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July 26, 2002
I had my first Lucid
I had my first Lucid Dream last night! I've been reading the book "Exploring the World of Lucid Dreaming" lately and have been diligently recording my dreams on a nightly basis. Interestingly enough I skipped the laast few days. I had a major laptop meltdown and I've been so busy getting ready for the BlackHat and DEF CON conferences next week.
Sure enough, one of my dreams early this morning had me wandering around some sort of grassy, hilly area with someone I didn't recognize and something clicked - "hey I'm dreaming". And just as it mentions in the book - everything became more vivid, more clear and I tried to fly. It worked! Though, I didn't hang onto lucidity for long and don't remember much else - at least not much else I can put in print ;)
The primary concept behind lucid dreaming is the ability to be lucid....or essentially realize that you're dreaming and thus (if you want) take control. I personally want to get more into lucid dreaming for entertainment purposes - I sleep for 8 hours, why not rest AND make it interesting. Plus I'm trying to see if I can stimulate my creative faculties.
I've recently become incredibly addicted to the new game Neverwinter Nights which almost completely converts the "pen and paper" version of Dungeons & Dragons, (based on 3rd edition rules) to the 3D world of an online game. There's even a Dungeon Master module that allows one person to completely control where monsters spawn, what treasure shows up in what chest etc. Quite amazing. However I've been having difficulty creating a game from scratch and figured since I've been completely devoid of artistic creativity of late, I'd see what my subconscious had to say about things.
More from Vegas.....
July 25, 2002
Today I said goodbye to
Today I said goodbye to a good friend and mentor as she passed from her corporeal form in this world to her spiritual form on her way to the next. Donna Headrick was tireless in her efforts to expose the wrongdoings of a family of companies to our nation's youth - she even took one girl in who's parents wanted nothing to do with her, and became a de facto grandmother in the process.
Donna will be greatly missed not only for her hard work and kind soul, but also for her patience and willingness to teach, coach and guide people through troublesome times in their lives. Last night I did a full moon ritual and included a yellow (air/spirit) candle marked with the signs of "rebirth" and "summer" (to signify the Summerlands, where most Pagans believe a person's spirit goes to be reincarnated or reborn into their next life) - this morning, the day of her cremation, the candle burned itself down to smoke.
Although I have not actively worked with Donna in several years, in her memory I am working to setup a new Web site where people can read all of her Teen Help exposes as well as find new information about the "prison camps for teens" Donna was so intent on holding accountable for their actions.
July 17, 2002
Yay - another hateful attempt
Yay - another hateful attempt at limiting the rights of Americans averted. Of course, this was a proposal that got the large amount of signatures by tricking people into thinking they were signing a petition to ban turning horses into food rather than banning gay marriage. Of course, I'm curious how fast Senate President Thomas Birmingham will jump on his involvement in this to close the gap between him and Robert Reich in the Gubernatorial campaign, who has been the only candidate to come out (pun intended) in strong support of gay marriage.
The cruelty in this world
The cruelty in this world can just be unbelievable sometimes.
A man was arrested Tuesday for allegedly burning a kitten on a barbecue grill as several other people stood around and watched in amusement.
A witness pulled the scorched, 7-week-old tabby from the hot coals, but it was severely injured and had to be put to death, police said.
July 12, 2002
It's official - Steve Grossman
It's official - Steve Grossman is out of the MA Gubernatorial race.
Steve Grossman, whose prolific fundraising made him high-powered friends in the Democratic Party but who never caught on with voters, dropped out of the Massachusetts governor's race on Friday.
Grossman, chairman of the Democratic National Committee from 1997 to 1999, scheduled a morning news conference to make the official announcement.
"As a practical businessman, I understand victory in the primary is not in the cards for me this year," Grossman said in a statement.
The announcement leaves four Democrats vying for the Democratic nomination: State Treasurer Shannon O'Brien, former labor secretary Robert Reich, former state Sen. Warren Tolman and Senate President Thomas Birmingham.
July 11, 2002
Ugg. There are some sick
Ugg. There are some sick people out there. I can't fathom why people would do this to a dog. The puppy and I ran into a stray today and it started following us around. we carefully led it across the street so it wouldn't race through traffic and called dog control. Another couple with a yellow lab came across it and knocked on the door of a woman across the street thinking it was hers. She answered the door and said she was watching it until she could find a home for him.
In one respect, I wanted to smack her. I found this dog two blocks up running across the street without watching traffic. I appreciate anyone taking in a stray - but if you're not going to hand it over to our wonderful rescue center down the street, then you better make damn sure you're watching out for the welfare of this pup. I mentioned that I called Dog Control and she gasped "no! the shelter will kill him!". I explained how this dog was in potential danger running across the street and she said she'd keep him in a room in her house from now. Hope he finds a good home - he was a cutie.
July 10, 2002
July 08, 2002
MA Gubernatorial Wars, Pt 1232:
MA Gubernatorial Wars, Pt 1232:
Robert Reich: "Corporations who exploit their workers suck! MA should take more of an active role policing them!"
(big cheers)
Mitt Romney: "Yeah! What he said! Except for that "more active role" thing - and I didn't suck when I was head of a major corporation that exploited workers!"
(big jeers)
Shannon O'Brien: "My husband did not suck as a lobbyist for Enron! He left before it was made public that they exploited workers!"
(rolls eyes)
"Oh yeah - and there are three other Democrats running for Governor....."
(DEAD SILENCE)
Ahh, politics - I know who I'm voting for come September.
Ok, I feel the need
Ok, I feel the need to clarify my stance in this previous post. Participating in Boy Scouts was one of the most wonderful experiences in my life. Despite my disdain and disappointment for their stance on homosexuality and atheism, (and ironicly I met more homosexuals, atheists, and Pagans in Boy Scouts than anywhere else), I believe Boy Scouts gave be a reverence for nature and a closeness to the Earth as well as prepared me to head out to the real world and to take on leadership roles. It also brought me closer to my mother who "nagged" me all the way through to Eagle (for which I greatly appreciate) and later became an Asst. Scoutmaster as she guided my two brothers down the same paths.
What about my kids? Perhaps I'll have to look into a Salem Charter for Spiral Scouts.
I read the following snippet
I read the following snippet in the Pagan Unity Campaign's recent newsletter:
"Since 1912, when Juliette Gordon Lowe started the first Girl Scout troop in the United States, there has been the well-known Girl Scout Promise. While the wording may have changed over the years, the message has remained the same.
“On my honor, I will try
To serve God and my country
To help people at all times
And to live by the Girl Scout Law”
And be a Sister to Every GirlscoutBut, what about the God part? Is it mandated that to be a Girl Scout, you have to believe in God? Who determines what God means to each person? According to the Leader’s Digest: The Blue Book of Basic Documents, a publication distributed by the Girl Scouts of the USA (GSUSA), that issue is addressed. In a subsection titled Flexibility in Wording for Spiritual Beliefs in the Girl Scout Promise, it states: “Girl Scouts of the USA makes no attempt to define or interpret the word ‘God’ in the Girl Scout Promise. It looks to individual members to establish for themselves the nature of their spiritual beliefs. When making the Girl Scout Promise, the individuals may substitute wording appropriate to their own spiritual beliefs for the word ‘God’.” So, according to policy, no matter your spiritual background, you have a place in Girl Scouting.
That seems all well and good, but does it hold up in practice? Does this policy actually work? Actually, for the most part it does. Several pagans have come forth to share their experiences in Girl Scouts, and they have all been positive. They have been open about their spirituality and have been supported by their councils around the country. They were accepted by the troop and parents and went on to have many memorable experiences within the Girl Scouts.
So, next time you are at camp, feel free to say the Goddesses, Gods, Allahs, Buddhas or whoever’s name during the promise. After all, the Girl Scout Law itself says that Girl Scouts should “make the world a better place, and be a sister to every Girl Scout.”
In some ways, this makes me ashamed to be an Eagle Scout. The "Boy Scout Oath" is very similar:
On my honor I will do my best
To do my duty to God and my country
and to obey the Scout Law;
To help other people at all times;
To keep myself physically strong,
mentally awake, and morally straight.
and the last word in the Scout Law is Reverent explained in the BSA Factsheet as "A Scout is reverent toward God. He is faithful in his religious duties. He respects the beliefs of others." The BSA is inclusive of several religions: Jewish, Islamic, Buddhist, and of course, various sects of Christianity: Catholic, Lutheran, Protestant, Church of Christ, and Presbyterian.
In their religious dates calendar, they mention the sabbaths and holy days of Shinto, Hindu, Baha'i and Sikh. And finally, even more are recognized as Religious Awards.
Unlike the Girl Scouts clear statement of "Girl Scouts of the USA makes no attempt to define or interpret the word ‘God’ in the Girl Scout Promise" the BSA "Manual for Chaplain Aides and Chaplains" states:
"The Boy Scouts of America maintains that no member can grow into the best kind of citizen without recognizing an obligation to God and, therefore, recognizes the religious element in the training of the member, but it is absolutely nonsectarian in its attitude toward that religious training. Its policy is that the home and organization or group with which a member is connected shall give definite attention to religious life. Only persons willing to subscribe to this Declaration of Religious Principle and to the Bylaws of the Boy Scouts of America shall be entitled to certificates of membership."
Not quite exclusionary but also not quite clear. In order to get a "religious award" in scouts, there are several forms that need to be filled out. Jim Conditt of Nacogdoches, TX had made an attempt to start the process but was told in no uncertain terms not to expect any results.
I'll do some more research on the topic and see what I come up with.