Special Friends

  One consistent thing throughout life has been the persistent feeling of being misunderstood.  A constant nagging sensation of the need to explain myself to my companions. It often leads to a containment of thoughts and a habit of the phrase, "never mind", or "oh, nothing".  Not because I am really thinking nothing or that what I have to say is inconsequential, but because I don't feel that my listener would understand or even could understand. I shrink from the idea that my idea is above the person or superior to them, rather it's just a different perspective or way of thinking that I feel is hard to explain or grasp. My thinking is not superior, just alien.  And often my statements come out in fragments, half way in the middle of a thought, lacking context for my listener(s). Free association often strikes fast and leads me down various pathways at once abandoning my companions in what is to me, the past.

Scatterbrained? I'd like to think not. In my own world? In some ways; nevertheless I feel that I have a tight grip on reality. I believe my reality just has more dimensions than that of some. Why? That my patient reader, is the quest that has been thrust upon me and is, in some ways, a personal burden.

When I was a teenager, my mom once said that I was on a "different frequency". At first glance, one could interpret that to mean that as a kind way of saying that I was not normal, that I was strange. That leads to the discussion of "normal" and "strange"; a multi-paged essay in its own right. She didn't mean broken though, or outcast; her context was in relation to what has lead to this entry. She followed that by saying that an older male friend of mine, older by a span of decades, was on the "same frequency" as me. This was to explain how a youth could feel a real friendship with an older person, and yet not have many with those of his own peer group. Which leads to a discussion of who are really an individual's "peers".  To prevent infinite digression, while still having taken a moment to establish some context, I'll press to the conclusion.

When true peers feel to be far and few between, it's refreshing and invigorating to stumble upon one. Their identity is known very quickly and is often a surprise. That fragmented thought can come out of your mouth and the other person is somehow able to understand. When that seemingly random statement of mine springs into dialog, and it can automatically be linked to the common source experience we've shared with a look or a single follow-up word; sometimes without any further explanation at all. It's almost as if some telepathic link is there...as if there is really an invisible frequency that you both can hear. That multi-dimensional reality that often feels exclusively personal is perceived and occupied by others!

It's a reminder that you're not alone. That you are understandable and are understood. It's reaffirming and is special. These people are rare and precious, more so that any possession. Their acquaintance must be guarded and protected. These are my special friends.

One World Trade Center - Photo Update - 56th Floor

Steel is now up to the 56th floor at One World Trade Center.

Progress Tracking Website: http://www.panynj.gov/wtcprogress/index.html

Photo Journalism: Libya: Unrest and uncertainty (The Big Picture)

Photo Library - Link: Libya: Unrest and uncertainty - The Big Picture - Boston.com

The clay and the iron just don't mix...

Excerpt:

"Living Life is better than Dying in College" --Altucher Confidential

LINK: Living Life is better than Dying in College Altucher Confidential:

An essay on why kids should not go to college at 18...I share many of his sentiments.

Excerpt:

"Colleges have made use of the myth that you can’t get a job unless you have a college education. So young people feel a rush to get that college out of the way so they can get a job and “begin” their adult lives. I think kids should begin their adult lives at 18 by experiencing what else the world has to offer other (see my eight alternatives to college) than a classroom (which they’ve all just been locked in for the prior 18 years). A rose needs space to bloom."

"To summarize:

A) you learn very little that you use in real life

B) you are so burdened by debt that you can’t use your new-found knowledge to create real freedom and joy for yourself

C) a young person can use their energy in many other ways than just college"

Good read from Wikipedia: "Rosenhan experiment"

LINK: Rosenhan experiment - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia:

Excerpt:

"The Rosenhan experiment was a famous experiment into the validity of psychiatric diagnosis conducted by psychologist David Rosenhan in 1973. It was published in the journal Science under the title "On being sane in insane places." The study is considered an important and influential criticism of psychiatric diagnosis.

"Rosenhan's study was done in two parts. The first part involved the use of healthy associates or "pseudopatients" who briefly simulated auditory hallucinations in an attempt to gain admission to 12 different psychiatric hospitals in five different states in various locations in the United States. All were admitted and diagnosed with psychiatric disorders. After admission, the pseudopatients acted normally and told staff that they felt fine and had not experienced any more hallucinations. Hospital staff failed to detect a single pseudopatient, and instead believed that all of the pseudopatients exhibited symptoms of ongoing mental illness. Several were confined for months. All were forced to admit to having a mental illness and agree to take antipsychotic drugs as a condition of their release.

"The second part involved asking staff at a psychiatric hospital to detect non-existent "fake" patients. No fake patients were sent, yet the staff falsely identified large numbers of ordinary patients as impostors.

"The study concluded, "It is clear that we cannot distinguish the sane from the insane in psychiatric hospitals" and also illustrated the dangers of dehumanization and labeling in psychiatric institutions. It suggested that the use of community mental health facilities which concentrated on specific problems and behaviors rather than psychiatric labels might be a solution and recommended education to make psychiatric workers more aware of the social psychology of their facilities.""

Earthquake: Christchurch earthquake - The Big Picture - Boston.com

LINK: Christchurch earthquake - The Big Picture - Boston.com

"With hundreds still missing, and 75 already confirmed dead, rescuers struggled to find survivors on the second night after a devastating earthquake struck Christchurch, New Zealand's second largest city Tuesday. Buildings crumbled into the streets after the 6.3 magnitude earthquake, which geologists consider an aftershock to a 7.1 earthquake that caused no casualties in September. Tuesday’s temblor was more devastating and deadly because it was centered only six miles from the city's center and hit during the middle of a workday. The Government has declared a national state of emergency. Officials estimated there could be 100 people trapped in the CTV building alone. -- Lane Turner (36 photos total)"

Uzbekistan - Government Officials Seize Bible Shipments - Censor Those Allowed

Link: Forum 18 Search/Archive - UZBEKISTAN: "No need to import Bibles"?

Excerpts:

"Justice Ministry officials told the Bible Society 'there is no need to import Bibles into Uzbekistan since there's an electronic version on the internet.'"



"As seen from the Chilanzar Court decision, the first shipment of books to the Bible Society...are roughly 5,000 Russian Bibles as well as roughly 7,000 books – mostly Children's Bibles – in Uzbek and Karakalpak languages (the figures on the literature in Uzbek and Karakalpak were confirmed by the Religious Affairs Committee)."

From the New Yorker: Paul Haggis Vs. the Church of Scientology : The New Yorker

Long read from a former Scientologist. Link: Paul Haggis Vs. the Church of Scientology : The New Yorker

Excerpt:

"I once asked Haggis about the future of his relationship with Scientology. “These people have long memories,” he told me. “My bet is that, within two years, you’re going to read something about me in a scandal that looks like it has nothing to do with the church.” He thought for a moment, then said, “I was in a cult for thirty-four years. Everyone else could see it. I don’t know why I couldn’t.”"

quix·ot·ic (kwikˈsätik)

1. Exceedingly idealistic; unrealistic and impractical

Usage

• "Placing product first forces the bizarre behavior that Apple is well known for: being innovative and quixotic. It makes them foolish and hungry. Sometimes it even makes them catastrophically destructive to competitors."
• Paul Keating says he'll always remember Button's "penchant for devilment, for the zany and the unpredictable" and "the fun in being around such a quixotic character".
• In 1985, Pickles accused the lord chancellor, England's senior judge, of being a "brooding quixotic dictator" born with a golden spoon in his mouth.
• "I knew the enemy was beyond tolerance. In my quixotic mind, there was no alternative left but to face the threat. I could get hold of a gun and I would keep it on me," Castro said.

--Google Dictionary Results

BMW Documentaries Presents: "Wherever You Want To Go: The New City"

BMW Video on future transportation in cities.

This video is kind of a promo-video for urbanization, being constantly surrounded by people...the ironic thing is that all of the solutions involve being alone.

Lonely cities.

Loneliness: "People can experience loneliness for many reasons and many life events are associated with it. The lack of friendship relations during childhood and adolescence, or the physical absence of meaningful people around a person are causes for loneliness, depression, and involuntary celibacy. At the same time, loneliness may be a symptom of another social or psychological problem, such as chronic depression."

It seems that a lot of innovation comes from cities and urban environments because they have complex PROBLEMS that do not exist in more suburban/rural environments or are at least less complicated and perhaps less urgent.

P.S. - If you're only travelling a few blocks, you really need to walk...it's better for you.

Outbound - Dante Bucci

Dante's got a whole band since the last time I saw him on Youtube...very nice.

Photo Essay: A harrowing, historic week in Egypt - The Big Picture - Boston.com

Large photo documentation of the situation in Egypt: A harrowing, historic week in Egypt - The Big Picture - Boston.com

The Arab Spring « Iconic Photos

Interesting thoughts about the recent political developments in North Africa: The Arab Spring « Iconic Photos:

Excerpt:

"2011 may or may not be another 1989, but for the time being, it is satisfying to entertain the comparisons with that pivotal year when Communism died in Eastern Europe. Like the Revolution in Hungary which opened that annus mirabilis, Tunisia had unleashed glimmers of hope, if not winds of change, for the Arab world. Comparisons with 1989 are still immature, but it is only January, and a year is a longtime in politics."

Article: The Reason The Rich & Famous Commit Suicide

Main Article: Adventures in Capitalism: The Reason The Rich & Famous Commit Suicide:

Excerpt

"Many of us go through life dreaming about being rich and famous. Maybe we think that next company will get acquired. Maybe we're secretly practicing for the next round of American Idol tryouts. But as fruitless as those dreams might be, they still give us hope.

We believe that special something might be around the corner, might be able to change everything.

But the rich and famous don't have that luxury. They already have the worldly success that so many of us think will make us happy. And they've discovered that it doesn't."

Vatican Bank | Money Laundering | IOR | Catholic Church

Good article: Vatican Bank | Money Laundering | IOR | Catholic Church

Excerpt: 

"Only Vatican employees and religious institutions are allowed to open accounts in the bank — which you’d think would make it the most moral bank in the world...So why is its chief, economist Ettore Gotti Tedeschi, under investigation for money laundering?"

"...Until now, IOR's secrecy has been assured by the loyalty and frugality of its employees, mostly priests, and by the fact that the Vatican, a sovereign State, operates as a financial black hole, exempt from all international disclosure and transparency obligations..."