eckart tolle's a new earth

I'm almost through this book. Its really blowing my mind. Although a lot of it is similar to Wayne Dyer's ideas (who draws on others a lot also) some of the stuff about how the ego operates was really eye opening.

here's to your awakening. Read this book.

military intervention in Burma

A speaker at today's forum mentioned that he would support military intervention (under the UN) in Burma (Myanmar). I have to say I was unable to disagree with him at the outset. However, given the current administration's gross incompetence at prosecuting military regime change, I began to wonder. The UN is not powerful enough to pull this off and I'm sure China would have a fit, perhaps escalating the situation.

However, it is a whopper of a moral decision. Is there a time and place for just military regime toppling, is there such a thing as justice when invading another part of the earth? When the military junta of Myanmar refuses to allow international assistance for its own people, and taking into account the recent crackdown on pro-democracy, pro-liberty demonstrations, would taking the junta out at this time be an appropriate decision?

The US has been toppling regimes for quite some time now. Iraq is only the most recent bloody and horrifically and criminally bungled example. Usually, however, the US topples democratically elected socialists and installs a right wing capitalist dictator friendly to US/global business interests (the captains of capital). The military junta controlling Burma is friendly to business interests. They're exploiting their country for their personal gain. It should come as no surprise that the fascists in charge of our country will not try to bring freedom and democracy to another country ruled by fascists.

What do you think?

Whats the deal with OPB?

Why did OPB all of a sudden turn into a non-stop propaganda machine for the US Navy? I've been watching pieces of Carrier, a mini-series about life aboard the USS Nimitz, and though it attempts to show the diversity of viewpoints on the ship, it ultimately glorifies the military, the firepower, the raw killing power. I think its a problem when so many in the military are bloodthirsty. I know they're trained to be killers to DEFEND the country, and perhaps enjoying the act of killing people is what you need to DEFEND a country that in part exists thanks to terrorism and genocide and making treaties it never intended to keep. There was a part in the documentary about the pilots and crew being disappointed because they didn't drop any bombs. They are so itching to drop bombs and kill people, automatically assuming that if you die from this bomb that means you're a terrorist. Or just not valuing innocent Iraqi lives at all.

I'm getting frustrated with OPB. Now they're closing KOAC after 80+ years, the birthplace of OPB. For what? So they can save a few bucks on air conditioning? Give me a break. And why are advertisements for ABC television on OPB, to name just one? I thought OPB was a non-commercial, public supported station. WTF?

So my membership has expired and I don't think I'll renew it. Not until they get their head out of their ass and remember what their mission is. Its a sad day when such a venerable institution as OPB begins to lose credibility. OPB is a public institution, we should take it back and demand more accountability. Even KBOO has a member elected board of directors. Why doesn't OPB?

I've relied on OPB now for almost 10 years as the most trustworthy station. I thought I could count on OPB to deliver news and information with the least amount of spin. But that trust is eroding. I'm saddened and disgusted with the direction OPB is headed.

So, if anyone out there is listening, we need to boost the signal for 100.7 KBOO FM, because right now its shit and I can't listen to a clean broadcast without static and interference from other stations. Get on it! I've been saying this for years now.