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Welcome!

I, God, welcome you to my blog!

The good book says only God is good, so it seems to me somebody needs to step up.

I hope you enjoy reading this, the Jesse Journal, as much as I have enjoyed writing it. Please feel free to subscribe, write me an email, request that I write about any particular topic you may want my perspective on, send a prayer, click on the charity link, or donate money to my bicycle fund! Have fun!

Your pal, Jess
I'm a straight, virgo/boar INTJ (age 53) who enjoys books, getting out into nature, music, and daily exercise.

(my email is JesseGod@live.com)

F.Y.I. There are about 2200 posts..

Here's a quote from Fyodor Dostoevsky to start things off right: Love the animals, love the plants, love everything. If you love everything, you will perceive the divine mystery in things. Once you perceive it, you will begin to comprehend it better every day. And you will come at last to love the whole world with an all-embracing love.

Tuesday, March 25, 2014

War is stupid

Everybody can have what they want

I'm reading about Egypt sentencing members of the Muslim Brotherhood to death.  And a stalemated ongoing civil war in Syria.  And Libyan rebels selling oil to North Korea.  And Crimeans voting to be annexed by Russia.  And Afghani interpreters for the U.S. having trouble with Visas.  And anti-homosexuality in Uganda.  And Joseph Kony being hunted, to end his evilness.  And Mexican militias taking up arms against the Knights Templar gang.

I think the Muslim Brotherhood should have their own state, their own territory.   It doesn't have to be all or nothing.   All of Egypt or mass execution.  Why not give them their own state?   To reiterate, it doesn't have to be control of the entire country of Egypt.   Politics and territories shouldn't be zero-sum.  Everybody should live under rules they approve of.  Children suffering under parental rules, for example, can eventually strike out on their own.  It just takes time.  I think we should make it easier for discontented groups to split.   Conformity sucks.  Unless of course you're a North Korean zombie, with 100% participation, 100% approval, for the only candidate (was there even a write-in option?) then all is well under the Dear Leader.   I kid.  Factionalism isn't necessarily bad.  A diversity of microstates trying out different political systems, different laws, different cultures is fine by me.  

This Syrian thing is ridiculous to me.  Can't Assad be happy governing those who assent to his rule, and permit the rest to govern themselves, without all the senseless suffering, murder, and destruction?  Isn't the country big enough to give states to each group?  America has 50 states.  Some are red, some are blue.  There could be a Republican USA and a Democrat USA, I wouldn't care.  I know about ISIS, the quest for an Islamic State of Iraq and Syria/the Levant.  Why can't there be an Islamic Rome in Syria?  (Isn't that what Saudi Arabia is already, with Mecca and Medina as the hajj pillar for all devout Muslims, regardless of sect?)  Iran is Shiite, Saudi Arabia is Sunni (there of course must be exceptions), there could be 3 leaders, 1 of each, 1 of both, no?  Anyway, I feel for all the refugees.  There's no excuse for this madness, like starvation and alawites vs. al qaeda or whatever the hell it is.  Hezbollah, Iran, and Russia vs. people who don't like Assad (was he that bad before all this shit?)  One person is not worth fighting about.   I don't suppose there's a possibility of, say, VOTING him out...  especially if he's as rotten as it seems.   At least the chemical weapons seem to be on track for removal.  Let's do that now, again, with guns and bullets (and barrel bombs).  Or are the arms merchants calling the shots? - putting the peace-loving masses in the line of fire, too rich, greedy, and powerful to be vanquished by common sense.  Let the sides have a sweaty match of healthy grudgematch boxing or something.  Idiots, everyone, I think to myself.

What's wrong with allowing the creation of a few more Libyan states, for example.  Must everybody get all roided up and militaristic and on a quest to conquer these units of territory?  these random historical vestiges of god-knows-what, made of stupid borders that mean so little, and possibly should mean even less in this globalized world we inhabit now, in modern society.   The goal is happiness, and chips*, not this perpetual obsession with US and THEM, with clans, with religions, with countries, with race, and with tribes.  I'm kind of weird though.  I don't even give a damn about sports rivalries.
*comfort, health, in peace, sustainably.
I'll grant that fighting makes some people feel happy, but certainly not everyone, not even the majority.  The aggression needs healthy outlets, like sports. Give the libyan rebels their own patch of sand.  Can't we all just get along?

okay, Crimea.  Russia is plenty big, I don't see why they need more.  Strategery, I guess. ha! :-)  Maybe it's just a matter of naked power.  Of want, not need.  Just because we can. A matter of respect for a country that can still send the entire planet into a nuclear winter.  They did both win and host the latest round of winter olympics.  Yeah, I think it's a Rodney Dangerfield thing, I can't get no respect!  Kind of like Germany after world war one flexing it's muscles, Russia lost the cold war and I guess is paranoid about being isolated, or further reduced (relatively), or impinged by a united Europe, or whatever, I don't really know...Just immature stuff, like children in a schoolyard, pushing each other around, being a bully.  Putin, ex kgb,  a crimea criminal, just like the c.i.a. (or me, for that matter).  (cry me a river -you know, I think there really IS a river in there, i looked once).  But, like I said, I don't really care who is on what land, just so long as people have their basic needs met, and are healthy and relatively happy.  I have no qualms with a peaceful takeover, especially with no shots fired.   Good for you, Putin, enjoy your base, your respect, and your popularity.  Just let the non Russian parts of Ukraine integrate with Europe, as per the wish of the majority, no?  Europe's a pretty cool place.  I bike through France almost every day at the local Y.

 I think people all over the world should be allowed to live wherever they want.  I'm not a fan of borders and immigration controls.  One world, everybody everywhere.  The only borders I like is the bookstore!  And especially if you live in Afghanistan and helped out the U.S. you deserve a visa. I actually don't know what a visa is, other than the card in my wallet.  But open the borders, for people, products, drugs, whatever.   If the whole world were open, why would we ever worry about terrorism or military aggression?    So even if you didn't help the USA, you should be allowed to live here, and you would probably like us if you did.  America is awesome! 

U gone t' Uganda?  What gays do (the male ones, anyway) is pretty disgusting, in my opinion, but that doesn't mean it should be illegal.  I mean who cares, really.  I guess Santorum does.  But No harm, no foul. Aids is harmful, though, and shitholes are pretty foul.  But if they wanna marry, why should I care.  Marriage is for families, though, usually, and you still need heterosex for that.  Kids know that.  It's not worth all the attention in the petty culture wars, though, in my opinion. 
so, moving on,

Katie, or KT, the Knights Templar, I guess are getting some pushback from ordinary folk in Mexico who are refusing to let criminals run things.  Drugs should be legalized, I think.  I honestly think I would love to try heroin, especially if it were legal, and someone were there to ensure safe practice, and healthy recovery.  It's called God's medicine.  Then again, alot of people think death is a doorway to heaven, too.  I don't want to trade in my drugfree life for oblivion, in any case.   I also read in the Economist how organized crime is leaving drugs and getting into common items like food or detergent (!).  The criminal penalty is a lot less, and the demand is higher in a tough economy like ours now.

thanks for reading all this, I kind of went on and on, didn't I?

Monday, March 17, 2014

If I win the lotto

what i would do with my winnings

tomorrow's "mega" is 400 million dollars!

food, shelter, clothing:
house, car, dating service, wife, kids
support family (parents, bro+wife+nephew-or-niece)
children's education, college, and inheritance
vegetarian restaurants/meals, support mercy for animals
variety, travel

other charities:
consistent life ethic (abortion, capital punishment, war, meat)
dfla (democrats for life of america)
msf (doctors without borders)
unicef (united nations children's fund)
bfc (berkeley free clinic)
*microloans (such as kiva)
cnn heroes
prison reform
no nukes
3WD (third world development)- investments, growth, return
happiness, chips: comfort, health, peace, sustainably

health: google exercise bike, barbells/dumbbells, jump rope, run (marathon?)
Y membership, swim, lift, cardio bike, row
kaiser membership, meds, vegetarian cook books
alarm-clock (etb, etr), running shoes, sweats

reading:
mad, people, foreign affairs, economist, ny times, csmonitor
books: award-winners, 1001 list, aletheon (donate to libraries, if unavailable)
kindle (download the full 1001?)
read books into audio format
edit, publish blog (on Paper)
weekly funnies

music/audio:
wifi, pandora no-commercials, iphone that gets online stations
full collection of joe frank shows
hearts of space
concerts, opera, ballet, theater
beach blanket babylon

education:
speed reading course (book-a-day+)
aikido, cssd, jujitsu, kung fu, krav maga
lumosity
museums
learn languages, history, specialize in a region...
naturalist: bird-watching, plant identification, lead hike
smithsonian, exploratorium, etc.
volunteer, teach
free online courses
library book club
art class, piano lessons
different religious services
mensa
cpr, first aid
philosophy talk, prepare beforehand
jeopardy, J! archive (google glass?)

camping/hiking/fishing gear:
frame pack, hiking boots, tarp, portable stove, canteen, jacket, etc.

relaxation and fun:
cable tv, baseball games, barbeque, pool, nap on soft bed/comforter
gardening, video games, photography, surfing
meditate
bodybuilding
retreats
mountain home ranch, mt. madonna
cruise ship, climb fuji
napa balloon ride
garage sales, flea mkts, thrift stores
ted convention
tech tradeshow
hockey, soccer, olympics
skydive, waterski, rollercoasters
circus, magic
whale watching
paintball
movies (esp. documentaries, nature, animation, comedies, imax)
south park
miniature golf, bowling
national parks
white house tour
massage
kites
bubbles
pow-wow
disneyland, great america
demolition derby
state fair
calistoga parade
garlic festival
winchester mystery house
letterman audience
fleet week
rollerblade
nature walk
9er game
trail rides
geocache
craft fence windmills
build kit car
rc car, helicopter

Sunday, March 16, 2014

UTM

Universal Theistic Morality

A morality that applies to all, regardless of culture, religion, god, or legal system...

one god, one conception of morality...

comparative religion?  comparative law? bah humbug!

is it all good?  is it all bad?  is it all up to you?  or me?

there are entire law libraries overflowing with opinions and precedent..
and
books of etiquette
and
fashion police, etc.

who is god?  who isn't?  everyone? no one?
does evil exist? sin? crime? is there a difference, to god?
are there different types of sin (venial, mortal, cardinal, for example)
are there different levels of hell?  of heaven? (7th heaven??)

i would have to have real balls to lay out what is wrong and what is right for everyone, always and everywhere...
but to say it is all a matter of opinion,
or community standards,
or what I decree...

the golden rule? do unto otters as you would have them do to you.
(people are different, though)

what a mess
be good, lol

santa knows if you've been naughty or nice
buddhist think there's an automatic law of karma in the universe: you get what you give
love is the whole of the law?

Thursday, March 6, 2014

My Life

My Routine, the matrix of activity: busy, busy!

Sleep (etb, etr: 9:30p to 4:30a)

Morning:
gnc protein powder (half-hour before workout), vitamin c, omega-3
go to the bathroom, wash hands, brush teeth, comb hair, wash face
meditate
 
Exercise
in my room: stretch, pushups, bicycle crunches,
bicep curls, tricep extensions, bent rows... (w/ dumbell)
travel: walk, run, bicycle
at the Y: swim, lift, stationary bike (life cycle):
     watch tv (ridiculousness, family guy, french countryside, etc.)
nap

Online
music (radio, pandora, yale, itunes):
     listen, list ten: whrb, wmbr, kalx, kzsu, kcpr, kdvs, gdradio, kzsc,
     ksdt, kusf-in-exile
email
blog
onion
wikipedia
news: yahoo, foreign affairs, csmonitor, cnn, wapo, huffington, berkeleyside
J! archive, youtube

Eat
bfp (monthly food pantry), free meals,
trader joe's, coffee, yogurt
every other week meal with Sara, after kaiser, thurs. mornings
nightly meds: 1mg risperidone, 30mg olanzapine

Read
book-a-day (goal, speed reading) (1001 list, etc.)
daily NY Times
magazines (mad, people, economist)
new words: slang, new languages

Social:
okcupid message exchange
movie, museum,
free music shows from radio free passes (me plus guest)

weekly routine:
yoga (at yttp, mondays)
walk dogs (tuesdays), fido and taco
bsc (shambala center meditation, wednesday nights),
kaiser (thursdays), walk marcel, maybe frances
plant trees in oakland (saturday mornings),
philosophy talk (sunday mornings)

monthly: camp royaneh work parties (I need a ride!)

desired
meetup groups: hike, camp, date
maybe take an art class