Mickey Z
Cool Observer
Saturday, July 21, 2007
Be happy with your reflection (poem)
As usual, Mickey, we’re sort of on the same page—and I love the poem.
That’s my “take,” and I’m stickin’ to it!
Posted by Hawk on from Boulder, CO, USA 07/21 at 12:55 PMHello Expendables. It’s a surprisingly non-humind July day in NYC. Always a pleasure to have Hawk stop by with good stuff (as usual).
Posted by Mickey Z. on from Astoria 07/21 at 02:43 PMHi Hawk and Mickey...The weather is great up here, too.
Hawk...thanks for the link. The study of the brain is still in a primitive stage. I remember when it was an accepted theory that environment would determine personality. Now the pendulum has swung and the accepted belief is that brain chemistry is more of a determining factor. Diseases of the brain are on the rise - schizophrenia, Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, autism, etc… In the past, I have been opposed to any drugs, but recently I have seen a few people who seemed to benefit. I have a great respect for the alternative health systems, such as yoga, Buddhism, etc but maybe they have their limits. If I had a broken leg, I would prefer standard medical care. Maybe it is possible that sometimes the brain gets “broken” and drugs help. I don’t know.The news is reporting that this is the week that Ward Churchill will be fired. His lawyer seems to be optimistic and says that the real fight is about to begin. How many on the Left will step up to support him?
Posted by RMJ on from Churchill 4 Prez Hdqts 07/21 at 04:29 PMRMJ..3..You mention of drugs and alternatives to them is a hot concern right now for me. I can’t take synthetic medications any stronger than aspirin. Always playing with herbs and tinctures. I think there are so many damn variables concerning health and the cause of dis-ease and health problems. Living in america or similar countries is 3 strikes against any thing alive right from the start...even for Ruben the Monkey, who I just visited in the park. My anxiety level rises quickly when I’m caught in the unknowing space if there is an alternative that can work when problems are in progress, how does one know. There are alternative charlatans as well as traditional doctors who think they are healers. There is so much information, what to trust and being on information overload is a health problem.
Doug Galios [?] and others feel humans talk to much and say very little...I’m guilty of gabbing as well. In Silence is the Answer...so it goes...?
I don’t know if silence will prosecute war criminals? War criminals being prosecuted will not solve certain health problems...though it might be temporarily uplifting to know the DC gang will be dumped in the North Atlantic in the middle of January!
Posted by joe of maine on from 07/21 at 05:30 PMHello RMJ, Hawk and Mickey. Good to see the poetry up, M. It looks like the discusion relating to Cockburn and CounterPunch is not existing. I’ve seen buckets of references to AK Press and C/Punch in this blog. Isn’t AK Press Cockburn’s business? Doesn’t he read this blog once a week? Is it sometimes easier to avoid debating hot topics? It would have been good to see some answers to pay and publishing issues raised by myself and Bob and Mickey. Sometimes dealing with the hard issues strengthens businesses (and marriages and families etc). Avoiding things lets more writers leave due to bad management. Maybe Cockburn is too busy riding horses or taking a holiday. Could he be in India or Italy or Paris? Should I approach Chris Hitchens to take over the PR for the union of unpaid writers? What happens when a debate is called and the other party refuse to turn up? I’ll hand it over to The Universe.
Posted by Alison on from Toronto 07/21 at 05:44 PMHi, Hawk, Mickey, Rosemarie, Joe of Maine and Alison from a cold Daylesford, Australia. I like the poem, too. Always a pleasure to visit the ‘Cool Observer’ site.
Something is wrong with our email system, so I’ll say bye for now.
Posted by Helga Fremlin on from Daylesford, Australia 07/22 at 12:15 AMHello again, Expendables. It’s Sunday. That means Post Secret has been updated:
http://postsecret.blogspot.comP.S. Alison, I would be utterly astonished if Cockburn (or any other well-known lefty) ever read this blog.
Posted by Mickey Z. on from Astoria 07/22 at 06:51 AMMemories, thoughts of the past, even most recent past...recalled, brought forth, spoken in the present...where is the present...where is the future, if at present, we are in and of the past...what do we see clearly right now without past information clouding what we see immediately…
Posted by joe of maine on from 07/22 at 07:08 AMHi Mickey, Helga, Alison, and all
joe #4...I know what you mean about drugs. We are all just experimental subjects for the pharmaceutical companies. In between mowing outside today, I happened to catch an interesting discussion on C-span book TV. Harriet Washington was discussing her book “Medical Apartheid”. It was very interesting.
Many of my flowers are past peak, and starting to go to seed. I feel a bit guilty mowing and looking at flowers when I know that people are dying but I feel so helpless in dealing with the real issues. There is such a contrast between the beauty of nature and the ugliness of “man”. Maybe trying to figure out how flowers get their beauty is the best I can do for today. Oh, I did make a phone call to the Albany talk radio station. The topic was the connection between war and religion. My on-air comment was that we did not invade and occupy Iraq because of religion - we did it because of money. Just follow the money to the arms dealers. The host argued with me but a couple of calls later was from someone in Saratoga who said, “That lady from Vermont was right”. And then he went on to point out that the US has bases all around the world.
Look at a flower. Pet a dog. Hug a stranger and envision a day when we all love one another.Posted by RMJ on from Churchill 4 Prez Hdqts 07/22 at 04:15 PMLook at a flower. Pet a dog. Hug a stranger and envision a day when we all love one another.
Repeat after me:
“That lady from Vermont was right”Posted by Mickey Z. on from Astoria 07/22 at 05:15 PMDear Mickey Z, Excuse me. What the hell do you mean with the following quote at comment no.7: “P.S. Alison, I would be utterly astonished if Cockburn (or any other well-known lefty) ever read this blog.
Posted by Mickey Z. on from Astoria 07/22 at 06:51 AM”. Why don’t you go and put on your jacket of confidence (however humid it might be) and email Cockburn and ask him if he ever reads your blog. If he hasn’t, then he should. That man has had huge amounts of input from you and other excellent writers on his site and the least he can do is read your blog and say THANK YOU for all the references to Counterpunch which might end up as readers (via links and promos) on his site and perhaps as donations and book purchases or subscriptions to his newsletter. Mickey, have the guts. If he reads the comments re pay and all that it might help the old dude not lose so many excellent, talented writers. My bet is he reads your blog everday and he should get a gentle smack on his backside if he doesn’t. And a telling off for not saying Thanks before. He strikes me as a very well informed writer who would not avoid reading every blog or site available and he must have all the time in the world to sit in the country and read all day. Manners in the modern world...Go for it baby.Posted by Alison on from Toronto 07/22 at 06:24 PMI doubt it has anything to with me having “guts,” Alison. There are thousands of lefty blogs. No one can be expected to be familiar with even 1% of them...never mind visit them daily,
Posted by Mickey Z. on from Astoria 07/22 at 07:42 PMHey everyone-- enjoying these comments and conversations, esp. Alison’s! Picked up an extra shift of work today, but hurray the firm is buying me dinner from here: http://www.organicharvestcafe.com/
Not 100% vegan but organic and really cool! Hope everyone’s enjoying the weekend any way they can, esp. that lady in Vermont who’s right as always! Though we should add juggling cats around the apartment to that list with petting dogs!
Posted by James on from work on a Sunday!/midtown manhattan 07/22 at 07:43 PMOK, Mickey. I didn’t mean you don’t have the guts. I just have a hunch he does read it. Maybe I’m wrong. I’ll write the letter.
Here goes. Deep breath. Jacket of confidence on.
DEAR ALEXANDER COCKBURN OF PETROLIA,
DO YOU READ MICKEY Z’S WEBSITE/ BLOG?
BEST,
ALISON.
Now I’ll sit here hoping I haven’t made a fool of myself. Sigh.Posted by Alison on from Toronto 07/22 at 08:05 PMYou’re as game as Ned Kelly, Alison.
Posted by Patrick on from Harden NSW oz 07/22 at 08:38 PMMaybe I better come back tomorrow when I am less tired and thinking more clearly. I am missing the point of the Cockburn conversation.
Sure, Cockburn and many others should come read Mickey, his articles, his blog...even join in the discussions that occur here in the comments section on a daily basis. I think Mickey’s jacket of confidence is fully secured...buckled up. They might have the problem with the gut check. They might be forced to face some realities that they do not want to admit...to overcome some inadequacies in their approach towards changing things in the world. These are inadequacies that we all have...some are willing to discuss them in am attempt to punch through into more effective action.
Also, yes, writers should be paid when promised...but I think some of the better writers...those searching more intensely for ways to instigate real change...left for reasons other than money.
Many here know more about Counterpunch than I do. I don’t write articles for them or read too many of the article posted there.
These are just my opinions...I am tired. Perhaps we can continue the discussion on the subject and help educate me...I know I do need the help.
Posted by JOS on from Oak Park 07/22 at 11:45 PM
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