even as occasional news commentaries or an online post speculated about what causes or conditions were involved in the sudden mysterious dwindling of the worldwide bee population. You see, I am very, very good at not noticing. Not noticing is a little appreciated trait that comes quite naturally to me - through a neuro-biological quirk called ADHD. However my ability to not notice is also a life-sustaining talent that I've have cleverly perfected and integrated into my arsenal of self-protective weapons. I've relied upon this “not noticing” to develop the ability to function superbly in situations and under circumstances where most others crumble and then fail. This ability to carry on has served me well, delivering me more than a few times from the unbearable. My not noticing ability blunted the pricks of my life's sharpest thorns - rescuing my hidden fragility from assaults that would have ripped and torn me beyond repair. Some things have to be avoided at all costs! Yes, not noticing is the blessed dullness protecting my naked soul - an insensitivity to pain which some that think they know me well have mistakenly labeled as stoicism, or even courage.

But back to the bees . . .

Finding Our Way

Are you trying to find a sense of peace and serenity that seems, thus far, to elude you? To you find "answers" and "fixes" only to watch them evaporate in the cold reality of daily living?

I've been there too and Iwant to help. In the process I know I'll grow in wisdom from sharing with you from the heart. Having lived "clean and sober" and (increasingly) with wonderful bursts of sanity and serenity for over 30 years now, I want to try this new-to-me online means to connect with others who are on this journey.

This "connection" is vital! Experience has taught me that it is precisely these sorts of authentic human to human linkages that can and do offer a lasting "balm" and a "way through" for those of us who have tried everything and anything to escape our terrifying awareness of the "empty hole" that lives at our core . . . But there is a way - a way to leave the pain and fear behind . . . and you and I both know that we already have it within our grasp. The "secret" is that we need each other's fellowship and "compassionate presence" in order to be reminded of how to crawl out of the "holes" into which we are prone to stumble. And those "holes" are there for us to trip into for as long as we need them.

If any of my rambling makes sense for you - then you are a probably either crazy or a kindred soul - or most likely both. I would be honored to share the path with you.

Marina's Hub Page Introduction

My personal recovery and survival story, in brief.