The Modern Simplicity Movement

“In the U.S. economy the current mindset is everything you own, owns you.”

 I am a sucker for the idea of living off the grid.  Reducing my carbon footprint on the Earth sits well with my hope for the future. Herb garden, vegetable garden, a stockpile of whole grains and a good internet connection, a couple of pairs of sandals and I am off the grid and running carbon free (almost).

 The splendor and glory of not being tied down to life with a mortgage, utility bills and present mindset of society is a fantasy.  A dream worthy of having, if not possible of completely achieving, completely striving for it is a noble cause in itself and for future generations.

 In reality this vision is up there with my dream of climbing Mt. Everest. The idea of a simple lifestyle is only a dream for the already well-off.  I do not think that the citizens of Africa are trying to think of ways to get back to basic.  The important realization is that if you are one of the lucky ones thinking about “ the modern simplicity movement” then you have to embrace the blessed life that you have achieved (or been born into).  Being born on U.S. soil is the golden ticket no matter what your social economical outlook is.  The greater part of the globe is trying to sustain existence while America is trying to simplify life.

 The “we” of the “us” who are lucky enough to dream about the simplicity movement need to wake-up to the complex problems that is surrounding the world today.  What is needed is a culture creative (integral) outlook with progressive values that include all. Active citizens that take steps with a purpose in ethics, environment and economics will be the catalyst for future behavior.

 The simple answer to me about “ The Modern Simplicity Movement” is that (some) people are coming down from the mountaintop after seeing the view.  Consumerism is not meant for all. But why do only some come down from the mountaintop? Many stay at the mountaintop that are not able to maintain their economic existence. 

Arrival is a myth, but perfection is found in the process. 

Photo of the Week

Camera: Nikon D200
Exposure: 3.6 sec (18/5)
Aperture: f/22
Focal Length: 135 mm
ISO Speed: 100
Exposure Bias: 0 EV

Moment

Current Reading: Valis by Philip K. Dick

Current Music: ipod shuffle

Mood: Happy

Sounds: Very loud TV playing downstairs

Smells: Home made Italian sauces 

Temperature: 68 degrees light rain

Thoughts: This is the second time I started reading Valis.  First time I could not get into it, this time I can't put the book down. 

Be a poet of the Light

Be a poet of the Light

The emotion of the light – God’s light

Lights, color, patterns and textures do not wait on a photographer.  Pre-visualization is what is needed.  This ancient approach to composition demands a slower, contemplative approach.  Nature by it own nature is naturally messy, seek out a simple, mindful subject.   Open your mind’s-eye so wide that it will include your thoughts and wishes.  Notice the garden of light that surrounds you.

Be a poet of the light.  Walk in the garden, feel the waves, vibrations and energy that light created.  God formed the universe with light. A single verse of light that births all creation and evolution.  Photography is ancient.

Visual music. 

Notes from the Road to Recovery

No mediation or yoga for days now, body not as stiff as I thought it would become. Mind clearer than I would have guessed it to be.

Vicodin, moments of stillness, hearing my own breath, cravings for scotch, motion all around me, quiet in my head, piano music plays in the background.

Sunday 9am woken by a crying baby, headache, and day five of recovery from sinus surgery. Toast, eggs and coffee prepared by Elizabeth for me. Life for her must be trying, I always seem to be sick – I am sorry for that. My daughter sits on my lap and eats my eggs. I’m thankful for the time spent with her.

Children, life and time seem to be equations meant for failure. If you spend too much time with your child, then as a provider for your family you will fail. If you spend too much time away from your family providing from them than as a Father you will fail your child. Balance with self-expectation; no clue how to answer that?

Watched the “The Darjeeling Limited” today. Good existentialism film. Not much of beginning-middle-end plot line, nonetheless I enjoyed it. Been reading “Gardening at the Dragon’s Gate” by Wendy Johnson. It’s a lovely memoir on soil, composting, and Zen. I am reading about dirt and enjoying it, could be a sign of old age?

Left over pizza and apple slices for dinner. Want to go for a walk, should sleep.

Blog Book & Time Off

The idea of turning the archive of this blog into a book is something that I have been thinking about. (Here) you can download a table of contents with hyperlinks to postings. I have divided the subject into Art, Humor, Conscious Consumer Capitalism, Moment(s), Photo of the Week(s) & Personal. Read it all or just pick the titles that jump out at you… You will need to register (simple, painless & no spam or additional e-mails will be sent to you) to download the document.

“In Search of the Original Whatever” My greatest hits and misses from two years of blogging about Art, Morals and truths….

If the birth of this idea goes well the next step will be re-writing and adding some new un-published stuff and then off to the editors.

I am taking time off to clear the head (literally—having sinus surgery, and figuratively—to quiet the mind.)

See you June 2, be nice to each other and remember to eat your vegetables…

5 Question Interview Series with Katherine Turner

Katherine Turner is the author of Dating God, which is a blog that focuses on her journey throughout the cosmos. Her style of writing is configuring life-as-a-jigsaw-puzzle fitting it all together with dancing words. She has recently just completed her first novel, appropriately titled “Dating God”. Katherine graciously agreed to take part in my ongoing “5 Question Interview Series”.


Please tell me about your novel. Is it autobiographical in nature, fiction, spiritual or all of the above?

It's called Dating God of course :) I don't yet have a groove to offer up as a synopsis, so instead I give you some adjectives/images: psychic bartender meets hero cop; downwardly/inwardly mobile; high quality cigarettes and double cappuccinos; human love versus true love; sexual healing; urban dwelling versus ecovillage; holy moments in unlikely spaces; tequila; angels cleverly disguised as buttheads; the soulmate machinery; saving your own life.

It's fiction, and it's spiritual. It's also rowdy and funky. It's not autobiographical, but it contains things that I'm intimate with. For example, I tended bar in NYC and dated cops. I went through a rough patch understanding how to manage my psychic abilities. I was a hottie who got hit on a lot, and used it like ecstatic currency. I drank lots of tequila and coffee, smoked a lot of cigarettes. People that knew me from that time will recognize elements of reality, but the story is all in my head/heart.

Will your blog readers of the past 5 years (congratulations on that) get a sneak peak before publication?

I'm trying to figure out the best way to do this. My instincts say to offer it up to DG readers, let them read it before it goes anywhere. But this also makes me nervous (as you probably know from being a blogger yourself) as some blog readers have "orifice ripper" as their undeclared (and largely unconscious) but righteously pursued avocation. So, I'm more inclined to just send it to the few dozen folks who comment a lot and are warm-hearted and will be supportive, even if they pass on constructive criticism (which I hope they do). But who knows? Maybe I'll just toss the whole shebang wide open and let folks have at it :) (Most likely I'll open it up in ever-widening circles . . .)

What inspires you? How do you stay motivated?

I think I have a sort of "perspective" OCD that expresses itself verbally. I'll go through an experience or witness something, and I become obsessed with telling it in a way that captures the emotional light I saw it in. And it has to be done first person. I've tried other narratives and it loses its fire.

I remember someone telling me that you can't "want" to be a writer. You either write or you don't. I totally agree with that. I'm motivated to write like I'm motivated to eat. I love food and I eat to stay alive. I love words and I write to stay alive. This is not a metaphor.

I've been writing since I was seven or eight and have never stopped. I'm obsessed with words and concepts, heightened states of being and wild wooly metaphors, verbal symbols that stand for huge swaths of organic experience and the power of raw unflinching honesty. I love that I can take an experience, perspective, that lives inside of me, animates me, and with the right combo of words, transfer that experience into you. It's like making love. Telepathically :)


Your life seems to be a voyage that is perfectly expressed by blogging: Do we know the real you or do you keep a private life that is not told to your readers?

I think folks are always a little disappointed to meet me. I'm actually pretty quiet in person, withdrawn. I don't like to be seen. All of which is the exact opposite of what I'm like on the blog. Plus, I have a hard time with most folk's energy, and tend to be avoidant, which people tend to take personally :) I also think that it appears that I love to dwell on Problems, love to Vent and Be Vented Upon, when in fact this is my idea of Fiery, Burning Hell, Live and On Location. IRL, I prefer to just live and leave the gumflapping exchange for others to exercise. (Although I seem to have an almost bottomless well of listening for the handful of people I love, the people who I get truly love me.)

The only parts I withhold from the blog are info about other people that would hurt them or freak them out to see made public, and negative spew that would add to the Pointless Bullshit of the world. (although I have been very guilty of posting both)

How did writing a book that you knew would be read so closely by your blog audience compare with writing the blog?

I actually didn't write this book with anyone in mind. I just wrote it because it was burning a hole in my brain and heart. And I wrote the first draft 10 years ago, way before I even knew what a blog was.

The latest draft (that I finished last month) was actually written with a credo (written with a purple and green sharpie and scotch taped to the wall in front of my desk) that reads: "DatingGod: 1. Show Up 2. Write It From Now 3. Make Art, Tell Your Story". I had gotten so incredibly stuck that I knew that rewriting was pointless. I hated the book, knew it was shite, but felt powerless to fix it, even as I could feel this shining truth radiating out of it, haunting me and taunting me and telling me that it was going to f*ck my sh*t up for the rest of my life if I didn't get at it.

I finally grew the ovaries to do a shamanic journey around it, and I met with an editor in shamanic reality who told me how to finish the book. He was this sweet, funny man, and he told me that I needed to put myself in front of my computer, to have the courage to show up. And then I needed to stop trying to write from who I was, who I used to be ten years ago when that first draft was completed, and instead have the courage to write from where I am, who I am Now. It was outrageously scary. And like performing a million amputations. But incredibly liberating. The book actually turned into something that didn't make me feel like vomiting from embarrassment every time I thought of how many people I'd let read it over the past decade. (I still cringe. I'm cringing even right now :) And of course, now this latest draft makes me gag too, which means that it still needs another draft. And on and on and on . . .

I can't wait to finish it. I can't wait to let you read it :)

Ambient Mosaic

Guess what it is & how it was taken….. (Contest)

The winner will receive a custom print from my ambient collection…. All entries must be submitted by Thursday of this week by 9 pm EST. Please leave your guess in the comment selection, no e-mails will be accepted...

Photo of the Week

Camera: Nikon D200
Exposure: 0.667 sec (2/3)
Aperture: f/25
Focal Length: 62 mm
ISO Speed: 400
Exposure Bias: 0 EV

I had the very enjoyable opportunity to take some photos at Frank Lloyd Wright’s Fallingwaters estate this past Saturday. Edna the curator of the property gave us the behind the scene tour of the grounds. The un-excavated land along with the placement of the home was the most impressive part of the experience for me.

Due to copyright agreements this photo is not licensed with creative commons. Please enjoy the photo but do not distribute.

Moment

Current Reading: Dance, Dance, Dance by Haruki Murakami
Current Music: Seeds by Martin Sexton
Mood: Frustrated
Sounds: Road construction
Smells: Coffee
Temperature: 60 degrees and light rain
Thoughts: Using your faith to instill fear in people is an act of terrorism.

Journal

Have you ever noticed how un-strange it seems when an unfamiliar person sees that you are reading the same book that they just read? It‘s natural, no hesitation of approach, instead there is friendship, instead there is conversation. This is opposed to how foreign it feels when a stranger moves toward you for any other reason…they need directions, to know the time of day or whatnot. Observations are a fun part of life, no point needed.

I have been feeling disconnected from a couple of friends because of their dysfunction and my judgments. I will leave it to the psyche and shadow people to figure out if I am a walking contradiction or just no longer numb to the abusers that society surrounds me with.

Two o’clock in the afternoon, eating lunch outside and reading a book: rice and vegetables and keeping company with Dance, Dance, Dance by Murakami and enjoying both a lot. Pittsburgh weather has always been akin to late night TV to me, predictable but not enjoyable. The sun’s heat moves from bright and warming to cloud-covered skies with cold breezes all within the same sixty seconds. Sun glare to diffused vision all on the same page, odd reading experience. The wind is fragrant with late spring flowers at the end of their budding season. Three bees buzz by my left knee, they leave me alone, good. Tiny white flowers or leaves, not sure which, dance through the air and land in my lunch and on the page I’m reading. Sort of fun to watch, sort of.

Photo of the Week

Camera: Nikon D70s
Exposure: 2 sec (2)
Aperture: f/22
Focal Length: 34 mm
ISO Speed: 500
Exposure Bias: 0 EV

Over at Polysemy

Some good reading:
The Nature of Aesthetic Study

Feeling weary of the internet and technology in general

Hybrid Car Shopping

Started hybrid car shopping last week, e-mailed two different dealerships for trade-in and pricing information expecting to get bombarded with phone calls and e-mails. Sent the e-mails out this past Friday morning check my e-mail first thing today, nothing.

Not sure if this is a good thing or bad thing that the dealership are so busy? I am glad for the environment and that people are making economical and ethical purchase and worrier for my bank account. Capitalism conjoined with demand brings out the devil in “most” (not all) corporations.

Active Citizen

How can I affect change in the world without being a pain in the ass to those around me?

- Give without expectations.
- Work with a purpose.
- Be the change you want to see in the world and in turn that will create the change in the world that you want to see.
- Living your faiths well is far more important than evangelizing your faith in others.

Those are all mantras that I have tried to live my life by. I have felt that they would affect the most amount of positive change in the world with the least amount of negativity projecting onto others. I no longer consider that those ideologies work.

New ideologies needed.

I have been stuck in a quagmire lately, surrounded by people who just do not care about themselves, their health, their environment or the person standing next to them (society). For the most part all of these people are nice people. They pay their taxes, support their churches, support their favorite sport teams, all the while quietly killing themselves with the lifestyle they choose to lead. They are completely oblivious to the damage that they are infecting on themselves, society and the environment in which they live in. Forgive me for the harshness of what I am going to say next: - nevertheless they all seem to be numb, without hope or emotion to care about anybody but themselves.

This condition of quiet surrender to selfishness is killing the planet.

The state of healthcare is out of control simply because 80% of people who have healthcare insurance do not care about improving their health. This is the greatest abuse of the system, causing the largest amount of damage to the overall effectiveness of the medical industry and rising insurance costs. The environment is on the decline simply because people choose not to change their spending habits. We, as Americans, place 40% of toxins and pollution into the atmosphere and water. We also support slavery with our consumerism-mentality. The amount of oil, coal and natural recourses we waste is an uncountable number.

Last week I wrote a post titled: “Citizens’ Responsibility Towards the Future of Healthcare” I e-mailed a couple of my favorite bloggers asking for feedback. The following paragraph is a strong counterpoint to my argument that is well worth reading. Katherine (a.k.a.) Dating God responded:

“What ails people these days is not simply their fault. Refined-carbs pumped into the food supply, tobacco portrayed for years as glamorous and calming for the nerves, fast food made so quick and easy and cheap that only the wealthy can afford to not eat there. I’ll stop now. but seriously, it isn’t as simple as saying: these folks just refuse to take care of themselves. if you surround a person with heroin, with people who do heroin, with ads saying Heroin Is Good For You!, decorate it in pretty, sultry packaging, have doctors recommend it, offer it cheaply and easily, if you do all this, is it still simply an individual’s fault if they use? isn't it then a community problem?”

Again - these people whom I am complaining about are nice people and some of them are my friends and family. (I am in no way innocent of these sins myself). These are the people that give to charity when asked. These are the people that help out the neighborhood in times of need.

They still smoke, eat foods that they know will create disease in them, and cannot even think about making a positive environmental choice. We have forsaken logic and reason for un-attainable dreams of wealth and power (entitlement factor). We as a society are far too disconnected to feel-believe-understand what is happening on the very soil we stand upon. This brings me back to my first sentence.

How can I affect change in the world without being a pain in the ass to those around me?

I am tired of the all the polite head-nods I get when explaining the state of our nation to others. I want change. The reason I care is because (with anger in my heart) I no longer want to pay for the sins of others. I want my daughter to inherit a better world than the one she was born into. I want her to know I tried. Some day she’ll be all grown up and she’ll rightfully want to know what I did to leave her a better earth than the one I brought her into.

I have an internal call to become an activist of sorts. However I am not sure where to direct my efforts. Health, environment and education all seem to be where my passions lie.

An active citizen is what I want to trigger in people. If citizens can change their actions, then laws, corporations and governments will change to fit the people’s needs accordingly. It’s not too late to cultivate the emotions of caring.

Learning to be comfortable with contradictions is a path to enlightenment.

In search of active citizens to fight the quiet surrender to numbness in society wanted.

Moment

Current Reading: America as Empire: Global Leader or Rogue Power? By Jim Garrison
Current Music: Steven Curtis Chapman: Greatest Hits
Mood: I’m mad. Mad at people who “still” smoke in public places..
Sounds: Wind
Smells: White tea
Temperature: 42 degrees
Thoughts: I can not stand people who smoke: I know that’s rude to say but second hand smoke just makes me crazy. Please, Please, Please stop it.

Exterior to Interior Photography

How do we create – Something out of nothing - Backyard Photography

I have been working on a different type of photography project. In this venture I have to look at the final image forever! It’s for my home. It’s true; I have never solely set out to create art for my own space. My home is filled with photographs although they are all images selected from archival work. Never before have I set out knowing where the final image would be displayed.

Completing a project and then detaching myself from the ownership of the work has been one of my favorite aspects of photography. Having passion for the process and being able to let go of the work for somebody else’s pleasure or judgment is the ultimate non-attachment for the ending image. In music or acting it seems that you are always selling the song or moment to the audience, but in photography it’s one click of the shutter and then on to the next image. The light is never the same twice.

P.S. – The premise I set for myself is that all images must be taken on my own property. The challenge for me is to work with what you got, instead of searching out the perfect location I want to limit the location to what is already there. It makes me feel that it’s a sustainable/recyclable photography project. Bring the beauty from the exterior of the home into the interior of the home.

Motion Photography

This is something I have been working on as of late. I like the technique but I am having a hard time achieving composition I like. What do you think???

Natural depth of field - Music

I have been struggling lately with how much I dislike over-produced music. Genuineness of current music seems to be a flat layered sound where emotions and rhythms are now replaced with an automated sequence of downloadable beats and generative sounds.

Natural depth of field adds character to music. Silence, space and acoustics of the room bring out the natural depth of field in musicians, instruments, rooms and most importantly the authenticity of the music.

Again, I am all for keeping one foot rooted in the ancient and one foot rooted in the future when it comes to advancements of the fine arts skills. Music needs to be found in vibration before it digitized.

See: Natural Depth of Field – Photography (here)

Fine Art Quote

“A life without art and artistic expression is an un-elegant life indeed. Words alone will never express the un-expressable as well as the stroke of a brush or a melody.” – Ottmar Liebert

Citizens’ Responsibility towards the Future of Healthcare

In responding to MD posting on healthcare, or as he tittles it “sickness care”, I would have to say that I think he is about 80% correct.

MD writes:

“First of all, let’s clarify terms. “Health care” is misleading — what we in practice are talking about is “sickness care”, because one doesn’t need care if one is healthy, only when one is sick. “Health” is an abstract term (and, even, a state of mind), whereas “sickness” in terms of medical care is not. If we use concrete terms, we focus on exactly what it is we are talking about.”

My question for MD is – What about healthy people that have a disease or disability? You can be very healthy and an active person and be inflicted with cancer, aids, autisms, ms or other medical conditions that are greater than your lifestyle. The reason I agree that MD is about 80% correct is because 80% of all healthcare “sickness” could be cured with proper diet and exercise. I do not like the idea of paying for other peoples’ “sickness” when they knowingly create their disease. Personal diets that include trans-fats/hydrogenated oil and over consumption of food to the point of obesity creates disease. I do not want myself or anybody to pay for the sins of a junkie, be it of food, drugs or alcohol.

Should the 20% of people that take care of themselves (“healthy-care”) be rejected due to the abuse of 80% of the people who simply do not care (“sickness-care”) for their state of well being?

My rant on healthcare was not directed at politics or insurance companies, but at the current state of Americans who simply do not care about their health. This “take a pill” mentality toward prevention is killing off recourses for healthy people inflicted with a disease.

Natural Depth of Field

The phrase “natural depth of field” has been stuck in my mind lately. Primarily it’s a term that is used by photographers to define what’s in or out of focus. I feel it fits in well when applied to music, writing and painting. (I will write more about that later) Understanding “natural depth of field” is rooting yourself in a classical approach to your work. It is placing a perceptive of focus, motion, stillness and life into your work. It’s the fundamentals.

After Googling the term “natural depth of field”, what I found was a disappointing state of current fine art. Merely tips for Photoshop, Paint Shop, computer plug-ins and filters that were on the first page of Google. There was nothing in Google about in-camera work, light, selective focus, composition or the relationship to the rule of thirds. No matter what is done after-capture it is not “natural depth of field”. Reproduced, re-worked or re-created is not natural and it is not a fine art skill.

I am all for keeping one foot rooted in the classical approach and one foot rooted in the future. Teaching this approach to “natural depth of field” would be akin to teaching spell checker before learning how to spell.

Photo of the Week

Camera: Nikon D200
Exposure: 3 sec (3)
Aperture: f/5
Focal Length: 52 mm
ISO Speed: 100
Exposure Bias: 0 EV

“Get Free Pills”

This is my rant on the state of U.S healthcare. I don’t think many people actually care about their state of health.

The term Universal Healthcare is not a very American slogan in the first place. America does not seem to care about the “Universe”. We Americans place 40% of toxins and pollution into the atmosphere and water. We support slavery with our consumerism-mentality. The amount of oil, coal and natural recourses we waste is an uncountable number. America seems also not to care about “healthcare” itself. We are an obese society with a gluttonous fast food nature. So it’s no wonder why we cannot get on board with the term “Universal Healthcare”.

It’s a marketing problem; we need a name change if we want people to get on board. How does this sound: “Get Free Pills”. That is something that Americans would line up for.

“Free” consumerism-mentality; that will solve our problems without having to place any effort into the solution. Now that seems American.

P.S. I’m just a little angry. See Frontline – Sick Around The World for an educated perspective.

Moment

Current Reading: The Last Lecture by Randy Pausch
Current Music: (My car CD player is on fire)

Something Simple by Stuart Davis

Palmystery by Victor Wooten

Art of Motion by Andy McKee

Mood: Little irritated at insurance companies and the Catholic church.
Sounds: Other people talking
Smells: Coffee
Temperature: 42 degree
Thoughts: Open hand philosophy is good, holding on to the knowledge is bad.

Spring Time Surprise

This is our first spring in our new home and perennial flowers have been popping up all over the place. I have never been much of a flower-shutter-bug type of guy. Nearly every one of my previous flower shots have been taken while photographing other events. It’s nice to have all this Mother Nature in my own yard.

Ambient Art

CraigPhotography

What have I learned?

I have been trying to take a media break from the ongoing of the world. I purposely haven't written (ranted) anything here for the last two weeks due to the fact that I have been limiting my time from the internet. I need more life-less news. What have I learned?

First: I do not play the guitar to play music. I play music on the guitar.
Second: I do not use the camera to take pictures: I photograph within the mind and capture within the camera.
Third: Try not to take from the Earth, rather take what the Earth gives you.