monuments created

The majority of us lead quiet, unheralded lives as we pass through this world. 

There will most likely be no ticker-tape parades for us, 

no monuments created in our honor. 

But that does not lessen our possible impact, 

for there are scores of people waiting for someone just like us to come along; 

people who will appreciate our compassion, 

our unique talents. 

Someone who will live a happier life 

merely because we took the time to share what we had to give. 

Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, 

a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, 

or the smallest act of caring, 

all of which have a potential to turn a life around. 

It's overwhelming to consider the continuous opportunities there are

 to make our love felt.

— Leo Buscaglia

Everything you want is within that current, flowing downstream... 

yet we hold on to the shore... 

or worse, we paddle upstream.

Everything you want is downstream; nothing that you want is upstream.

Let go of the oars. Let go of the shore.

Struggle is not inherent in achieving.

What's your river? Find it and jump in.

Now, see who is there with you and celebrate.

it's easy

 There's nothing you can know that isn't known.

 Nothing you can see that isn't shown.

Nowhere you can be that isn't where you're meant to be.

It's easy.

Hollywood Market

The Hollywood Market on 8th Street in Boise's north end

 has been a landmark since the roaring 20's.

The future of the market that "speaks happiness" is in doubt 

now that its 95-year-old owner and operator is having health issues.

"Each man is a hero and an oracle to somebody."

- Emerson

pride day

Boise Pride Day was Saturday, June 18th.

Boise Pride was formed to bring community together in the spirit of acceptance and equality.

 "Even if you are a minority of one,

the truth is the truth."

- Gandhi

helping spread random happiness

"It is one of the most beautiful compensations of this life 

that no man can sincerely try to help another 

without helping himself... 

Serve and thou shall be served."

- Ralph Waldo Emerson

The SF Mirrors Project is spreading a bit of random happiness throughout the city of San Francisco.


In his book, Power vs. Force, Dr. David Hawkins writes: "In this interconnected universe, every improvement we make in our private world improves the world at large for everyone. We all float on the collective level of consciousness of mankind so that any increment we add comes back to us."


In his second book, The Eye of the I, Dr. Hawkins takes his research further with the idea of counterbalancing. A person who emanates the energy of kindness and non-judgement can have enormous impact on many people. He theorizes that just one person who vibrates to the energy of love can counterbalance the negativity of 750,000 individuals.


Be responsible for the energy you bring to the world. What could you do to spread a bit of happiness, encouragement, and hope in your community?

for father's day...

“When you teach your son, you teach your son’s son.”

 ~The Talmud

The Robin Hood Tax

Self-managing markets do not ensure stability or reduce volatility... so why not implement a financial transaction tax?

Am I missing something?

samaritan experiment

We are one, after all, you and I. 

Together we suffer, together exist, 

and forever will recreate each other.

- Pierre Teilhard de Chardin

Amazing in the land of meat & hunting...

An entire display of Vegan Cookbooks 

at the Barnes & Noble in Boise, Idaho.

Amazing!

Candle Cafe

I had a fantastic vegan meal at the Candle Cafe on the upper east side, NYC.

Can't get to the upper east side? 

Don't fret...

Candle Cafe is launching a line of frozen foods this month. 

The frozen entrees will be sold exclusively at Whole Foods stores nationwide 

(for about $5.99). 

Think... farm to freezer.

I love the stickers on the door to Candle Cafe.

simple pleasures

Carried on a soft whisper

Of a breeze

Little bubbles float aloft, 

Delighting children

With such simple pleasures; 

A kaleidoscope of colours

Swirl around in circles

In rich fluidity

Of amethyst

And jade, 

Sapphire 

And gold; 

Sadly, soon

Obliterated, 

Erased out of existence.

adagio "at ease"

Today just feels like a piano concerto No. 23 in A major kind of day... 
adagio, if you will.

The Piano Concerto No. 23 in A major is a musical composition for piano and orchestra written by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. It was finished, according to Mozart’s own catalogue, on March 2, 1786. The concerto is scored for piano solo and an orchestra consisting of one flute, two clarinets, two bassoons, two horns and strings.

the whole world

“When you realize there is nothing lacking, 
the whole world belongs to you.”
 ~Lao Tzu

Horton Halfpott

I am a big-time Origami Yoda fan.
So imagine my happiness when I saw that Tom Angleberger wrote a new book: Horton Halfpott or The Fiendish Mystery of Smugwick Manor; or The Loosening of M'Lady Luggertuck's Corset



Once again, Tom Angleberger has created a fun irreverent book with a lot of heart.
And for the true Origami Yoda fans... take heart: Darth Paper Strikes Back is scheduled for release this September.

l'amour, de la joie, de la bonne humeur (love, joy, good spirit)

ZAZ je veux

I WANT

Give me a suite at the Ritz hotel, I don't want that
Chanel's jewellery, I don't want that
Give me a limo, what would I do with it?
Offer me staff, what would I do with it?
A mansion in Neufchatel, it's not for me
Offer me the Eiffel tower, what would I do with it?

I want love, joy, good spirit
It's not your money that will make me happy
I want to die with a hand on my heart
Let's go together, let's discover my freedom,
Forget all your prejudice, welcome to my reality

I'm fed up with your good manners, it's too much for me
I eat with my hands, I'm like that
I speak loud and I'm direct, sorry
Let's end the hypocrisy, I'm out of it
I'm tired of double-talks
Look at me, I'm not even mad at you, I'm just like that

I want love, joy, good spirit
It's not your money that will make me happy
I want to die with a hand on my heart
Let's go together, let's discover my freedom,
Forget all your prejudice, welcome to my reality

I Believe...

I am so excited for the Tony Awards on Sunday! (8/7c on CBS)
:)
I am absolutely, head-over-heals, crazy about The Book of Mormon the Musical.
I was in NYC on May 21st and saw the show... loved it!

If you have a soft spot in your heart for the power of stories and the purpose of faith, I'm sure you'll love it too.

Take a look at your own religious foibles and extremism... and have a hearty laugh at the same time.
When looked at from a certain angle, all forms of religious dogma and ritual are absurd... but it allows us to walk through the shadows and that's what makes it all so valiant and glorious.

On Sunday Andrew Rannells, Elder Price, will sing the show's anthem
"I Believe".

Don't miss it!

Pine Point

Pine Point is a new way to read, a new way to watch a documentary, a new way to use web-based media.

It's really Cool.

The creators of Pine Point describe it as "part book, part film, part website".

Go, watch it yourself... see what a book/film/website looks like.

what's wrong... what's right?

In 1908, when The Times of London invited several authors to write essays on the theme "What's Wrong with the World?",
G.K. Chesterton's response took the form of a letter:


Dear Sirs,
I am.
Sincerely yours,
G.K. Chesterton


The title of Tom Shadyac's documentary, I Am, comes from this story. At the end of the film, Shadyac states his hope that one day when asked "What's right with the world?" we can reply, in G.K. Chesterton style...


I am.

It's a Book...

on chasing chickens

I love Christoph Niemann.
You probably do too if you read "I Lego New York" or if you follow his blog in the New York Times "Abstract Sunday".

Check out his hilariously clever presentation at Creative Mornings...

2011/04 Christoph Niemann from CreativeMornings on Vimeo.

wooden heart

Dan Smith's poetic reciting always freaks me out on first listen. His "Talk Music" shouts & jumps & has a certain intensity that makes me think, 
"Man, you're crazy." 


But then I listen to it again & again.


Give Listener's Wooden Heart a try and tell me what you think...

WOODEN HEART (sea of mist called skaidan) 
We’re all born to broken people on their most honest day of living 
and since that first breath... We’ll need grace that we’ve never given 
I've been haunted by standard red devils and white ghosts 
and it's not only when these eyes are closed 
these lies are ropes that I tie down in my stomach, 
but they hold this ship together tossed like leaves in this weather
and my dreams are sails that I point towards my true north, 
stretched thin over my rib bones, and pray that it gets better 
but it won’t won’t, at least I don’t believe it will... 
so I've built a wooden heart inside this iron ship, 
to sail these blood red seas and find your coasts. 
don’t let these waves wash away your hopes 
this war-ship is sinking, and I still believe in anchors 
pulling fist fulls of rotten wood from my heart, I still believe in saviors 
but I know that we are all made out of shipwrecks, every single board 
washed and bound like crooked teeth on these rocky shores 
so come on and let’s wash each other with tears of joy and tears of grief 
and fold our lives like crashing waves and run up on this beach 
come on and sew us together, tattered rags stained forever 
we only have what we remember 

I am the barely living son of a woman and man who barely made it 
but we’re making it taped together on borrowed crutches and new starts 
we all have the same holes in our hearts... 
everything falls apart at the exact same time 
that it all comes together perfectly for the next step 
but my fear is this prison... that I keep locked below the main deck 
I keep a key under my pillow, it’s quiet and it’s hidden 
and my hopes are weapons that I’m still learning how to use right 
but they’re heavy and I’m awkward...always running out of fight 
so I’ve carved a wooden heart, put it in this sinking ship 
hoping it would help me float for just a few more weeks 
because I am made out of shipwrecks, every twisted beam 
lost and found like you and me scattered out on the sea 
so come on let’s wash each other with tears of joy and tears of grief 
and fold our lives like crashing waves and run up on this beach 
come on and sew us together, just some tattered rags stained forever 
we only have what we remember 

My throat it still tastes like house fire and salt water 
I wear this tide like loose skin, rock me to sea 
if we hold on tight we’ll hold each other together 
and not just be some fools rushing to die in our sleep 
all these machines will rust I promise, but we'll still be electric 
shocking each other back to life 
Your hand in mine, my fingers in your veins connected 
our bones grown together inside 
our hands entwined, your fingers in my veins braided 
our spines grown stronger in time 
because are church is made out of shipwrecks 
from every hull these rocks have claimed 
but we pick ourselves up, and try and grow better through the change 
so come on yall and let’s wash each other with tears of joy and tears of grief 
and fold our lives like crashing waves and run up on this beach 
come on and sew us together, were just tattered rags stained forever 
we only have what we remember

we belong

 "If we have no peace, 

it is because we have forgotten that we belong to each other."

- Mother Teresa