the Shack (Update!)

I just read (well, listened to the audio version of) the Shack. I won't spoil the plot line for you, (too much info on back cover and web sites) but I am going to discuss the premise. It's a "guy talks to God" novel, as self-described by the author(s.) (Plot is the story line and specific events, whereas the premise is the overall "arching" concept.) OK, once again this is an effort to personify God. A new, different way, but still God as a person (or people, in this case.)

I thought last year when Oprah introduced the world to Eckart Tolle and millions participated, we were moving on, away from "God as people." I thought the New Age had finally arrived. That humanity was accepting the concept of God within, not as an external, separate being. So, are the 6 or 7 million people reading the Shack agreeing with the concept or questioning it? Have YOU read it? Thoughts??

Now that I've finished it (as of 02.28.09) parts are better than I thought,with some pretty challenging concepts of What Is. Other parts are so ridiculous it's hard to keep going. But, on the audio version you get a bonus. An updated afterword now that millions of copies have sold, and a radio interview. My final thought is that for people who think of God as a white-haired old white man, it will definitely expand your view, and might be a bridge toward even more expansive versions of "god."

The positive side, for me, is clearly it's not too late to get my GodForce concept out. My Beyond the GodForce (c)1991 (officially registered and protected) addressed the personification of God. AKS dabbles in that, quite a bit, too.

Whether you embrace Tolle, the Tao, meditate and know that God is within; or believe old man God wrote the bible himself and is still "out there" someplace waiting to punish or reward you, go ahead and try "the Shack." (samples and info on the right side bar.)

And, please, COMMENT!! We don't discuss religion on WOW, but it's fair game here in Crypto land. Jump in! And, I thank Brother Bob for chiming in. He did read it.

the Oscars

Every year I think I won't get caught up in these award shows; Globes, Grammys, SAGS and finally Oscars. I stayed away from Globes and SAGS, but couldn't resist peaking into the Grammys and now I'm in full blown Oscar mode. Not that red carpet BS -- I will never care what people are wearing, who had a face lift, or if I ever see Joan Rivers again. But, here I am at 1:30 in the morning watching Tavis Smiley (who I never watch, barely have an awareness of) with clips of Actors and Directors from the nominated movies. Seeing Sean Penn just now really confirms that he should win over Mickey Rourke. Mickey is not acting so much as living out his dream revival on screen. Penn is acting. Wow! The clip I just saw could not be more different from his actual persona.

Also, I'm so glad I saw Slumdog Millionaire. Clips do not do that experience justice. I'm astounded that people can simply refer to it as a wonderful movie. The flash back scenes and "real time" torture were so horrific I could not watch a lot of it -- necessary, compelling, but extremely difficult to watch. You should have that warning. I feel it should win Best Picture (even tho I haven't seen the other four.) I'll see all of them on DVD, but I really didn't need to see a re-enactment of Tricky Dick on the big screen. That, along with the intimate scenes (and Nazi angle) of "the Reader" can be seen in the privacy of my own home. Ditto for Milk and Button.

So, I hope to see Kate Winslet, Sean Penn and Danny Boyle celebrating Sunday night. (Boyle, along with 18 yr old Dev Patel and the beautiful Freida, on behalf of the many Oscars Slumdog deserves and I hope wins at the 2009 Oscars.) Get game -- click on the title link and make your predictions now!!

lots of zeros

I heard this week that if YOU spent a million dollars every day since our Christian calendar began, in other words 2-thousand and nine years, that would be about 733 billion dollars. That's less than the stimulous bill being passed tonight. Truly mind boggling! Try to imagine spending a million dollars every day of your life, let alone over two thousand years. We wouldn't hit a trillion for another 250 years or so.

I can't fathom what this is doing to our national debt, but I do realize something must be done. I did email the Whitehouse earlier this week, begging for this package to focus on infrastructure, new energy technologies (like solar and wind, rather than propping up the antiquated smoke-stack and fossil fuel industries) and jobs.

If you missed "House of Cards" on CNBC, it's mandatory viewing. Unfortunately it's a slow start, but eventually David Faber does an excellent job of explaining the bank and credit crisis. For the first time, I truly understand just how toxic the CDOs and bad loans are. I can't believe the mortgages that were being approved and sold as Triple A investments. Those "structured" investments were just as much a Ponsi scheme as Madoff's mess. Pension funds (I hope not PERA) relied on those high ratings. I'd like to see people go to jail -- the greedy zeros that ruined our entire economy -- but that would be hundreds of thousands of white collar criminals. The cost of ajudicating them and housing them on top of the current crisis really points out how screwed our economy is. I wonder if it's possible to fix this global nightmare. Yes, it is Friday the 13th.

Do it Right... please!

I cannot believe nine days have passed since I posted. Time is flying here at Casa Suavita! Working on my creative writing assignments and spending time online "over there" at WD WOW consumed my time. Yeah, ok, the big confession -- and far too much TV. Talk about Kleishas. I've become a total news junkie. Jeeez! My friends think I'm nuts. I know way too much about Tim Geithner, the Stimulous Plan and bank bail-out. Yeah, it's good to be informed, but I'm over the line. I promised some news black out days, and I've got to start. I've justified this excessive viewing due to these historical events -- Obama Inauguration, first press conferences, and all these economic plans. But, the Senate just now passed the Stimulous 61-37 (had to haul Ted Kennedy in on a stretcher, but got it done.) It's a given the two bills will be reconciled and signed into law quickly now. So, it's time to step away from the TV now.

Actually I really want to rant right now, but I'm trying to restrain myself. I certainly hope spending $838 Billion of tax money will improve our national infrastructure, and start our conversion to a greener future with solar and wind power to replace our ungodly oil and fossil fuel dependence. I'm still going to email the Whitehouse and add my voice to the plea for sane spending. It can't just be any wild or wasteful spending. These billions better be for infrastructure and not more bureaucracy. Please, let's do this right and not just make a big financial mess for the future.

I just reached for the remote to turn off the tube, but instead I switched to C-span. I need an intervention now. HELP!

The First Day...

of the rest of my life!! I've got to come up with a new phrase. Like Phase II, or my Real Life -- anything but "Retired." I am not retired. That implies doing nothing or to quit living. I've only stopped the government job. Everything else is just beginning!

I'm taking a creative writing class, doing meditative and other retreats. Later I'll be traveling. Tonight at a Super Bowl party, people were asking (again) if I'm bored. I actually haven't even had my first official day of retirement yet. For the past two weeks I was finishing up work stuff. Monday is really my first official day of "retirement." So, that explains my irrational exuberance over the economic stuff. I've got to let that go. I need to spend one or two days a week avoiding the news. It's too stressful. I want to create a Peace Zone. I need it.

I've said before ranting is my Kleisha (sort of addiction -- in Buddhist thinking it's what we grasp or cling to.) I know it's my issue and I want to Let Go. So, I'm glad I blog. It's a way of tracking myself and holding myself accountable out here in cyberspace. Let's hope that I make progress this year. I don't want to look back and see that I wasted another year foaming at the mouth over politics and world economics. Quieting our mind is also a political act. Much more important than any ranting I can do. We need less Greed, hatred and ignorance -- and ranting. What is it Brother Bob says - "Let there be peace on earth, And let it begin with me."