A blog to examine theories about the end of the Mayan Calendar dates for December 2012, about Doomsday Theories, 2012 Theories, looking at ancient texts, arcane knowledge and things related to prophecy, future, science, environmental issues, religion and beliefs.
Time for a return to our thinking caps for Blake's Day 689 on what is becoming a very content-filled, art-filled, poetry-filled, commentary-filled THE 800 DAYS blog!
What you'll find for the Day 689 post are two complementary pieces of poetry. The title of one - "Quetzecoatl" - will conjure up images and concepts to your mind from an ancient age. The title of the other - "War Party - A Poem To Bring Our Troops Back Home Where They Belong" may allow you to stay firmly grounded to the present, but regardless, the pieces aren't drastically opposing to each other.
Each poem has a meaning and urgency in its own right, however, the "War Party [...]" poem seems to display a whole lot of repetition - and this poem is of greater length, so the feel of it is that it is of a more urgent tone than the Quetzocoatl piece. I think the Quetzocoatl poem may just be more condensed, is all, and both poems require focus and attention.
My favourite lines of Quetzecoatl:
There were strange days upon me and my body and race
I can hear, as I'm fighting, as I take up the bottle
I am drinking it down with my Quetzecoatl...
[lines 6, 7, 8 above, balanced with lines 28-31 below]
Asking a deep sleepwalker in the waiting abyss
To remit, and the Father will not question your fear
As the dreams come out of the little glass bottles
Making my choice just like Quetzecoatl...
My favourite lines of the 2nd poem:
Before we're going through something
That's so much worse than any of it was before as
If you are pledging allegiance to the war
It feels just like it did before once more
Underground and overboard it feels just like before
You are actually giving something that isn't yours
You are actually giving something that isn't yours
[lines 26-32 in one consecutive line block]
I appreciate the attention to balance in the first poem while I found something different to appreciate in the longer poem - repetition. I supposed the first poem is written with limited wording so its lines make each message more clear, while the longer 2nd poem has length for repetition. I found in the latter, the repetition has the effect of reminding one of bullets fired over and over again - repetitive military movement - calisthenics, even repetitive words such as are used with brainwashing...
In the first piece, there is something about the bottle mentioned, then returned to (balance) that adds to the sublime quality of the piece. In the second poem, sublimity is enhanced by the repetition of forceful words - words clearly understood the first time they were read but repeated nonetheless 'til we're almost dizzy with the repetition (perhaps Blake is trying to brainwash us! lol). For the first poem, we're taken into sublimity with the hint of what's in that bottle...for the second piece, we're brought to sublimity by having our senses assaulted - apt title on that 2nd piece with the word "War" in it...
Interesting...
I'll let others interpret from here...
The Day 689 post is associated with Monday January 21 2011.
You might need a tissue by the time you've finished reading Blak4d's Day 690 entry over on The 800 Days blog. I did. Although the video at the top of the post might make you grin (it has censored nekkid gals on it), and the poetry just below the video might make you think, the explanation which follows at the very bottom of the post will likely cause you to need:
R.I.P. Deserae!
The Day 690 post is dedicated to Deserae and is associated with the posting date of Sunday January 30 2011.
Another batch of activities from the Hackvist group, ANONYMOUS, was under way in late January 2011, but this activity was no hub-bub (loud, confused noise from many sources) stuff. The entity of Anonymous appears to use concerted efforts to gain attention, make statements, and draw attention to itself, along with perceived wrongs in the world.
Blake has been dutifully bringing the news of Anonymous' activities and statements to THE 800 DAYS blog - and his Day 691 post is another update on the doings and statements of Anonymous.
I like the image Blake placed at the top of the post... the pic shows a rather cheeky-looking moustached pharoah or idol... Nice!
Oh! That's the "V for Vendetta" face artistically imposed over the golden pharoah figure, isn't it?
Fitting! Again - nice.
Once more, Blake also provides more links to Anonymous' activities and additional information about this group/entity, so if you're at all interested in Anonymous, please be sure to check out and follow the links provided in the Day 691 post on The 800 Days blog. There actually now exists, an "AnonNews," and if Blake finds there's anything new circulating about Anonymous, he's promised to get it posted to the blog, so keep tuning in!
Enjoy the Anonymous information and the links. I'm cutting this post short so I can follow some links, myself, as I'm quite far behind on how to keep abreast of what Anonymous is up to!
The Day 691 vendetta post - oops I mean - the entry on the 800Days blog is associated with hacktivism as well as the date, Saturday January 29 2011.
Okay, at this point in following and reviewing Blake's THE 800 DAYS, I am tempted to ask Blake to go seek help and go to an A.C.A. Meeting - only that meeting would end up having 13 Steps, no doubt! A.C.A. would be "Aleister Crowley Anonymous" meetings! Ha! Just funnin' withya (and readers), Blake!
Blake seems to have a measure of respect (as do I) for Crowley, despite the fact that Crowley was and still is a much hated personality in recent history. If you've been reading from Blake's blog for any length of time, you'll be able to note that this is NOT the first (nor, I suspect, will it be the last) time Blake has written posts featuring Crowley quotes, biographical details on A. Crowley.
In the Day 692 weblog post, Blake takes some Crowley quotes out of context in a way I would never think to do but the result is something nearly morbidly and definitely spookily BANG ON regarding social commentary of our supposedly civilized societies. Blake the mighty blogger has taken Crowley's statements on viewpoints of gays/sexuality, and made them applicable for describing our real society's reaction or involvment in the topic of gays/sexuality...
Crowley quote: Part of the public horror of sexual irregularity so-called is due to the fact that everyone knows himself essentially guilty
Reality: sexual identity is a social construction whereby opposite sex relationships are rewarded in society while same-sex relationships are primarily shunned, if not banned altogether in many areas of the civilized world. Additionally, it is highly LIKELY that we all experience attractions, sometimes, to same-gender individuals but have been conditioned since early childhood to repress these feelings of attraction, deeming them "unhealthy," but mostly unwanted.
I won't go through all of the assertions and wording on Blake's blog as the above is just my interpretation, anyway - one I thought I would share to show the manner in which I am appreciating Blake's material located at the Day 692 post.
Some of the assertions/quote placings are wry, some are blatantly pointing fingers, but all are APT and enjoyable to read and will create "food for thought," not only about Crowley but also about the societies in which we live.
Enjoy Blake's treatment of Crowley quotes, along with the Crowley photos on the Day 692 post!
The Day 692 post is indicative of a need for Blake to start attending A.C.A. meetings (lol) as well as Day 692 being associated with Friday January 28 2011.
Mysterious INDEED! The theme for the Day 693 entry on THE 800 DAYS blog appears to be "Mystery."
At the top of the post is a video that, itself, is somewhat of a mystery to me - but I'll check with Blake about the artist, song, etc. The music is enjoyable nonetheless, so have a listen while you read about some mysterious items Blake felt needed some attention!
There are items detailed, ranging from coins to skeletons in the Day 693 post - and with every item, follows the questions:
"How did these get here?"
"Who left these items?"
"Why are people just finding these items NOW in mainly (but not all or always) populated places?"
most importantly
"Why are these objects (and so many of them) dated as OLDER than human civilization?"
The objects are often "out of place" or do not adhere to what science and history texts currently tell us about the regions we live in... ie: the items are dated to be OLDER than what is currently accepted as how long human beings have existed on the earth... The widely popular and current belief is that people have only been walking on the planet for about 1.6 million years... but some of these objects are being dated as 2 to 2.5 million years old (a carving of a human face into a shell, found in England)...
Strange, huh?
Go read about this stuff on Blake's blog!
The Day 693 entry on The 800 Days blog is about OLD STUFF and wondering about the mystery of how old this stuff might really be... and also, Day 693 is associated with Thursday January 27 2011.
People who are wanting to know where Blake4d frequently and virtually travels, as far as online sites go, and where Blake pulls information from, etc., will love the Day 694 entry on his THE 800 DAYS weblog.
It's a LINK-fest galore!
Naturally, it must be said that Blake may not be in 100% in agreement with all content or statements on pages at the links provided, but certainly, I think his point in posting such a diverse list of web locations is that there are certain sites people should visit to inform themselves of what's out there on the net (ie: The Heaven's Gate website/pages). Also, from what I know of Blake Hall - all reasonable discussion on controversial topics (or even strange-sounding topics) is a MUST - and I am in agreement with this, as well.
When I used the word, "diverse," above - it was an entirely inadequate word to use for the differing topic matter and links found at the Day 694 post. What you'll find once you go to Blake's blog are links to Aleister Crowley works and bio, google keywords pages, link to website of the now defunct cult called Heaven's Gate, links to Children of the Matrix material - theories from David Icke, a virtual library of metaphysical writings, theories from Zechariah Sitchin, "WeMoon" women's writers and arts site, links to the NASA site... and a whole lot more.
Personally, I'm caught up in the Heaven's Gate website. There are a lot of links and pages to that site that I feel are important to read - in order to understand what might have been in the minds of Heaven's Gate members, at least 39 of whom all committed mass suicide on March 26, 1997, in order to escape this world and follow along with what their belief system about the universe detailed. I'm very interested in the Heaven's Gate cult because I have no doubts that a present day cult with similar beliefs CAN occur and the mass suicide events can repeat in our day and age. I'm very troubled about this - even moreso when I double-check the links Blake provides in posts overall, not just in this Day 694 post. I'm working on educating myself about all sorts of phenomena, belief systems, knowledge, and doctrines. Now, I don't have to hold each doctrine I learn about as my own - but knowing of many doctrines helps me understand what informs other people to make certain decisions, act in certain ways, think in certain ways, etc., so that I know others better.
That aside behind, back to the links... May I make a suggestion?
Here it is for those who are interested: take 1 week of your time and dedicate just 1 hour each day to reading from just 7 of the links Blake has displayed on his Day 694 post. That will make 7 hours out of a whole week made up of 168 hours. Read enough on each of 7 sites to become very familiar with the material on the site. Take note at the end of 1 week on how much you've learned and about ways in which your worldview might have been changed, made better informed, etc., by your 7 hours of time dedicated to learning something - EVEN if the link you selected represents doctrines, people (many people really hate Crowley but have never read any of his works).
I'll bet that your 7 ours of self-decided and self-asserted education will turn out someone who is more capable of asking meaningful questions as well as providing meaningful answers to random questions.
Just TRY IT!
There are any of a number of links you can choose.
For my self-study, self-asserted study, I am going to stick with just one site, but by the end of 7 days, I am going to know a WHOLE LOT MORE about Heaven's Gate than I do right now. I'll post on this blog, in 7 days - next Wednesday - about what I learn from the one link Blake has provided amongst so many other valuable links. As well, next Wednesday, I'm going to post an argument to Blake's first wording on the Day 694 post as I am in disagreement with the message to a certain extent. If you need a reminder of the text, see below:
"EVERYBODY HAS THE RIGHT TO BELIEVE AND DISBELIEVE IN EVERYTHING
EVERYTHING HAS THE ABILITY TO BELIEVE OR DISBELIEVE IN EVERYBODY
EVERYBODY IS WRONG ABOUT EVERYTHING
EVERYTHING IS RIGHT ABOUT EVERBODY"
(from blake4d's Day 694 post)
At this moment, the only thing I can agree with about these statements are that they mean SOMETHING and I sure hope they are "artistic," and not meant to be taken entirely literally! *Hint - I'm going to take the viewpoint that the words are an attempt to play Devil's Advocate...
So tune in next wednesday (March 2 2011)! lol Well, keep reading Blake4d in the meantime - and DO check out a 7 day course of reading from the links provided by Blake in the Day 694 article!
The Day 694 post is associated with links galore, a bunch of cool palindrome words at the beginning of the post and, before I forget - the date of Wednesday January 26 2011.
If you've been wondering about what is at the core of the blogger personality and person of Blake Hall IV, then the Day 695 entry on THE 800 DAYS blog will give you a fair bit of insight. Of course, spirituality (what Blake chooses to write about in the entry) is just on facet of a human being - but if you've wondered, here's your chance to hear about some of Blake's personal experiences with spirituality.
In the Day 695 post, you may examine Blake's thoughts on Buddhism and - as always - interpret for yourself what Buddhism might mean to you.
Beyond the commentary about spirituality and Buddhism, further down in the post, Blake offers some artistic words in the piece called "What Could Be - And What Has Been."
What I like about this piece is that the narrator asks a number of questions at the beginning:
How can you save a person who doesn't want saving [my paraphrase, so as to refrain from taking away from Blake's own artistry and word structure]? Also - how do you save a person who is empty inside and nothing but a shell [my paraphrase]? How do you stop a train [my paraphrase] - how do you attempt to stop the inevitable [interpretation, mine]?
Now, from these questions, there are vastly different answers, each per person, according to worldview and personal belief system - however - Blake's version of how to process questions of this nature is clearly and artfully provided - just read through the "What Could Be And What Has Been" poetic piece.
Something I've noticed in almost all of Blake's writing is a definite balance that I like very much. This balance is in the concepts of "good/bad," "good/evil," and I find that Blake almost always has a Devil wherever he has a higher concept of "Good," "Holy," or higher cosmic forces. Here, the Devil arrives late in the poetry, within the last third of the content:
Throwing all away, that's real pure & true
Devils jeers laughing, as you arrive right on cue
Sure he'll give you enough reach, to go get another fix
Delusional comforts of HIS home, where you'll remain but just Exist...
The three words above that provide an unmistakable mental image are "Devils jeers laughing[...]" and such a powerful mental image makes the Devil almost viewable, touchable.
Now, you can interpret the poetry any way you like - I just wanted to show a portion of the poem that struck a definite mental image and cue for me (above - it's actually a pic of a match stick holder/striker - creepy, lighting fire on the face of the Devil? Yikes!)... And I'll leave off now, so you can go interpret and enjoy Blake's brand of poetics!
The Day 695 post is about the core beliefs of Blake Hall IV and is associated with Tuesday January 25 2011.
Wow, there's a GIANT horoscope chart on Day 696 of Blake's THE 800 DAYS blog! And it's one I've never seen before, apparently found and forwarded by Blake's friend named "TOMCAT."
To be able to get a better look at an enlarged image, I right-clicked to open the larger image in a new window. You can go straight to the larger image with the link below:
As Blake also suggests in his Day 696 post, go to the site where this came from 'cos the image is complicated - the procedure for gaining most common words in star sign predictions and also the reason for doing so is located at:
It seems Blake is pressed for time around this point in blogging for THE 800 DAYS blog, so his Day 697 post features some interesting photos from a friend, Joe Lee.
In my opinion, the fourth photo down shows an INSANE pyrotechnics trick... is that FIRE blown from a guy's mouth...?? That's what I see!
Plugging my ears so I won't hear when the guy starts screaming, "AAAACK I'm On FIRE!"
Blake sure knows a lot of interesting people who also possess interesting skills. Myself, I can't say, "I have a friend who blows fire out of his mouth," but I can still ask, "Do you?"
:)
The absolute truth is: I need to catch up to Blake on FB or some other long-distance way to find out more about Joe Lee and some of the other people he has featured in pics, words, music, etc., on the 800 Days blog since I've been low-profile online...
The day 697 post on The 800 Days blog is associated with FIRE!!! and Sunday January 23 2011.
More news and words from Anonymous have been featured on the Day 698 entry of The 800 Days blog. These words are a scathing social commentary that, in my humble opinion (and obviously by Blake's point of view, as well), should be considered with a great deal of critical thinking.
Blake has also provided some links to other locations online where you'll find "Anonymous" bits - radio, news and such.
In the spirit of catching on Blake's content, I am keeping this post extremely short - partly because I have in excess of 20 posts to catch up on after a little break I took from blogging in February, and in part because I cannot reiterate the words of Anonymous without breaking with the intensity of the Anonymous messages!
The Day 698 post is associated with Saturday January 22 2011.
There are some interesting videos on the Day 669 entry over on Blake Hall's The 800 Days blog, starting with "Hey Boy Hey" by the Chemical Brothers. After that bit of video and music artistry, the video content abruptly changes...
The topic: "MARS."
For the first vid, just a little background in case some readers are unfamiliar with the topic being discussed ('face on Mars') in the video:
A certain area of the planet, Mars, is called, "Cydonia," which is made up of a bunch of sub-parts. The sub-areas are Cydonia Mensae (flat, Mesa areas), Cydonia Colles (area of small hills), Cydonia Labyrithus (a rather complex bunch of valleys which intersect). Cydonia is named after an area - (a historical city-state) - on the North West coast of the island of Crete that was called Kydonia. Presently, Kydonia is now the city of Chania, and this is as far as the little history lesson goes...
Back on topic... There was a photo taken of the surface of Mars in 1976. The image was collected from a tool in the NASA VIKING PROGRAM and the tool was the Viking I Orbiter. Viking I took a photo of an area of Cydonia somewhere between the Arandas Crater on Mars and another crater known as "Bamberg," and when this image was viewed, people thought it looked like a face or, in the least, a "made" structure that could not have naturally occurred in nature. Another orbiter, Viking II, also picked up images of the "face," from different angles.
By 1977 speculations were printed and spoken, saying the face might be the work of extraterrestrial intelligence and activity, so on and so forth...
NASA refused to comment much about the images but about 20 years later, superior equipment was launched to subsequent missions to Mars and new images were gathered of the same location of Mars. Comparisons to the old images have been offered, the respective collections of images from more recent expeditions out in space, along with Viking I and II images... and still we have no clear answers about what the images are showing...
Many experts say the images simply show some naturally occurring items that our minds and eyes then, by the effects of PARAEDOLIA, turn into "the face on the surface of Mars," and nothing more...
Please Note: * These images in the Cydonia area that seem to show a "face" are NOT the only images or places on Mars that show areas that appear to be faces or known shapes... the Cydonia images, for some reason, just seem to be the most high-profile and oft-analyzed images.
Head on over to Blake's 800Days blog and watch the video, along with two more vids about Mars. BTW, the second vid on Mars (third vid down on the blog) requires that you read. It has a fair bit of scrolling text, so if you need to pause from time to time to get the reading down, feel free to do so.
The Day 699 post is associated with Mars, The Chemical Brothers and the date, Friday January 21 2011.
Myth has been on a bit of a break this February 2011 in order to work on some public speaking gigs - in particular, a comedy routine to be delivered at a promiment comedy club chain on Valentine's Day evening.
As Valentine's Day rapidly approaches, Myth is fighting back just a minor case of "the nerves," however, the show must go on whether Myth trips on the mic or not (gadget challenged) - and once the Valentine's Day show is over, there will be a fantastic flurry of writing to the 800 Days Follower blog!
Truth be known, I joined a comedy workshop setting intent on recreation, socializing, stress relief and polishing up some comedic public speaking skills. Once I got to the group, however, I found I was in the company of trainers I worked with 5 years ago who intended these particular workshops to be extremely short term, in-depth training for a Valentine's Day comedy event!
I mostly stayed with the group because I didn't wish to appear like a chicken-snit, so I committed to doing the Valentine's Day show...while, perhaps, it was more appropriate to just be committed somewhere else, if you know what I mean...
Myth will be back in full force after getting some "Ha-Ha" action on February 14th and recovering from hecklers if that is necessary on the 15th...
Some rather shocking data turned out by Blake Hall for the Day 700 entry on his The 800 Days blog. These details are about how people use their computers...
An amazing 79 percent of people polled (Harris Interactive surveys) asserted that they store embarrassing files on their computer they don't want co-workers, family and friends to see...
*Both Hands Up*
Guilty...errrr I mean, I also would say I have things on my computer I don't want others to see or which might cause embarrassment to me if someone scouted through my computer contents.
Mind you, I have poetry - my own - stored on my PC and this is the most personal stuff I don't want anyone to see *shrug*
The video at the top of the post, I enjoyed very much - then below the vid, I wondered why the word "sex" was repeated over and over and over and over and over... turns out, the Harris poll also asked several questions about SEX and the results show that both men and women wish to hide the online sites they frequent hmmm....
There are actually what I view as two full articles inside the Day 700 post, along with a poem, dedicated to "LL," to close out this blog entry.
The second of the articles is called "Sex Tapes of the Rich and Infamous," which leads into a discussion of how plentiful sex tapes of the rich and famous are in North America and the "civilized" Western World - first under premise that personal tapes had been stolen then made viewable to a general public - secondly, with the fake story of the same ("Hey my tapes were stolen!") but the tapes being choreographed, marketed and distributed with planned precision.
Hey... people are buying these tapes/DVDs like crazy, so more and more sex tapes are coming out... and Blake has compiled a rather abundant list of names of stars who have fallen into this sex-tape craze, marketing and pulling in money from what Americans/North Americans apparently want to see more and more of... I'm surprised at who is on this list, but then, I am still often surprised that so many people want to get their 15 minutes of fame by any means possible - even if it's done by baring all in what most people would find extremely embarrassing fashion.
Although I wasn't unaware of this craze, reading about it via The 800 Days blog and then reviewing this post has made me even more aware that SEX sex sex sex sex sex sex is on peoples' minds a LOT...
The Day 700 post is associated with SEX and the date, Thursday January 20 2011.
P.S. I'll have to return later to review on the poetry as it takes me some time to interpret...
I'll follow up and review in another post soon...
'til then, you'll just have to hang on a sex.......... oops I mean a sec'
It appears that Blake made his weekend fall in the middle of the week here as the Day 701 post on THE 800 DAYS blog is on a lighter topic than usual again.
Oh, WAIT!
SILLY ME!
Blake's not letting anyone off the hook here at all... it's just the vid at the top of the Day 701 post that made me think Blake was taking his weekend kickin'-up-his-feet-time early in the week instead of starting on Friday evening for this week!
You WILL have to engage your cerebrum, after all! Blake has inserted the topic of GUNS (mythbuster ducking here - myth does NOT like guns)...in the Day 701 post...
It appears that the content is an interview with a gun owner - who has stated she'd like to remain anonymous. More gravely, the content turns out not to just be random and general, about guns, either. This Day 701 post is going to bring the Tuscson January 8 2011 shootings to mind...
I personally do not like guns. I live in Canada where gun laws are much different than in the U.S.A. Here's a nifty link I just found that some readers might find interesting - an article:
This article was updated recently on Jan 27th 2001.
I have to admit, I dislike guns so much that I rarely discuss the topic of guns... Consequently, I don't closely follow news stories even as big as the Tucson Shooting on January 8th 2011. In defense of this fact, when people try to rile me or change my mind about both the benefits of guns and how they believe I should follow such stories more closely, I answer,
"Is it not enough that I am looking into the deeper picture here...the social problem that causes PEOPLE to be dangerous while weilding weapons?" and a statement, "Even a kitchen butter knife is a dangerous, lethal weapon in the wrong hands."
There are very few details about the January 8th shooting that differ from other tragic shooting events and I choose to focus, not on the details of each event - those details are for forensics people and law enforcement authorities to deal with... The targets, of course, are unique to this incident, the casualties are, as well, but the "warning signs" and "preventable details" are similar to almost every act of violence that has occurred in North America over the past hundred years or so...
This is not to say that from my point of view, "I don't care" - it's just that I don't allow myself to get wrapped up in certain details and in actuality, I DO pay close attention to these current events - albeit from a focus that many people don't talk about... at THE ROOTS of the issues, as far as these can be determined.
In my gun-less home, I don't sit around planning to rally for or against gun laws or related things, I study sociological aspects of our society and I make up appropriate speeches for engaging people in discussions about how to agree to disagree, how to respect people even when they're from another culture or hold to a differing belief system, and I'm also learning how to enter verbal conflict in a way so as to make resolutions possible if both parties are willing to resolve issues. Communication is the focal point of all our relationships whether one to one citizens are conversing or one citizen to a government representative or even a group being heard by a government department...
Besides, I'm from Canada where the likes of an urban legend came true just a few years ago and a man was beheaded along a bus route that used to be my most travelled way from Alberta to Ontario and back again...
There was no gun in that instance - and the reasons why the incident happened and a man perished in 2008 in Canada are much the same as why a shooter was allowed to shoot people, including bystanders and government officials on January 8 2011 in Tucson Arizona, U.S.A. - because someone slipped through a bunch of systems...and ALSO (I might get cyberHIT for this) because someone slipped through community systems and community failed to effectively communicate a danger in the community when it/a person who was questionable was in their midst...
Again, I hate guns...but what I hate more is all the focus on GUNS when it is the handler of weapons who is dangerous.
I very much appreciate the mind-set of the anonymous interviewee on the Day 701 post and feel that her answers give proof of a responsible gun owner. She purchased a weapon at an appropriate time whereby she had means, resources and teachers to show her how to handle the weapon safely and properly, how to shoot - and she obviously spent a great deal of time and focus on handling the weapon - making regular trips to the shooting range for proper practice.
If I was told by someone in authority that I MUST own and know how to use a gun - if it were a law or something, I would follow the interviewee's example but I would forever be nervous about owning a gun. Even if I am responsible with the weapon - someone who really wants a gun can break into almost any kind of locked compartment if they really have their minds set on such a thing. Additionally, the mind/person that is set on such a prize who would go to a lot of work to get it would be something to reckon with, no doubt.
I like Blake's parting words, "If these issues have not hit your state yet, it is just a matter of time until they do," however, I'm sure I have a different take on what these words are about...rather, where I would place the focus would be different than Blake suggests...
For me, I'd say, "these issues of bystander effect, apathy, public confusion and lack of public responsibility combined with ineffectual government responsibility to its citizens WILL get to your region if they are not already present in abundant supply...so watch for them rather than spending ALL your focus on guns..."
On this matter, I'm sure Blake and I will have to agree to disagree tho' I am not fully certain that I'm not judging what Blake's POV is to hastily...really, he's offered a bunch of information and I cannot be absolutely positive that he is "For" the responsible ownership of guns. I'll have to wait and see what comments Blake drops by to make regarding this post.
I will apologize now, not for my POV, but in the event that I assumed to know Blake's POV on this matter. I have offered by POV and put it up for discussion nonetheless...
The Day 701 post is associated with Wednesday January 19 2011.
P.S.
Once you've finished reading about the "Beheading Incident," take a deep breath and please offer up prayers to BOTH Tim McLean's family (R.I.P. Tim McLean) and the assailant, along with his family (it was an open and close case of mental illness gone out of control and the assailant suffers emotionally to this day over what he did).
Also - after all this seriousness, please enjoy the complementary vid, "Shout" - by the original artists, "Tears For Fears" ... The cover version mix was at the top of the Day 701 post on The 800 Days blog...
If the last post and topics about demons and exorcism were a bit too much for you, the next post should be an entertaining surprise! The Day 702 blog entry on THE 800 DAYS blog is quirky but FUN - with a little viral "get to know me" game or two on it!
Now, the word "discordianism" does come up on the Day 702 post, and brief explanations of some aims of Discordianism, Chaos Magick and Anarchists are provided, but only to provide clarity as to why a list-game is being posted, keeping these belief systems in mind.
Okay, basically what these games are is an attempt to make something possibly meaningful out of chaos, and the tools for righting chaos are the lists and music/song titles...
In the first example, you're asked to go completely random, answering the list questions from the way your music plays on your player (mp3 player, iPod, whatever you listen to tunes on). In the second example, answer the list questions from song titles of your favourite or one of your favourite bands.
Blake used The Chemical Brothers for the second list - with some funny but also some thought-provoking results! In the first instance, the list is even more random but Blake's particular results from the first viral list are, again, thought - provoking.
Head over to the Day 702 post and have a go at the viral lists. If you end up with some really interesting results you'd like to share, email them and I can post some of the results on the blog!
The Day 702 post is chaotic but magickal at the same time and is associated with Tuesday January 18 2011.
I don't know what the bulk of readers think about things like exorcism but I, for one, find it a fascinating topic for discussion. Blake introduces an interesting article, "American Exorcists in Demand," about the Catholic Church seeking people to train and learn to perform the rites of exorcism!
The Day 703 post over on THE 800 DAYS blog is full of information on this matter, even though it's one of Blake's average-to-short length posts. ie: training in Baltimore, how many Bishops and Priests are set to be trained as Exorcists, recruitment of the clergy for said position/responsibility, WOW...
No Guf, eh?
Serious stuff - the Catholic Church is NOT treating demons and evil spirits as if they're metaphors, symbolic, archetypes, make-believe entities...
Perhaps we should all take another look at our own perceptions of the concepts of demonic possession, spirits, esoteric rites, spirituality, oh WAIT....
That's what we've been DOING (from time to time) on the blogs already!
MY BAD...
Haha...
But seriously... In my opinion, we do need to examine the topic of exorcism and also - Church authority on this matter, the beliefs surrounding demonic possession, a number of other (I was going to say "a host of other...but) related issues and topics.
Frankly - WE DO NOT KNOW with any scientific certainty WHAT EXISTS beyond our five senses, 'cos we're trained to rely on just five senses, now, aren't we?
No matter what you think of any particular denomination or sect of Christian or Pagan religion, there are thousands of years of stories, statements, papers, essays and such on topics that science often pooh-poohs. As well, there are scholars in almost every religion who are good scholars and I think we should at least perform some critical thinking and a little research, ourselves, to become familiar with as yet unexplained topics.
Are demons simply a product of unstable minds?
Or are they dimensional beings?
Fallen angels?
Ancient beings from this world - or another?
Tulpas?
Honestly, I had a few personal friends jest when I sent the link to Blake's article - Ad Hominem statements against Catholicism were their most marked "reasons" for pooh-pooh-ing an article which says that Church scholars are taking an in-depth, serious look into demon possession cases and information - and formulating some defenses against demons and evil entities, "just in case."
To the pooh-pooh-ers, I ask...
What are you going to do if something negative and paranormal happens to you? Particularly if that unexplained thing is harmful in an outright way?
The Day 703 post is associated with Monday January 17 2011.
