This Made Me Smile.

Where the Hell is Matt? (2008) from Matthew Harding on Vimeo.

We all need to stand together.

And. While we're doing it.

Why not dance.

Bravo Matthew!

Maverick Does What He Does Best...

John McCain boldly picked Alaska Governor Sarah Palin as his vice presidential candidate.



A Personal Moment with VP Nominee Sarah Palin | Newsweek Politics: Conventions | Newsweek.com

Palin said, "To have been chosen brings a great challenge. I know that it will demand the best that I have to give and I promise nothing less."

She has a firm belief in "not allowing excessive partisanship to dictate."

Go girl!

Prayer Teams Are Busting Out All Over.

Consciousness needs you.

Pick a higher thought pattern. Access a deeper level of truth.

Grab an accountability (or two.)

And start bustin out the prayer.

Here's a good one to get us going.

"Dear Lord,
We pray for the leaders of this country and every other.
May they not be swayed by false politics but listen instead to the spirit of truth.
May they not harken to the false and bitter voices of a frightened world, but instead hear the angels who minister unto them."

from Marianne Williamson's Illuminata.

The Speech I'd Like To Hear.

This is the vision.

And.

Here's how we're going to get there.

I don't need to hear anymore, how everything is broken. I need to see an innovative plan with far reaching foundational structure that can combat the complexities of our crumbling infrastructures.





:Let's Get The Show On The Road Pandabulously:

A Class Act.

Hillary Rodham Clinton offers tremendous insight into the uniquely American creation. A powerhouse woman in all her blazing glory. She kicks ass. Takes numbers. And. With a silvery smile on her face she gets knocked down and she keeps going.

This question comes up for me everytime I think about the divisiveness of Mrs. Clinton...

Is it a cautionary tale or a hero's journey?

People respect her, admire her tenacity. But. They are either lovers (and fanatical lovers) or they are haters.

James Carville said it best... "this is a bad night for Hillary haters."

There's something that connects for me with Hillary Clinton, I can't put it into words. I can't even explain it to myself. Some intangible unconscious unnameable feeling. A feeling that tugs at me. A feeling that echoed in her speech tonight.

"America's greatness is bound up in its people."

Whenever I step out of my house. I see the greatness in everyone that I meet. This is a great place to live. And. I want to feel great about the leadership of our country again.

There's a resonance with her message, her motherhood, her fierceness that I miss in the gleaming smile, polished, "wow, look at me -- blown up all big and shit -- I'm just a regular guy" slick intelligence of Barack Obama.

Hillary Clinton represents so many stories. of greatness. of people on the streets. of neighborhoods, cities and rural municipalities. of unique individuals who put their hopes and dreams at her feet. entrusting her with them. Knowing that she would carry them forward.

I'm taking nothing away from Barack Obama. But there's a craftiness, a folcrum of excellence that age and experience brings to the table.

A part of me I can't name and can't get a grip on. Longs for something that Hillary Rodham Clinton offers.

As I write this, perhaps it's the qualities she embodies. the qualities of the wild kingdom. the quality of the lioness, who protects her cubs at all costs. The protectiveness of the female hyenas who circle their young so they can eat first.

This spirit is innate in the female power of the planet. A power that's growing stronger, day by day, moment by moment.

So while people are polarized by Hillary Rodham Clinton. I am drawn to the strength from which she draws from.

As Candy Crowley said, "this is a woman who delivers when she needs to."

And deliver Hillary did.

"You never gave in, you never gave up." Now. We get to move forward.

I might not be able to express it or put my finger on it....but from the floor of the Pepsi Center, Ann Price Mills, one of the delegates sent to the convention to vote for Hillary Clinton said it straight out, with tears in her eyes, and her emotions barely under the surface...

"She's evidence that women have come so far. A phenomenal. powerful. moving person... Experience speaks to me. What we just saw was Presidential."

"In her eyes and in her words... I saw a future of possibility. I saw a country that we strive to be."

Not knowing where to go with Barack Obama, Mills ended with "Now for the first time, I don't feel like voting in November."


:Clinton Delegate's Emotional Reaction to Hillary's DNC Speech:

Mills cries are the cries of many of us. Who want something more. Who want someone we can count on. Who want someone who's tough enough to stand when things look bad.

Clinton's shown she's a fighter. And in that fight she's connected with the hearts and minds of a large portion of this country.

I contend that the crying and the emotions and the loss people are feeling have nothing to do with Hillary Rodham Clinton, but, she is most certainly channeling a mood. A mood that has everything to do with the current state of our union.

Will The Cries Be Heard.

Hillary's rousing final punctuation mark to her historic speech came in the form of the story of Harriet Tubman's advice to those journeying toward freedom escaping the tyranny of their brothers... "if you hear the dogs, keep going... if you hear yelling... don't ever stop."

"Even in the darkest moments... that's what American's have done. Found the faith to keep going."

While I can't name it. I can't place it. I humbly accept the truth.

There is no doubt I am a fan of Hilary Rodham Clinton.

God speed.

Calla Lillies of Winter.

"You speak of love when its too late... help should come to people when they need it."

"our consciousness is the bulb..."


:Katharine Hepburn in Stage Door:

Meditation expert Sharon Salzberg says "the most rebellious act is to stand in compassion."

Spend a little time getting rebellious!

Golden Girls Take Second Gold!

Their coach gave them the mantra:
Battling
Breathing
Believing

And.

Volley Ball players May - Walsh brought it home in a rain soaked final match against the Chinese.


:May -- Walsh talk about winning the gold:

Brotherhood of the Open Water.

Danes win sailing gold with a little help from their -- croatian buddies.

Watch the magic of sportsmanship.

The Olympic spirit will not be denied!

Beijing Blur!

:Usain Bolt Wins Gold in 100m Dash With World Record Time:

When asked about Usain Bolt's speedster performance in the 100m dash, Walter Dix, who captured the bronze, looked unfazed, and said the only thing you can say... "That man is Fast."

It was the most amazing display of personal speed this chick has ever seen.

Bolt blew to victory in a showboating fashion unheard of in speed sports.

NBCOlympics.com - Lightning-fast Bolt wins Olympic 100m#beijing+blur+bolt+blazes+100m+record#beijing+blur+bolt+blazes+100m+record#beijing+blur+bolt+blazes+100m+record

Grace In Motion.

:Nastia Liukin On Way To Winning the Gold:

What a beautiful, acrobatic, expression.

"Standing on the podium and hearing `Olympic champion' next to my name was a dream come true," Liukin said. "Everything pays off at this very moment."

Great time for it all to come together.

The US Women went 1-2... Nastia Liukin won gold, Shawn Johnson won silver. Both women were amazing. Kudos!

NBCOlympics.com - Close to flawless, Liukin wins all-around gold#liukin+grabs+gold#liukin+grabs+gold#liukin+grabs+gold

Fascinating New Information.

The Pill makes women pick bad mates - Women's health- msnbc.com

"The pill puts a woman's body into a post-mating state, even though she might be still in the game."

”The pill is in effect mirroring a natural shift but at an inappropriate time,” Roberts told LiveScience.

Beware and be warned.

Achieving Harmony.

"It is only after perfect balance has been achieved that any misstep brings imbalance"

Who Let The Dogs Out.

:Beverly Hills Chihuahuas:

The tiny dogs are a relief from the post apocalyptic death and destruction and dark view of life presented in many productions.

We'll take what we can get.

"We have A Host Of Complicated Issues."

As Bush so rightly put it... "Wall Street got drunk and now it has a hangover. The question is when will it sober up...."


:Bush Jokes Off Camera About the State of the Economy:

Some things are funny. This most certainly is not.

I'm tired of hearing jokes accompanying massive bail outs of businesses that exercised poor personal judgement stemming from a super helping of greed.

We are living in an era where systematic synergistic corruption has been tolerated, accepted, and applauded. Statements like things are "too complicated" and the American people have "more important" concerns than to be bothered with sorting through policy issues has to stop.

The means are inherent in the ends and in our means we need to steer our own ship into the deeper conversation. The conversation that uncovers the truth. And when we uncover that truth, we need to face it.

As Carl Jung said "our biggest problems can't be solved. they can only be outgrown." We will not be able to get ourselves out of these problems overnight but we can certainly stand up to that which is unacceptable, moment by moment, piece by piece, item by item.

Right thinking is always available. It's not dictated. It's not intimidated. It's not earned. or forced. or bought or sold. It is.

Let's get ourselves into right thinking and take action.

Call Department of the Treasury, Secretary Henry M. Paulson, Jr at (202) 622-2000 and express yourself.

Beijing Bows Opening Ceremony

:Opening Ceremony of the Summer Olympics:

Once every four years the humans on the planet get to come together in the brotherhood of athletic competition.

"The ceremony is unfolding as a grand mixture of Chinese culture and technology, a spectacle of artistry and invention, delivered by waves of performers and punctuated by bursts of fireworks." The New York Times

Games in Beijing Open With a Lavish Ceremony - NYTimes.com

It's a time of celebration of all that we can be.

Taking from the classic Eastern text --

Power best expresses itself in gentleness. -- I Ching

Lets take this time of the Olympic calender to walk in gentleness.

Captive is a State of Mind.

:Ingrid Betancourt with Her Children After Rescue:

Early in her capture Ingrid Betancourt decided that whatever happened she would "hold in her heart that there can be rehabilitation... that she "wouldn't take out of the jungle any kind of bitterness or any kind of eagerness to seek for revenge..."

After surviving 6+ years, freed by a daring rescue, former hostage Ingrid Betancourt discusses the elasticity of the human heart...

"I realized how cruel people can be to each other... but. I decided to hold in my heart that no matter what there can be rehabilitation."

Former FARC hostage Ingrid Betancourt on Larry King.

“I think the time has come to change the language of radicalism, extremism and hatred, the very strong words that cause deep hurt to a human being,” she said, adding that tolerance and respect were needed.

“...one has to agree to talk to the people you hate”.

And live in forgiveness.

Ms. Betancourt's freedom provides the first flames of hope for a new day. A new conversation and a new way of being.

Up Close And Personal.

:Max on the Mat:

"We are born to our own true selves and we will never settle ever again
for being less than we truly are."

Sometimes baby photos seem to reveal everything about the little one... the wisdom the courage, the openness.

The mystery seems to be how we lose that revelation as we grow older.