DhammaSeeker.com

The final edition of the Rocky Mountain News, just 55 days shy of its 150th birthday, was printed today, Friday, February 27, 2009. You will be missed dear friend.

IF there is something fundamental and basic common to every sentient thing in the universe, what would it be? I offer that it is the perception of the beautiful, and in that perception, we can identify with and become one with all.

There is too much order in nature to be entirely accidental, but then again, there’s so much chaos. Within every human mind there are conflicting forces always at battle. One, the primal, is the animal instinct with desires to gratify the self, indulge, conquer, take, dominate. The other, the civilian with aspirations to give, be compassionate, fair, amenable. But the common point at which these divergent forces can meet is the beautiful. The beautiful can tame the wild spirit and enlighten and ground the most “elevated” society figure. Within the beautiful, there is a clearing, and the clearing is good.

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I found the above bit of idealistic drivel today while cleaning out some old net storage. It’s at least seven years old – perhaps older.

027. Give yourself cult status, and act accordingly.
030. Invent or misuse Kopimi.
038. Make babies and blog their upbringing.
054. Make sure to be connected to technical, aesthetical, and philosophical people of world class competence.
086. Have a liberal vision of hell.
100. Upload.

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One half of knowing what you want is knowing what you must give up before you get it.
- Sidney Howard

WASHINGTON, Feb 10 (Reuters) – The price of a one-ounce first-class stamp will rise to 44 cents on May 11, the U.S. Postal Service said on Tuesday.

Postmaster General John Potter said the price of a stamp is going up because operational costs for the postal service are rising while the recession is dragging down mail volume.

“The Postal Service is not immune to rising costs which are affecting homes and businesses across America today,” said Potter.

source

Well Mr. Potter, the USPS needs to do what every other household and busniess across America is doing these days — reduce your costs. I wish I could walk in my employer’s office and demand that I receive a 4.76% increase in my salary. In point of fact, I may very well be subject to a 4.76% decrease in my salary next fiscal year, and I’m for certain not getting any increase at all.

I’d be perfectly fine with forgoing mail delivery on an additional day (or two) a week. It’s not like I’m receiving much in the mail of any value these days. I’ve even changed how I remit the one payment a month I used to send by check in a stamped envelope to avoid paying the usurious $.42 rate in effect today!

Mail volume is clearly decreasing, so the USPS needs to contract accordingly. Anything less is just grift on the American population.