Dalai Lama

I got turned onto this website by the Tarot Channel because the artist, Brigid Martin, did a wonderful painting called the Tarot. But what I really loved was her story of painting the portrait of the Dalai Lama.

Tarot Channel

Interesting blog/website called The Tarot Channel. Many of the postings are by Mark McElroy but other writers on the Tarot also have articles. According to Mark: "It's a web site dedicated to discovering and passing along new Tarot links, news, reviews, podcasts, links, feature stories, deck previews ... you name it!"

Can You Patent Wisdom?

I hope not ... or at least let me buy the generic :)

Read this article by Suketa Mehta.

Insanity

Mostly, I try to forget how crazy people are. Somehow tonight I got on the folk channel of internet radio and heard "The Great Mandella" by Peter, Paul and Mary. It's a Vietnam War protest song, that could be an any war protest song. It always makes me cry -- and sing-along. I was thinking how sad it would be if time passed and this song was forgotten. It just hasn't been that long. I know that civilizations go through historical cycles but I didn't realize how quickly people (in general -- of course I'm not talking about you) forget lessons learned. We are so crazy it's scary.

I linked to the lyrics. Find somewhere to play the music. I know I have the vinyl somewhere on a basement shelf. This bit on Amazon isn't enough but if you haven't heard it ...

Freedom from Self-Improvement Day

I'm not sure I'll be able to celebrate on May 15th. I am a compulsive self-improver. I've read hundreds of self-improvement books from the practical to the helpful to the totally unrealistic.
I read Lifehacker every day to improve productivity.

But I remember those days when I was a kid. Just roller skating up and down the block. Laying on the grass in the the backyard under the maple tree reading comic books. Playing "kick the can" or "500 baseball" with the other kids on the block till the sun went down.

Maybe I can make it through one day ... because I'm good enough, smart enough, and doggone it ...

Giving Back

Writing this while I'm trying to vote for Melinda Doolittle . Mostly, I let "America" vote but it's American Idol Gives Back week. One of the beneficiaries is Second Harvest, which I think does wonderful work. I donate locally to Greater Chicago Food Depository. It's so logical to get excess food from groceries, restaurants and caterers and to channel it to organizations that feed the poor. Second Harvest and GCFD provide the infrastructure and organize the volunteers to accomplish that. Those are the type of things worth singing about.

Gratitude Journal

I am grateful for vibrant colors of the flowers, the warmth of the sun as winter finally becomes spring, the feeling of a fresh start when I walk outside and enjoy the beauty of the day.

X-Men Quiz

Are you a sucker for online quizzes with ego-inflating results? I love the answer this one gave me.

You Are Storm

Exotic and powerful, Storm descended from a line of African priestesses. Emotions can effect your powers, but you are generally serene. Powers: controlling weather, creating winds that lift you into flight, generating lightning

Which of the X-Men Are You?

Silicon Valley Tarot

I forgot how much fun this was and re-discovered the link today. I asked a question and got a great reading.

Darth Phones Home

Apparently Darth Vader is posting on Twitter. As a fan of Micro Fiction: An Anthology of Really Short Stories and other types of flash fiction, I'm fascinated by the collage of tiny stories that are being posted to the mini-blogs like Twitter and Tumblr. Can a story be told in six words? Try these. For short fiction, non-fiction and poetry read this online magazine: Flashquake.

Creative Game - Grow Cube

Many online games are the same. Break-out or Pac Man clones. Tetris Twins. This game is very clever and creative.

Time, Space, Books & You

Do you ever wonder why you have all those books surrounding you? Some you've read and will read again. Some are for reference. Some are for inspiration. Some books ... maybe someday. Pick any one of them up, close your eyes, and with your eyes closed open the book to a random page. With your eyes still closed, point to a spot on the page. Open your eyes, read the nearest sentence or phrase. Contemplate: what does this mean for you today? In other words, this is your message today from the Universe. Not a forecast. More of a conversation with Life. It's called Bibliomancy or Stichomancy.

Chocolate - Better than Penicillin!

Well, it could be ...

Read this article at Dr. Mercola's website.

I mostly eat Lindt 85% chocolate, just two squares each day - it's a vitamin really :)
Very low sugar content. Very high chocolate content.

There are some very excellent organic/fair trade chocolates in my local health food store as well.

Virtual Gratitude Journal

I am grateful for the following websites:

Google
Doesn't everyone love Google? I use Google search, Google Desktop, Google Reader for my RSS feeds, Google maps, Google News, Gmail.

But wait, there's more... I love my new tea house theme ... how cute is this?

Lifehacker
I love principles of productivity and cool tips for computers. I am grateful for Gina and the other writers on the site. I am grateful for the others who post comments below the articles. I am always learning something new.

Giveaway of the Day
It would be ungrateful of me not to say thanks. I have downloaded sparingly but I'm happy with the freebies I have gotten, especially programs that have to do with photography (which I will learn to use as soon as I have mastered productivity and have loads of free time because I am so effective and efficient).

Existence

Our lives are filled with many pieces ... family ... friends ... work ... interests (hobbies is such a twen/cen word, maybe pursuits is better ... it's a faster word and the 21st century is faster, faster, faster). And then we have the life of the spirit. I choose to believe it is all connected. And we are all connected ...