Category Archives: Esoteric

Esoteric, Observation, Science, UFOs

What if “Non-human Biologics” are Watching?

Earthlings Through Alien Eyes: The Quirks, Quandaries, and Quibbles of Homo Sapiens

The ethereal morning light crests over an unassuming planet in the Milky Way galaxy, illuminating a peculiar and paradoxical scene. A non-human biologic — a visitor from the cosmos, lands on Earth. It doesn’t take long for this non-terrestrial observer to sunrise, an alien term for summarizing an assessment of a foreign entity, that the inhabitants of this planet are an enigmatic lot.

The first oddity? Large, boxy contraptions on wheels, emitting noxious fumes, threading across the landscape like metallic beetles. These ‘automobiles’, it transpires, are the Earthlings’ favorite mode of transit. The aliens’ bewildering discovery – these contraptions are powered by the long-deceased remains of prehistoric creatures. An odd choice for a species with access to an ongoing nuclear fusion reactor in the sky.

While deciphering the local customs, the aliens’ attention is drawn to the humans’ diet. With an array of potential sustenance on their planet, it’s curious that they show particular predilection towards devouring specific creatures: the bovine and the poultry. Meanwhile, a closer look reveals a division in the populace, with a fraction advocating for a diet devoid of fellow sentient beings, creating what can only be termed ‘food wars’.

Their planetary habits raise alien eyebrows too. Amid a growing chorus of concern over the degradation of their blue sphere, many Earthlings paradoxically resist the call for protective measures. Despite the stark warnings from their own scientific community, this existential tug-of-war continues. It seems these beings are not just survivalists, but passionate debaters, even when the debate might cost them their only home.

Even more puzzling is the human concept of ‘money’, an abstraction they’ve erected to facilitate exchange and hoard power. Our alien visitor marvels at the complexity of this system, and how it breeds both innovation and stark inequality, often polarizing their societies.

The complexities don’t stop at economics. The ‘government’, a ruling apparatus, retains information about sightings of ‘UAPs’ or unidentified aerial phenomena, potentially their own cosmic neighbors. Why would a civilization, just finding its feet in the cosmic arena, hide potential proofs of life beyond their sphere?

As the alien biologic prepares to leave, it ponders. Humans, despite their peculiarities and paradoxes, have an undeniable drive to survive and a capacity for great creativity and empathy. Perhaps, it muses, they’re not so different from other life forms in the vast cosmos.

Perhaps, amid the strange and nonsensical, these aliens might sunrise a beacon of hope – that Earthlings, with all their quirks and quibbles, have the potential for a future that’s as bright and promising as the dawn they’re named for. Perhaps the story of Earth is not yet written in the stars, and maybe, just maybe, the quirky inhabitants of this blue planet could yet surprise the cosmos.

Blue Sphere Balancing Act: The Paradox of Preservation

As the alien visitor observes, the Earthlings’ management of their planet raises quite a few extraterrestrial eyebrows. Amidst the concrete and metal of sprawling cities, patches of verdant wilderness still persist – a testament to the planet’s resilience. But closer scrutiny reveals a worrisome trend. Vast forests are disappearing, oceans are brimming with plastic waste, and invisible clouds of gases envelope the globe, heating it at an unprecedented rate.

The alien’s advanced sensors detect voices of concern, a burgeoning movement of Earthlings alarmed at these changes. These ‘environmentalists’ promote conservation, recycling, and a shift towards renewable energy sources, often sacrificing personal comfort for the greater good. Yet, intriguingly, there is resistance. There are Earthlings who, in the face of mounting evidence, dismiss these calls to action, clinging to ways that contribute to the degradation.

The existential debate on Earth seems reminiscent of the Cosmic Conundrum of Zog, where beings had to choose between harnessing the energy of their dying star or seeking a new cosmic home. Unlike the Zogians, however, the Earthlings are still arguing.

Monetary Mysteries: An Abstraction of Power and Division

As the observer further investigates Earthling civilization, it stumbles upon an even more puzzling phenomenon: the concept of ‘money’. While barter systems and resource exchanges are common throughout the cosmos, the abstraction and complexity of human currency are unique.

On Earth, pieces of paper, bits of metal, and even invisible digital codes are valued more than the resources they’re meant to represent. This ‘money’ is hoarded, fought over, and often decides an individual’s access to life necessities and luxuries. It seems an unnecessarily complicated system to the visitor, who comes from a civilization that long ago transitioned to a post-scarcity economy.

Yet, it’s not just the concept of money that’s puzzling, it’s the inequality it creates. Some Earthlings amass wealth far beyond their needs, constructing gigantic abodes and acquiring multiple terrestrial vehicles, while others struggle for basic sustenance. Even more intriguing, this system somehow also fuels innovation, driving the creation of everything from life-saving medical technologies to the very machines contributing to the planet’s degradation.

As the visitor gazes upon Earth, it cannot help but wonder if the humans, too, will transcend their self-imposed chains of inequality and environmental disregard, much like the Zogians did.

Climate Solutions, Earth and Ecology, Economics, Esoteric, Observation, Sustainable Energy

The Earthly Frontier: Building a Sustainable Future at Home

Solar Power: Harnessing Our Local Star

The pioneering spirit driving Elon Musk’s SpaceX to prepare for life on Mars is captivating, but a compelling alternative suggests we should use this same spirit to heal and nurture our home planet.

The sun, our local star, is central to this Earth-centric vision. According to NASA, Earth receives approximately 174 petawatts of incoming solar radiation in the upper atmosphere.

By efficiently harnessing just a fraction of this energy, we could significantly reduce our dependence on environmentally harmful fossil fuels.

Over the past decade, the cost of solar power has dramatically decreased and, with improvements in energy storage, (like Tesla’s Powerwall units, for example), solar energy is becoming a reliable, 24/7 power source.

Ephemeralization: Doing More with Less

However, the shift towards sustainable living extends beyond changing our energy source. This is where the principles of R. Buckminster Fuller, a visionary architect, systems theorist, author, designer, and inventor, come into play.

Fuller proposed the concept of “doing more with less,” forecasting a future where technological advancements lead to “ephemeralization,” a scenario in which we could fulfill everyone’s needs using fewer resources. This notion could help pave the way for a more environmentally sustainable world that also addresses issues of scarcity and inequality.

Building Efficiency: Embracing Integrative Design

Our journey towards a sustainable future is complemented by the principles of “integrative design,” a concept championed by Amory Lovins, co-founder of the Rocky Mountain Institute.

Lovins’ approach focuses on a holistic systems design where individual components work together in synergy, maximizing energy and resource efficiency.

This concept applies prominently to building efficiency, an area where Lovins has made significant contributions. By considering elements such as orientation, insulation, window placement, and ventilation, buildings can be designed to maintain comfortable temperatures with minimal active heating or cooling.

This “passive house” approach dramatically reduces energy consumption, making buildings part of the climate solution rather than a source of the problem.

Lovins’ approach also applies to manufacturing and industry, which, together, account for over 40% of total U.S. energy consumption.

By redesigning industrial processes to minimize waste, utilize waste heat, and prioritize energy-efficient equipment, Lovins argues that industries can dramatically reduce their energy use without sacrificing output or quality.

Taken to the furthest logical conclusion, the principles of integrative design could revolutionize how we conceive of energy use across all sectors.

Circular Economy and Soil Regeneration: Emulating Nature’s Cycle

To create a genuinely sustainable society, we need to redefine our economic systems and our relationship with the land. Our shift must be from a linear economic model—where we extract, use, and discard resources—to a circular one that mimics nature’s endless cycles of growth, decay, and renewal.

The Ellen MacArthur Foundation has been instrumental in leading efforts to establish an economy that is restorative and regenerative by design.

A key part of this shift involves regenerating our agricultural systems. Soil health is vital for maintaining biodiversity, water quality, and carbon sequestration.

Regenerative agriculture, including practices like cover cropping, no-till farming, and composting, can restore soil health and enhance its capacity to absorb carbon from the atmosphere.

According to the Rodale Institute, if current farmlands globally shifted to regenerative organic practices, it could sequester more than 100% of current annual CO2 emissions. Transitioning towards such practices could significantly mitigate climate change and rejuvenate our food systems.

Economic Justice: Power to All

An Earth-centric future also calls for economic justice. In a world powered by the sun, where resources are used wisely, waste is minimized, and the soil is restored, basic needs—such as healthcare, education, and equal opportunity—could be universally provided.

Establishing these rights is not just about altruism—it’s about creating a society where every individual can fully contribute to the collective good.

Mars Can Wait, But Can Earth?

The dream of a city on Mars is undoubtedly inspiring, but we must not overlook the opportunities beneath our feet. Our planet is not merely a stepping stone to the stars; it is a star in its own right.

Mars can wait, but can the Earth? With the elements for a sustainable revolution already within our grasp, it’s up to us to weave them together, creating a future that embraces both sustainability and economic justice.

The Long Road to an Earthly Future

The real odyssey, the true journey that demands our audacity and pioneering spirit, lies not in the red sands of a distant planet or under the shadows of unfamiliar stars. Instead, it unravels here, beneath the azure sky and upon the rich, verdant expanses of our home, Earth.

This journey may be long and fraught with challenges. The road toward a sustainable, just, and abundant future will require us to reassess our values, reinvent our systems, and redefine our relationship with the environment.

It calls for us to weave together principles of ephemeralization, integrative design, circular economy, soil regeneration, and economic justice into the fabric of our societies.

Yet, even as we embark on this formidable quest, we should remember that the destination is not merely a point in the future. It is a process, a continuous evolution that offers us countless opportunities for growth, learning, and reinvention.

Every step we take towards this envisioned future—whether it’s a solar panel installed, a passive house built, or a plot of land regenerated—brings us closer to realizing our potential as a species.

Unlike the cold, alien landscapes of Mars, the Earth provides us with a setting that is intimately familiar yet brimming with untapped potential.

We have the knowledge, the technology, and the means. All we need now is the collective will to channel our exploratory spirit inward, to heal, nurture, and transform the world we already have.

So let the red planet wait. For now, we have an extraordinary world under our feet, a world that we are yet to fully comprehend and appreciate.

Our gaze should not be fixed on distant celestial bodies, but on the potential lying dormant in our societies and within ourselves. The future of humanity is not just out there in the cosmos, but also right here, on the third rock from the Sun. The Earth and its promise of a sustainable and equitable future, is real, and attainable.

Books, Esoteric

Moloch Reimagined: Tracing the Malevolent Entity through Mythology and Modern Perils

Everything, everywhere, all at once things are looking scary…

These words echo the pervasive fear that Moloch, the demon, has instilled across cultures and epochs. A dark and ominous figure, Moloch’s name resonates through the annals of mythology, religious texts, and literature, evoking malevolence and sacrificial rituals. But beyond the ancient tales, the enduring fascination with Moloch finds uncanny parallels in the daunting challenges of our modern world.

Origins of Moloch:

Tracing Moloch’s origins reveals an ancient deity revered in Canaanite and Semitic cultures. Worshiped with chilling devotion, Moloch demanded the ultimate price—the lives of innocent infants, immolated as offerings. Archaeological evidence and ancient texts shed light on this haunting practice, spreading through regions like Carthage with Phoenician settlers.

Malevolent Entity in Religious Texts:

The Hebrew Bible holds accounts of Moloch’s abominable presence. Leviticus and the Book of Jeremiah recount sacrifices of children to appease Moloch, a pagan god. Prophets vehemently condemned such practices, denouncing them as an affront to the one true God.

Literary Examples:

In John Milton’s “Paradise Lost,” Moloch emerges as a fallen angel, wielding a warrior-like spirit against Heaven. Fierce and revengeful, Moloch’s pride-driven actions serve as a cautionary tale of the dangers of arrogance and blind obedience.

Allen Ginsberg’s “Howl” takes Moloch from the realm of deities to that of industrial society. In a metaphorical twist, Moloch embodies the voracious appetite of consumerism, devouring souls in the relentless pursuit of profit.

H.P. Lovecraft’s Cthulhu Mythos weaves Moloch into a tapestry of cosmic horror. A fearsome demon, Moloch personifies chaos and malevolence, contributing to an eerie atmosphere in Lovecraft’s stories.

Modern Manifestations of Moloch:

As the ages have turned, Moloch’s concept metamorphoses into a metaphorical entity, embodying contemporary malevolence and exploitation. Though not directly linked to the ancient deity, Moloch finds relevance in modern challenges.

Consumerism and Materialism stand as symbols of rampant Moloch in today’s society. The insatiable hunger for profit leads to environmental exploitation and disregards ethical considerations.

Technological Advancements bring forth ethical dilemmas akin to Moloch’s temptation. The pursuit of progress may sacrifice ethical considerations in AI, privacy, and autonomous weapons development.

Societal Inequality and Exploitation mirror ancient sacrificial practices. The concentration of wealth and power, sacrificing the vulnerable for the privileged, perpetuates oppression.

Political and Ideological Extremism advocates for sacrificing liberties and human rights for perceived greater goods. Moloch-like ideologies prioritize agendas over the well-being of citizens.

Loss of Human Connection and Empathy epitomizes modern Moloch. The pursuit of efficiency detaches humans from genuine interactions, leading to social isolation.

Present-day Parallels and Connections:

Climate change, nuclear war, and mass extinction loom as existential Molochs. Humanity’s actions endanger the environment and perpetuate conflict, risking global catastrophe.

Moloch is not exclusive to any one tradition. Across cultures, figures like Baal Hammon, Tiamat, Thanatos, Mephistopheles, Mara, and Ahriman embody similar malevolence, guiding societies through their cyclical rise and fall.

As humanity faces modern Molochs, the call for reflection and action grows. Climate change’s wrath reflects Moloch’s destructive tendencies, while nuclear war mimics ancient sacrifices for greater ambitions. As technology advances, the temptation to sacrifice ethical values to progress evokes Moloch’s lure.

In the cyclical concept of Yugas, Moloch’s presence remains timeless, extending from ancient rituals to contemporary global challenges. It serves as a cautionary symbol, compelling us to confront the malevolence within and around us.

Perhaps, amidst the darkness of Moloch, humanity finds its true test—to transcend and seek a brighter future, united in purpose and compassion. The ancient demon’s legacy reminds us that within these trials lie the seeds of transformation, offering hope that we can emerge wiser, stronger, and more resilient. For in the face of Moloch, we learn that the courage to face malevolence and forge a better world is humanity’s ultimate strength.

AI, Cutting Edge, Esoteric, Gaming, Observation, Tech

What is the metaverse? 2 media and information experts explain

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Above: Photo / Pixabay

The metaverse is a network of always-on virtual environments in which many people can interact with one another and digital objects while operating virtual representations – or avatars – of themselves. Think of a combination of immersive virtual reality, a massively multiplayer online role-playing game and the web. 

The metaverse is a concept from science fiction that many people in the technology industry envision as the successor to today’s internet. It’s only a vision at this point, but technology companies like Facebook are aiming to make it the setting for many online activities, including work, play, studying and shopping.

Metaverse is a portmanteau of meta, meaning transcendent, and verse, from universe. Sci-fi novelist Neal Stephenson coined the term in his 1992 novel “Snow Crash” to describe the virtual world in which the protagonist, Hiro Protagonist, socializes, shops and vanquishes real-world enemies through his avatar. The concept predates “Snow Crash” and was popularized as “cyberspace” in William Gibson’s groundbreaking 1984 novel “Neuromancer.”

There are three key aspects of the metaverse: presence, interoperability and standardization. 

Presence is the feeling of actually being in a virtual space, with virtual others. Decades of research has shown that this sense of embodiment improves the quality of online interactions. This sense of presence is achieved through virtual reality technologies such as head-mounted displays.

Interoperability means being able to seamlessly travel between virtual spaces with the same virtual assets, such as avatars and digital items. ReadyPlayerMe allows people to create an avatar that they can use in hundreds of different virtual worlds, including in Zoom meetings through apps like Animaze. Meanwhile, blockchain technologies such as cryptocurrenciesand nonfungible tokens facilitate the transfer of digital goods across virtual borders.

Standardization is what enables interoperability of platforms and services across the metaverse. As with all mass-media technologies – from the printing press to texting – common technological standards are essential for widespread adoption. International organizations such as the Open Metaverse Interoperability Group define these standards. 

Why the metaverse matters

If the metaverse does become the successor to the internet, who builds it, and how, is extremely important to the future of the economy and society as a whole. Facebook is aiming to play a leading role in shaping the metaverse, in part by investing heavily in virtual reality. Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg explained in an interview his view that the metaverse spans non-immersive platforms like today’s social media as well as immersive 3D media technologies such as virtual reality, and that it will be for work as well as play.Hollywood has embraced the metaverse in movies like ‘Ready Player One.’

The metaverse might one day resemble the flashy fictional Oasis of Ernest Cline’s “Ready Player One,” but until then you can turn to games like Fortnite and Roblox, virtual reality social media platforms like VRChat and AltspaceVR, and virtual work environments like Immersed for a taste of the immersive and connected metaverse experience. As these siloed spaces converge and become increasingly interoperable, watch for a truly singular metaverse to emerge.

Originally published on The Conversation by Rabindra Ratan & Yiming Lei and republished under a Creative Common License (CC BY-ND 4.0).

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Entertainment, Esoteric, LA Local, Lifestyle, Photography, Travel

Super Flower Blood Full Moon Eclipse more than Fulfilled its Promise

Above: Photo Credit Lynxotic collage with Photo by Sadman Sakib on Unsplash

Visible in the Western U.S. states early Wednesday

This kickoff to the Lunar eclipses for the year will be the fantastically named “Super Flower Blood Moon”. Although the visibility during the eclipse will vary across the nation, the west coast will have a great, bright vantage, where clear skies oblige.

Also, unlike solar eclipses the Lunar variety is completely safe to view with the naked eye. Just watch your forecast as clouds vs. clear skies will be the determining factor when it comes to visibility.

The “flower” moniker is perhaps less significant than it sounds, but no less poetic. Call the flower moon due to that simple fact that it occurs in late May, coincident with the spring bloom.

Although there were four penumbral lunar eclipses in 2020, they were less spectacular that what is anticipated for the one we will get on May 26th. That’s because this month’s total lunar eclipse will have a more obvious darkening phases as the moon passes through the umbra, Earth’s inner, darker shadow.

The eclipse will be at least partly visible in the Americas, Australia, New Zealand and Asia, while the total phase will only be seen from some of these locations. In the case of North America, the eclipse’s total phase, the time during which the moon turns orange or red in color, will only be seen from the western U.S., British Columbia, Alaska and parts of western Mexico.

Alternatively, if the full Super Flower Blood Moon has got you curious but you are not in the ideal spot to view from your backyard, livestreams will be hosted by observatories and astronomers around the world.

The west coast is the best coast for this moon

The rest of North America will only see the first part of the eclipse before the moon will set in the western sky. There will still be something worth seeing but it will be a partial view of the entire event.

If you are in the Los Angeles area Wednesday morning these are points worth noting:

  • Total duration: 4 hours, 6 minutes
  • Penumbral begins: 1:47 a.m. Wednesday
  • Partial begins: 2:44 a.m. Wednesday
  • Full begins: 4:11 a.m. Wednesday
  • Maximum: 4:18 a.m. Wednesday
  • Full ends: 4:25 a.m. Wednesday
  • Moonset: 5:52 a.m. Wednesday

If you are a photographer please be aware that the moon, at any time, is hard to capture without powerful telephoto lenses. A cell phone will retrieve an image but the distant orb will be far more visible with magnification.

Above: Photo Credit /Photo by João Luccas Oliveira on Unsplash

The moon has many meanings and astrologically the event is significant also

Any discussion of all things lunar, blood moons and eclipses would certainly be congruent with a taste of the astrological perspective. We have it on good authority that this will be a Sagittarius full moon. There haas been prognostication that this will be a very challenging and “difficult” full moon eclipse, there are also signs that it will mark triumphs for some in the career dept., even accolades and awards.

A “major project” could be coming to a happy conclusion. As is always the case with Full moon lunar eclipses, if things are unclear and seem oddly incomplete, waiting 30 days can often bring the resolution that you are awaiting.

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Books, Esoteric

Best Under-the-radar Books from Our Research

Above:Photo Credit / Olivier Chatel on Unsplash

Sometimes, lost in all the hype and hoopla are gems that just don’t quite make it into the forefront of the mainstream. We make it our mission to keep our eyes open and be on the hunt for just those kinds of gems. Perhaps it’s an idea, or a thread of meaning, or maybe just something that is boiling under the surface about to explode like a geyser in Yellowstone Park.

Here are a few books, and the idea of a physical book itself is also one of those overlooked genius things that seems to slip past us everyday, and these are just the kind that only the eagle-eyed may have noticed previously. To make it easier they are featured front and center, below, along with descriptions, provided courtesy of the Bookshop, and some links for a variety of options to purchase.

Infinite Powers: How Calculus Reveals the Secrets of the Universe

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From preeminent math personality and author of The Joy of x, a brilliant and endlessly appealing explanation of calculus–how it works and why it makes our lives immeasurably better.

Without calculus, we wouldn’t have cell phones, TV, GPS, or ultrasound. We wouldn’t have unraveled DNA or discovered Neptune or figured out how to put 5,000 songs in your pocket.

Though many of us were scared away from this essential, engrossing subject in high school and college, Steven Strogatz’s brilliantly creative, down-to-earth history shows that calculus is not about complexity; it’s about simplicity. It harnesses an unreal number–infinity–to tackle real-world problems, breaking them down into easier ones and then reassembling the answers into solutions that feel miraculous.

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Antitrust: Taking on Monopoly Power from the Gilded Age to the Digital Age

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Antitrust enforcement is one of the most pressing issues facing America today–and Amy Klobuchar, the widely respected senior senator from Minnesota, is leading the charge. This fascinating history of the antitrust movement shows us what led to the present moment and offers achievable solutions to prevent monopolies, promote business competition, and encourage innovation.

In a world where Google reportedly controls 90 percent of the search engine market and Big Pharma’s drug price hikes impact healthcare accessibility, monopolies can hurt consumers and cause marketplace stagnation. Klobuchar–the much-admired former candidate for president of the United States–argues for swift, sweeping reform in economic, legislative, social welfare, and human rights policies, and describes plans, ideas, and legislative proposals designed to strengthen antitrust laws and antitrust enforcement.

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Klobuchar writes of the historic and current fights against monopolies in America, from Standard Oil and the Sherman Anti-Trust Act to the Progressive Era’s trust-busters; from the breakup of Ma Bell (formerly the world’s biggest company and largest private telephone system) to the pricing monopoly of Big Pharma and the future of the giant tech companies like Facebook, Amazon, and Google.

She begins with the Gilded Age (1870s-1900), when builders of fortunes and rapacious robber barons such as J. P. Morgan, John Rockefeller, and Cornelius Vanderbilt were reaping vast fortunes as industrialization swept across the American landscape, with the rich getting vastly richer and the poor, poorer.

She discusses President Theodore Roosevelt, who, during the Progressive Era (1890s-1920), busted the trusts, breaking up monopolies; the Clayton Act of 1914; the Federal Trade Commission Act of 1914; and the Celler-Kefauver Act of 1950, which it strengthened the Clayton Act. She explores today’s Big Pharma and its price-gouging; and tech, television, content, and agriculture communities and how a marketplace with few players, or one in which one company dominates distribution, can hurt consumer prices and stifle innovation.

The Curse of Bigness: Antitrust in the New Gilded Age

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From the man who coined the term net neutrality, author of The Master Switch and The Attention Merchants, comes a warning about the dangers of excessive corporate and industrial concentration for our economic and political future.

We live in an age of extreme corporate concentration, in which global industries are controlled by just a few giant firms — big banks, big pharma, and big tech, just to name a few.

But concern over what Louis Brandeis called the curse of bigness can no longer remain the province of specialist lawyers and economists, for it has spilled over into policy and politics, even threatening democracy itself. History suggests that tolerance of inequality and failing to control excessive corporate power may prompt the rise of populism, nationalism, extremist politicians, and fascist regimes.

In short, as Wu warns, we are in grave danger of repeating the signature errors of the twentieth century. In The Curse of Bigness, Columbia professor Tim Wu tells of how figures like Brandeis and Theodore Roosevelt first confronted the democratic threats posed by the great trusts of the Gilded Age–but the lessons of the Progressive Era were forgotten in the last 40 years. He calls for recovering the lost tenets of the trustbusting age as part of a broader revival of American progressive ideas as we confront the fallout of persistent and extreme economic inequality.

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Silent Spring (50th Anniversary Edition)

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The classic that launched the environmental movement

Rarely does a single book alter the course of history, but Rachel Carson’s Silent Spring did exactly that.

The outrcrythat followed its publication in 1962 forced the banning of DDT and spurred the revolutionary changes in the laws affecting our air, land, and water.

Carson’s passionate concern for the future of our planet reverberated powerfully throughout the world, and her eloquent book was instrumental in launching the environmental movement.

This is without question one of the landmark books of the twentieth century. The introduction, by the acclaimed biographer Linda Lear, tells the story of Carson’s courageous defense of her truths in the face of a ruthless assault form the chemical industry following the publication of Silent Spring and before her untimely death.

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Entertainment, Esoteric, Lifestyle, Memes

Bernie Sanders Memes Conquer Earth Internet, set sights on Cosmos

Above: Photo Collage / Lynxotic

The end-all and be-all of memes emerged out of the inauguration…

In a move that transcends the presidential, Bernie Sanders now owns the internet. All he needed was the right mittens and a countenance of equanimity, rising above to see into the center of all being and nothingness.

Like a zen monk or Yoda on steroids, he accomplishes all by doing little, even nothing, beyond his mind bending position and posture. Ever modest and with a meaningful invisible wink, he disavows any knowledge of his splendor or any plan to conquer all:

“I was just sitting there trying to keep warm, trying to pay attention to what was going on,” 

-Bernie Sanders / Interview Late Night With Seth Meyers

Meanwhile, there has been a meaningful and valid response to the triumph, and it all gets back to a t-shirt and mittens.

Read More: Lady Gaga Wows with her Voice and Style at Biden-Harris Inauguration

Now that there has been an endless stream of replication and iteration based on the genius moment, we best begin at the beginning and trace this new species of viral wonderfulness back to its humble source: the photo:

https://twitter.com/rachsyme/status/1351924607465496582?s=20

Read More: James Corden’s Les Misérables send-up a fitting Comedy Tour-de-force

https://twitter.com/rubycramer/status/1351915535647330306?s=20

Now: see the propagation into the world of movies, TV and more…

https://twitter.com/jamieleecurtis/status/1352624224330899456?s=20
https://twitter.com/AlfBergan/status/1352219458430005248?s=20

Of course there must be: Bernie as Art

https://twitter.com/_maura_callahan/status/1352067489405001732?s=20

And to you, Amazon, you can not have this meme for your endless self-aggrandizement, and here is the obvious reason why:

Then in closing: a live action TikTok cut-out-creation:

@mikebennettart

BRRRR-nie! #berniesanders #inauguration #inauguration2021 #art #2021 #painting #portland #bernie

♬ Disney Pictures Intro – Disney Pictures
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Breaking News, Entertainment, Esoteric, Movies, Observation, Politics

‘The Simpsons’ Episodes that Eerily Foreshadowed the Riots on Capitol Hill

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https://video.twimg.com/ext_tw_video/1347191099123785729/pu/vid/720x720/Mg8Of4QrgPz_xJcw.mp4?tag=10
From Twitter User  @djlistendat

After all the Bizarre and Not-Funny Events of the Week this is well….Bizarre Period

In a somewhat famous and now infamous episode of The Simpsons, Homer has a dream (nightmare?) relating to the U.S. elections, that were about to take place. The segment aired on November 1, 2020, and, in the end, became eerily prophetic. It didn’t take long for the world, particularly on Twitter, to take note and react. 

In his dream, he never ends up voting and the scene cuts to January 20th, 2021, inauguration day,  a day that has not yet arrived, of course, but, as if often the case with physic phenomena, the details had a shocking correlation to what we all witnessed on January 6th, 2021. 

Readmore: DiaperDon trends as Trump has a T-day Tantrum behind a Very Tiny Desk

#DiaperDon trends as Trump has a T-day Tantrum behind a Very Tiny Desk

The date discrepancy is worth noting, since some of the scenes that were not directly accurate on January 6th, could well be at a future date.

The clips show apocalyptic, war like scenes, buildings burning, robots all around and the course horsemen bearing flags that read:
famine, war, and pestilence.

Another clip from the 1996 episode “The Day the Violence Died” shows the constitution (as a person) atop the Capitol hills steps saying “Doors open boys” resulting in a horde of amended bills (also anthropomorphized) toting shot guns and bombs as they storm the building.

The visual similarities, how the mob is somehow savage and yet ridiculous and mirrors the videos and photos of real life to a T. Maybe there’s more than just the ability to predict the future at work here? Maybe there’s a message of wisdom in Homer’s dream?

https://twitter.com/BilalTawakkal/status/1347160510748352513?s=20
https://twitter.com/bth77police/status/1346949149623803911?s=20
https://twitter.com/FCr_91/status/1346965226751725570?s=20
https://twitter.com/HJMO1987/status/1347000252738523136?s=20
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Entertainment, Esoteric, Lifestyle, Movies, Music

Volume 2: Mini-Virtual Get-aways for a Stay-cation Odyssey into 2021

Video

Yoga & Meditation at Sunset on a Winter’s Day

A beautiful winter sunset in the Mojave is a perfect backdrop for music, Meditation and Yoga stretching. Contemplative, inwardly focused yet surrounded by natural beauty and peace. The perfect relaxing counterpart to a hectic, overburdened existence, a way to take solace in the elements and dream of a better tomorrow…

Adventure Island Voyager: Winter Escape into Tropical Bliss

The music winds and floats and takes a dream to a foreign unknown shore. Endless summer and a sunset island fantasy come true. Enjoy the track and transport your mind into relaxing sea and surf. Ambient Relaxation Therapy Forever. Featuring: Surf “Pondering” by Arulo

This girl in the Late Afternoon Sunset is Like a Dream on Skates

A dream like scenarios with a girl on skates enjoying and exploring golden hour as the sun sets. Music is mysterious and ambient with a quality of unreality and illusion, though the title is “Lust or Love” by Arulo, it imbues less a feeling of lust but rather metaphysical floating in a world of dreams and random thoughts.

Surf Sounds of Air and Sunset, aDrift among the Palm Sweet Soliloquy

Lonely wafted and adrift in clam and clean motionless ocean glass. Colors of the sky with incredible soft pastel rays of light, rising from the furthest point of infinity. Gulls fly and dreams envelope now.

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Books, Esoteric, Science, UFOs

Truths about Extraterrestrial Life and the Mysteries of Interplanetary Visitors

A gradual shift is happening; toward a lack of disbelief regarding interplanetary visitors

With all the recent stories about UFO’s and Aliens in the media these days, there’s a feeling in the air that it’s not as far fetched as many once believed that they could be present in our world or at least in contact in some form. Israel’s Professor Haim Eshed’s recent interviews as well as various US based witnesses have begun to put forth the simple yet compelling idea that Aliens have been known of by governments, and others, for decades, and have held off on divulging what they know while they wait for the right moment. When the public is “ready”. Interestingly, there is also the sense in the air that the “right time” might be coming soon.

Maybe it’s partially due to having had a President that has “unusual” ideas about medicine and windmills and various other topics. Why not just let the people know everything the government is hiding? Or maybe it really is something that can no longer be kept from the public for other reasons.

These books can shed light on deeply considered questions and theories for those that want to know what’s out there, ahead of any forthcoming announcements.

Beyond Area 51: The Mysteries of the Planet’s Most Forbidden, Top Secret Destinations

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The truth can’t be hidden forever. Unlock the secrets of Earth’s top secret destinations–including Area 51 and more.

Few have ventured into the many heavily guarded, top-secret locations scattered across the earth. Even fewer have emerged with stories to tell. Yet every now and then the common man is given an illicit glimpse of something extraordinary…

 In Beyond Area 51, Mack Maloney explores the truths behind the many myths and legends surrounding some of the world’s most mysterious locales. From the Homestead Air Force base in Miami, Florida to Russia’s Kapustin Yar, Maloney investigates incredible reports of extraterrestrial experimentation on animals, UFOs with road rage, and other unbelievable tales beyond our wildest imaginings. Filled with fascinating, true accounts, Beyond Area 51 will convince any skeptic of the infinite possibilities of what exists on, and beyond, our tiny planet. Click here to see “Beyond Area 51” and help indepe

The Stargate Conspiracy: The Truth about Extraterrestrial Life and the Mysteries of Ancient Egypt

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In recent years, alternative historians have gained remarkable insight into the mysteries of ancient Egypt–but according to Lynn Picknett and Clive Prince, their discoveries tie into a dangerous conspiracy nearly fifty years in the making

.At the center of this conspiracy is a group of respected, powerful individuals who believe that the ancient Egyptian gods are really extraterrestrials who will soon return to earth. The conspirators have intimate and exclusive knowledge of this momentous second coming–but they insist on keeping it to themselves. What could be the purpose of such a conspiracy? Why are the conspirators so desperate to keep their information a secret? And what does it mean for mankind? In this riveting, well-researched book, Picknett and Price offer compelling evidence that the conspiracy exists–and expose the insidious motivations of the individuals and organizations behind it….Click here to see “Stargate Conspiracy” and help independent bookstores. Also available on Amazon.

The Source Field Investigations: The Hidden Science and Lost Civilizations Behind the 2012 Prophecies

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Prepare yourself for a revealing tour through the most incredible scientific mysteries of the world with your guide David Wilcock, the New York Timesbestselling author of Awakening in the Dream.More than two million people have seen David Wilcock’s incredible tour of the 2012 prophecies in his Internet documentary, The 2012 Enigma.

Now, he expands his vision with a cutting-edge investigation into alternative sciences with deep insights into what is coming in our immediate future. A stunning synthesis of hidden science and lost prophecies, The Source Field Investigations exposes DNA transformation, wormholes, ancient conspiracies, the Maya calendar, and a new model of galactic energy fields triggering mental, biological, and spiritual evolution. Unlike the apocalyptic viewpoints depicted in big-budget disaster films, Wilcock believes that 2012 will be a watermark for widespread acceptance of a greater reality–and here, he lays out the blueprints for such a Golden Age. Click here to see “Source Field Investigations” and help independent bookstores. Also available on Amazon

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Entertainment, Esoteric, Movies

Reflections on ‘Citizen Kane’, ‘Mank’ and the Demise of Live Cinema

Video

A hall of mirrors, not only of reflections on “Kane” and “Mank” but this very moment in time

Seeing “Mank” on netflix, in painstakingly low tech black and white on and ancient 2004 vintage plasma flat screen many coincidences seemed to converge and collide. 

In the final sequences of Mank as the epilogue divulges the Oscar win for best screenplay and indicates that “Citizen Kane” was the final film written by Herman J. Mankiewicz, while as is part of Hollywood history and lore, it was the first by Orsen Wells, as a director and actor. 

Read more: ENTERTAINMENTHBO Max / Warner Bros. news Cast a Shadow over the Future of Live Cinema

And Mank was released a dat after it was announced that Warner Bros. would begin releasing all its films (the next 17, at any rate) simultaneously on HBO max and in theaters. For many, particularly those in the movie theater business, this was seen as a possible death knell for live cinema. 

And, taking this thread further, “Mank” also touches on the fact that Citizen Kane, which in many ways marks the birth of modern filmmaking, was only released at all due to legal maneuvering by RKO Radio Pictures, and Orson Wells only had the contract allowing him full autonomy because of his status as a radio star…

Radio, in other words, was present at the inauguration of modern cinema while Streaming attends the death of the movie theater experience, for the time being, at any rate. 

Read more: Will Movie Theaters Disappear?

And while these various technical marvels, the luxurious, sensual and powerfully stimulative immersion in a dark theater, on the one hand, and the inconsistent and convenient yet ever evolving systems of today both share, as a prerequisite to all creation the written, spoken and word and the imagination the imbues its invocation.

A movie for the ages and a single man’s creative life that was fulfilled through it’s creation

Adding to the layers of what seems like uncanny timing, “Citizen Kane” inspirational subject in real life, William Randolph Hearst, was at the time of the film’s initial release, rich on the level that would compare to Bill Gates or Jeff Bezos today, but was a newspaper Publisher. Newspaper publishing is yet another storytelling technology that, already at that time was considered on its way out, and in “Mank” there is even a scene where Hearst touts “Talkies”, movies with sound and dialog, as the technology that would captivate the future. 

Implying, inadvertently perhaps, that we are at a similar crossroads of change, and that, while streaming, digital publishing and beyond may be “the future”, the light of good works, and of a great story well told, will shine into eternity, as will “Citizen Kane” and the man who originally conceived it: Mank.

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Economics, Esoteric, Finance, Stock Market, Tech

Father of Fractals is Google Doodle Star: Who is Benoit Mandelbrot?

Video
https://video.twimg.com/ext_tw_video/1329770660177047552/pu/vid/640x640/L6CqbeZPCfEz6Q9S.mp4?tag=10

Above: Photo Collage / Lynxotic

Mathematics and Philosophy meet in Fractal Pioneer’s Unique Career

Benoit Mandelbrot, the renowned French-American mathematician, died on October 14th, 2010 at the age of 85, and would have turned 96 today.  To celebrate, Google published a doodle in his honor.   An additional part of the celebration, Google launched an  interactive “Explore” feature to allow users to view the endless patterns of the Mandelbrot set. 

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If you don’t know what a fractal is, simply put, it is a never-ending pattern.  As defined by the Fractal Foundation: “They are infinitely complex patterns that are self-similar across different scales.  They are created by repeating a simple process over and over in an ongoing feedback loop“. There are many examples of fractals in nature, in fact virtually all natural phenomena can be seen as being fractal based. 

Mandelbrot is best known for fractal geometry, which is a term he coined in 1975 to describe a new branch of geometry that sought to explain of the irregular shapes and processes found within nature.  His research has contributed valuable knowledge in many different fields including physics, medicine, geology, art and even finance. 

Wide ranging influence continues to this day

His fractal theory have even found its way into pop culture, with graphical images created by his algorithm placed on t-shirts, posters, album covers, and even inspired a song called “Mandelbrot Set” by Jonathan Coulton and the text “The Colours of Infinity” by Arthur C. Clarke. 

The mathematician won numerous awards, including the prestigious ‘Wolf Prize” in 1993 for Physics and even had a small asteroid named in his honor in 2000 called ’27500 Mandelbrot’.

Mandelbrot made significant contributions to the study of financial markets as a fractal based system that conforms to the concept that all of nature, and the entire universe, is also fractal based. A great body of overlapping work exists between the studies of the financial markets done by Mandelbrot himself as well as the way his fractal concepts figured into the work of Ralph Nelson Elliott and Robert Prechter of the ElliottWave.com. 

The basis of Elliott’s theory is to describe price movements in financial markets as recurring, fractal wave patterns. This core insight was, in essence an outgrowth of the recognition that, when looking at various time frames in stock market charts, and therefore the human behavior that generated those patterns, the result is no different than looking at, for example, a sea coastline from various altitudes – which reveals a fractal. 

The insight that produced this theory not only established and inspired the stock trading strategy based on the Elliott Wave Theory, but also more recently led to Robert Prechter’s Socionomic Theory. Socionomics is a new science using the benefits of Elliott Wave Theory in understanding not only finance and economics but also social behavior, popular culture and politics which can be seen as interpreting nature using fractal based concepts. 

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Books, Esoteric

Strawberry Moon Eclipse Tonight Has Mars Red Energy to Spare

The Strawberry Moon is set to take place Friday night which will bring a penumbral lunar eclipse which is when the Sun, Earth and Moon are imperfectly aligned. The moon will appear slightly darker than usual around some parts of the world as the moon will be passing through parts of the Earth’s outer shadow.

According to Susan Miller of Astrology Zone:

“The news on television has been heavy and sad, and I wrote slower as a result. We are now starting three eclipses, each two weeks apart, June 5, June 21, and July 4-5. Eclipses demand change on a personal and societal level. With an eclipse coming on July 4, I feel my country, the US, will still have something more to go through. Eclipses enlighten us with a floodlight of truth, so that we can see all that we had been too blind to see. The coming two months will have lots more news, so we are only at the beginning.”

susan miller / astrology zone

This will also be the last full moon of the spring season. The moon will appear full for approximately three days from early morning Thursday June 4th to early morning Sunday June 7th.

Read More: SpaceX Starship Plans for The Moon, Mars and Earth-to-Earth Transport

According to NASA, the Algonquin tribes called the June full moon the “Strawberry Moon” based on the short season for harvesting strawberries in the north-eastern region of the United States. Other old European names for the moon have been referred to as the Mead or Honey Moon when honey was the most ripe and sweet for harvest.

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The eclipse will begin 1:45 p.m. ET and last around three hours and 18 minutes until 5:04 p.m. ET and can be most visible in Eastern Africa, the Middle East, Southern Asia and Australia. Those in New York can see the full moon set around 5:17 a.m. local time and will rise that day at 8:29 p.m. The Strawberry Moon eclipse is just one of the three eclipses to take place in June and July, with the annular solar eclipse (Ring of Fire) on June 21, 2020 and another penumbral lunar eclipse (Thunder Moon) on July 4, 2020.

The Strawberry Moon is only a partial penumbral lunar eclipse as only a portion of the full Moon will drift into Earth’s shadow, the next total lunar eclipse won’t happen again until March 16, 2128.

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Books, Entertainment, Esoteric

Trend in Good News Surges: the Search for Optimism as Counterweight to Gloom & Doom

Photo / John Krasinski

You Want It? You Got It! Bringing the Audience what it Needs Now

Despite journalistic objectivity, many news outlets have tendencies to focus on the negative. Crimes, controversies, disasters, and crises simply make more pressing stories than most good news in the world. This is all the more prevalent now as climate change, stock market crashes, and a global pandemic dominate the headlines.

With all of the doom and gloom currently dripping from the wounds of the world, people have become famished for something more up-lifting. Luckily, outlets for such good news exist, and they have been witnessing a thermal (viral?) runaway in popularity during the COVID-19 shutdowns.

Read More: Renewable Energy Economy is Now Essential to Rescue Economy and Planet: Earth Day 2020

Sources emphasizing good news were around long before the coronavirus rendered the world thirsty for positivity. Websites like Good Good Good and The Global Positive News Network have been active for years, but have noticed increases in traffic over the past month.

The same goes for social media accounts such as Instagram’s @TanksGoodNews, @GoodNews_Movement, and @The_Happy_Broadcast. All of these pages have seen spikes in followers since March as they continue to seek out and report optimistic content throughout the pandemic.

Perhaps the most uproarious of good news outlets to come about in the past few weeks, however, is actor John Krasinski’s “Some Good News” YouTube broadcast. From the comfort of his home, Krasinski has produced and hosted four videos where he reports all of the good going on in the world. Riddled with humor, acts of charity, guest appearances via Zoom from Robert De Niro, Brad Pitt, David Ortiz, Steve Carrel, Chance The Rapper, and Rain Wilson as well as remote performances from The Jonas Brothers and the entire “Hamilton” cast, “Some Good News” is both hilarious and heartfelt, and the videos have all received millions of views.

Once the “Human Interest” Kitten Beat, Now a Focus on Ways to Offset the Worst of Reality Reporting

Even more established newspapers, networks, and trades have tried to appease readers in search of cheerful stories. The Washington Post pumped up its weekly uplifting newsletter The Optimist into a biweekly occurrence, and started The Daily Break section to emphasize a feel-good story everyday. National Geographic also began Your Weekly Escape, a newsletter that is free of any coronavirus related content.

Clearly, these outlets have noticed the amplified demand for good news and are matching it with an increased supply. Of course, the bulk of the headlines remain somewhat gloomy nowadays, but rather than fixate on them, these good news alternatives offer positive twists. This is not to say that readers ignore world’s struggles, but rather that they want to see how people are reacting to the crises in healthy, wholesome, and genuinely helpful ways.

Read More: World Reading Marathon Underway- Streaming and Binge-watching still huge but Books are Next

This embrace of good news, especially for the established publications, is an obvious spin to assuage readers. However, while spins in the media are usually traced back to politics, money, or hostility, this one is currently fueled by a desire to see kindness and generosity. Conventional “spins” are getting replaced by cartwheels or joy running up and down whatever good news stories are out there, laser-focusing on the glass half-full.

To make matters all the more soothing, many of these good news outlets are not-for-profit. While The Washington Post or National Geographic are still advertising alongside their uplifting stories, many of the Instagram accounts as well as John Krasinski’s broadcasts, are done entirely for free, making them in and of themselves, examples of good nature and good news.

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Books, Entertainment, Esoteric, Lifestyle

Comic-Con San Diego Cancelled for first Time in Fifty Years due to Coronavirus Pandemic

On Friday, April 17, San Diego Comic-Con organizers announced that the annual event for 2020 will be cancelled for the first time in its fifty year run.

The four-day pop-culture convention traditionally takes place every summer. It is a yearly celebration of all things comic books—from the books themselves to movies, television, novels, and other transmedia adaptations.

While San Diego may not be the largest Comic-Con in America, it is the most prestigious and widely observed of its kind. Roughly 135,000 people attend each year including academics, professionals, and fans, many of whom cosplay as their favorite characters.

SDCC 2020 was meant to take place between July 23rd and July 26th of this year. The organization fought hard to keep the event happening throughout the coronavirus shutdowns. However, its leaders finally pulled the plug, realizing that the packed occasion would severely violate the current social distancing precautions.

The event for this year has not been postponed for any later date, but rather terminated altogether. Nevertheless, those who have already bought tickets will have the options of receiving full refunds or transferring their purchases to vouchers for SDCC 2021.

Economic Fallout hitting Across Multiple Industries

Comic-Con’s cancellation does not bode well for San Diego’s economy. Through tourism and other fiscally stimulating activities, the event reportedly brings in nearly $150,000,000 for the city each year.

Given that COVID-19 has put the entertainment industry on hold for 2020’s foreseeable future, though, perhaps it is fitting that this year’s Comic Con has been cancelled. Comic Con’s paramount draw is the panels of creative professionals who reveal new content and information within their industry. This includes casting decisions, trailers, original ideas, and much, much more.

Because most studios have had their 2020 production and release schedules pulled out form under them in light of the pandemic, it’s unclear how much concrete new information this year’s Comic Con would have to offer. Either way, its cancellation is unprecedented, but if everything is back to normal a year from now, 2021’s convention should have a surplus of exciting news to deliver the culturally famished masses.

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Breaking News, Climate Solutions, Coronavirus, Entertainment, Esoteric, Movies, Observation

Idris Elba’s Extremely Cogent Coronavirus Theory: Global Warming and this Pandemic are Directly Related

Video
https://movietrailers.apple.com/movies/fox/the-mountain-between-us/the-mountain-between-us-trailer-1_h1080p.mov
Official Teaser Trailer for “Ender’s GamThe Mountain Between Us“

We are all gradually emerging from a state of shock. Even if we have no symptoms we see people saying, irresponsibly, that “eventually” somewhere between 50% and 100% will have contracted the novel coronavirus. One the other hand some of us, the brave, such as Idris Elba, who says he is still asymptomatic, choose to use this time to reflect on even bigger issues facing our planet.

What can be bigger than this pandemic? No need to look any further than the climate crisis, which up until sometime in February, was close to the top trending issue we were all very preoccupied with.

And for good reason. While the death estimates for the coronavirus are very frightening the climate crisis has the potential not only to affect or infect the lives of 100% of the world it will end it if we do not act.

Idris Elba in a publicity still from “The Mountain Between Us”

Big Problems need Big Thinkers and Brave Ideas

Along with other big thinkers, Idris Elba is on to something. Why not take this time to find ways to survive, but also put the energy we all have at our disposal into realigning our thinking towards a better way to live as a species on this planet. If it helps to see this as a message or even and attack by the much maligned and mistreated planet earth, and if that inspires us to dig deeper and, while staring into the abyss represented by the pandemic, so be it.

So much the better. Stay at home workers might be better off never going into an office high rise again. I know the planet will choke on less carbon if millions of people stop commuting. We have known that for 50 years. Software needs to grow, our ability to communicate via networked human communication systems, a.k.a. the internet, needs to improve radically and at a mind-bending pace. Why? Because, only when we change everything we do an how, can we avoid surviving something like this worldwide disease threat and then suddenly finding ourselves facing something even worse. Let’s inspire each other to dig deep and find ways to stop that scenario from happening.

In her latest instagram post, created from her Quarantine with husband Tom Hanks in Australia, Rita Wilson calls it Quarantine Stir Crazy – which is far nicer than turning into a Homicidal Maniac… but then she’s a nice and talented lady who happens to be married to Tom Hanks. While Idris Elba is writing his own Sci-fi script, and along with all the rest of us, concurrently living it – he is also spinning out extremely thoughtful, even deep, ideas while face-timing with Oprah:

“One of the upsides of this whole drama is that we are forced to think together as a race. Our world has been taking a kicking. We have damaged our world and it’s no surprise that our world is reacting to the human race.”

“It is no surprise that a virus has been created that is going to slow us down, and ultimately make us think differently about our world and ourselves. For me, that’s a stand-out thing that is really obvious. This is almost like the world’s cry out.”

“Like: ‘Hey, hey, hey – you are kicking me and what you’re doing is not good, so we will get rid of you.’ “As any organism would do, (the world) is trying to get rid of an infection, and maybe this is it for the world.”“As any organism would do, (the world) is trying to get rid of an infection, and maybe this is it for the world.”

Idris Elba, in facetime chat with Oprah while in quarantine in London

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Books, Entertainment, Esoteric, Movies, Music

Isolation Inspirations: Rita Wilson shares Rap & Read while Tom Hanks hovers Stage-left

Video
https://movietrailers.apple.com/movies/summit/endersgame/endersgame-tlr2-58w33_h1080p.mov
Official Teaser Trailer for “Ender’s Game“

Rita Wilson calls it Quarantine Stir Crazy – which is far nicer than turning into a Homicidal Maniac… but then she’s a nice and talented lady who happens to be married to Tom Hanks. While Idris Elba is writing his own Sci-fi script, while, along with all the rest of us, concurrently living it –

“Like: ‘Hey, hey, hey – you are kicking me and what you’re doing is not good, so we will get rid of you.’ “As any organism would do, (the world) is trying to get rid of an infection, and maybe this is it for the world.”“As any organism would do, (the world) is trying to get rid of an infection, and maybe this is it for the world.”

– Idris Elba. while face-timing from Quarantine with Oprah

While perhaps slightly less creative and mind-bending – seeing Rita rapping to Naughty by Nature – “hip hop hooray” straight off an Ender’s Game sci-fi reading session could conceivably qualify as BSC or at least stir-crazy:

Enders Game, is a great Sci-fi book and series and, of course film. The choices show a hunger for distraction, diversion, stimulation and overall entertainment. After witnessing the cute yet vaguely disturbing image of the reading / rap hybrid video by this celebrity shut in, somehow our common plight begins to get real.

Rita joins Naughty by Nature for an instagram re-make of the classic: “Hip Hop Hooray“

It’s as if we have all reached, or are reaching, stage two or maybe in this epic yet unwelcome journey and are all trying to search within ourselves for the creativity to turn it positive. Once again, Idris Elba deserves the final word for today with hit thoughtful take on how we might all actually benefit from the bizarre and challenging state of the world in the time of the coronavirus:

“One of the upsides of this whole drama is that we are forced to think together as a race.

“Our world has been taking a kicking. We have damaged our world and it’s no surprise that our world is reacting to the human race.

 “One of the upsides of this whole drama is that we are forced to think together as a race. Our world has been taking a kicking. We have damaged our world and it’s no surprise that our world is reacting to the human race. It is no surprise that a virus has been created that is going to slow us down, and ultimately make us think differently about our world and ourselves.

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Entertainment, Esoteric, Lifestyle, Travel

Lunar New Year 4716 Is Here

Happy Lunar New Year 2019

Our western calendar year 2019 corresponds to the Chinese lunar year 4,716 and the lunar year begins on February 5, 2019. Across the USA we are also celebrating a “second” start to the New Year as these photos above show.

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Entertainment, Esoteric, Travel

Year of the Pig Due Shortly, Lucky Days Ahead?

Year of the Dog Ends February 4, 2019, according to Chinese Zodiac

photo: ©Adobe Stock

The Chinese Zodiac assigns an animal to each year (in the lunar year, more on this below) for 12 years, after which the cycle repeats. Just as a person born on July 30th is considered a “Leo” or lion in Western Astrology, a person born in the year of the Pig a.k.a. Boar carries characteristics assigned to their birth year animal, in this case the Pig.

The next year of the Pig begins on February 5th due to the difference between the Chinese lunar calendar year and the Western (Gregorian) New Year. The year of the Pig will end, for example, on January 24th, 2020, which will lead us to the year of the Rat.

The twelve animal signs are depicted above. Each is surrounded by the associated elements and the years over the last 100 that were linked to each animal sign. photo: Adobe Stock

The twelfth of the animal year signs (bottom right in the image above), the Pig is said to be lucky, of mild constitution and reflects the characteristics of carefree fun, wealth and good fortune. People born under this sign are said to be trusting, honest, brave, sincere and easygoing, but also may show signs of stubbornness, self-indulgence and be petulant, materialistic or even lazy!

Each Pig year has unique qualities and characteristics, partially due to the element that it is associated with. 2019 is an “Earth Pig” in the cycle of elements, as can also be seen in the graphic above.

Also known as the Female Brown Earth Pig, she will arrive in the 4,716th Chinese Year (!) and is said to portend a very lucky year. Colors for the year are yellow, gold, gray and brown so it can also be seen as a lucky golden (yellow) Pig!

Virility is also associated with the Pig, based, according to folk legend, on the huge litter of piglets that are almost always produced by an expecting sow. In China, couples trying to conceive often prominently display a portrait of a lucky golden pig above their bed in order to assist (spiritually) with the process.

It’s all a bit complicated for a Westerner, but the combination of the Pig designation for 2019 and the animal year of your birth allows you to consult a Chinese astrologer as to what this year of the Pig may hold in store for you personally.

Although many may see this as far-fetched hog wash, at least in some parts of Germany they share the positive view of the Pig. The saying for getting lucky is literally “having had a Pig” (“Wir haben schwein gehabt“) and lucky pig trinkets and stuffed animal toys abound at the turn of the year (every new year, not just in the year of the Pig).

Indeed, many cultures around the world view the Pig as a symbol of wealth and prosperity. Here in the USA, for example, a piggy bank is an omnipresent reminder of the positive connection between the Pig and money. Naturally, we also use the negative connection as well, “greedy pig” being a typical epithet hurled at those thought to be taking more than their fair share.

Considering the virtually endless tumult around the world in the year 2018, it seems we could all use a little luck and good fortune!

It can also be said, justifiably so, that many positives were initiated during the year of the Dog. Hopefully, the 2019 Pig will carry that mantle forward and use her hard-working spirit to bring about more positive changes.

If you were born in the year of the Pig (1959, 1971, 1983, 1995, 2007) you can help us all with your lucky, honest temperament to find prosperity, peace and cooperation in 2019!

photo: © Monique Ly

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Cutting Edge, Entertainment, Esoteric, Photography, Tech

Apple Releases “Shot On iPhone XR” Experimental Clip

Video

Read More: New Music Video by Lady Gaga “Stupid Love” Yields Eye Popping Views and All Shot on an iPhone

https://youtu.be/ggL3OdWaZxM

Above you can also see the “Behind The Scenes” clip, released along side the video above, which shows in some detail all that’s involved in setting up a “Bullet-Time” rig, other than acquiring 32 iPhones !

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Esoteric, Fashion, Food and Cooking, Health and Diet, Lifestyle

Celery Juice: Fad or Cosmic Redemption?

©Adobe Stock

Looking for a way to kick-start your day? If social media is any indicator, it appears many are turning to an unlikely source: a cool cocktail of celery juice.

Best known as a very low calorie, high fiber, stalk for chomping while dieting, the juice option for celery is catching on as a healthy, refreshing drink option. 

Long known as a low-calorie vegetable, it is also high in vitamins such as Vitamin A, K and C as well as being a source of potassium and, of course, the aforementioned high dose of fiber (even in juice form, apparently).

Additionally, celery juice is said to be an anti-inflammatory agent and a contributor to gut health and ease of digestion. (And who doesn’t need that!).

Read More: Summer Books to Mark a Most Unusual Adventure and Unexpected Circumstance

Judging from numerous articles, books and posts on social media interest in the unusual beverage has had a spike in interest of late. Public figures and influencers attest to the many perceived benefits and confess to drinking a minimum daily dose, which many claim has lead to weight loss and improved feelings of well being and overall health.

One major reason for this increase of riders on the celery juice bandwagon may be due to the influence of Anthony Williams, self-proclaimed pioneer of the celery juice movement, also known as the Medical Medium.  

Read More: Nine Free e-Books for World Book Day 2020 Available Now

Williams is an author of four New York Times bestselling books with a strong celebrity following.  On his site, he layouts the “miracles” of celery juices and how drinking sixteen ounces daily on an empty stomach can promote, heal and reverse many health related issues.

So, skeptic or true believer, likely little harm can come from a dip in the celery juice oasis. Any testimonials or comments welcome.

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Entertainment, Esoteric, Lifestyle

Crash Course On Lunar New Year 2019

Video

Year Of The Pig Celebration Video!

Flying Pigs with Money Wings / Photo/ Adobe Stock

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