Tao Te Ching: 19 (56)

     One who knows does not speak;
     One who speaks does not know.

He
     Stopples the openings of his heart,
     Closes his doors,
     Diffuses the light,
     Mingles with the dust,
     Files away his sharp points,
     Unravels his tangles.

This is called "mysterious identity."

Therefore,
     Neither can one attain intimacy with him,
     Nor can one remain distant from him;
     Neither can one profit from him,
     Nor can one be harmed by him;
     Neither can one achieve honor through him,
     Nor can one be debased by him.

Therefore,
     He is esteemed by all under heaven.

**************************************
As I read this again and possibly for the first time through these eyes,
it holds new value for my entrepreneurial spirit.
This passage speaks to me of maintaining a deliberately bound private space;
ideas, advancements, and projects are to carefully illuminated,
brought to the attention of a select few.

People I trust, honor, and respect.
Those who would support me in anything I do,
And others close to my heart.

Rabbit Island

"In February 2010 Rob Gorski had the incredible opportunity to purchase the island (he found the ad on Craigslist!) and worked with the local nature conservancy to place an environmental easement on the land, ensuring that the ecosystem would remain protected forever.  With preservation locked in, the next step will be to create a space where artists and creative researchers can draw from this unique wilderness in their practices. "

Source: Kickstarter 

Amazing!  This project is well-rounded and the people involved have put a lot of time into building the concept, developing and attaining goals, and generating support from people that want them to succeed.  

I greatly appreciate any creative movement with a solid foundation and carefully laid plans; not because the end result is simply fantastic, but because it sets an example for business owners and entrepreneurs everywhere.

If you choose to donate or discover more about Rabbit Island : Kickstarter ,  Tumblr , Website

Fitocracy (EDIT)

Facebook? 
Full of all sorts of people and useful for socializing -- especially with strangers, family, and people you might not know very well that seem interesting.

Great time-wasting potential.

Fitocracy? 

Full of people learning to enjoy fitness, a support network and a place to show off your accomplishments.

Socializing.  Absolutely.  Comments are a form of encouragement.  They are not about the latest reality TV show featuring desperate housewives.

Fitocracy doesn't sell you games.  Fitocracy is the game.  You earn points for exercise.  Level up.  Get fit and healthy.  All within a social network that exists solely to promote your health.

Good luck finding an invite !!   ((( GOOD news Ya'll... Fitocracy is now open to all !!)))

Percolations

Today began with a pain in the neck, fears for the future, uncertainty... the usual mixed bag after a rough night.  Pushing myself to warm up to the morning routine with one question bouncing around: What am I doing?  The answer echoes off many inspirations while I am packing my bag for a day of deskwork at some new WIFI location.  One last item is a book... the Tao Te Ching; it offered an answer to my questions.  What am I doing?

Now,
         Weapons are instruments of evil omen;
         Creation abhors them.
Therefore,
         One who aspires to the Way
            does not abide in them.
         The superior man
            at home honors the left,
            on the battlefield honors the right.
Therefore,
         Weapons are not instruments of the superior man;
         Weapons are instruments of evil omen,
            to be used only when there is no other choice.
       
         He places placidity above all
            and refuses to prettify weapons;
         If one prettifies weapons,
            this is to delight in the killing of others.
Now,
         One who delights in the killing of others
         Cannot exercise his will over all under heaven.

For this reason,
         On occasions for celebration,
            the left is given priority,
         On occasions for mourning,
            the right is given priority.
Therefore,
         A deputy general stands on the left,
         The general-in-chief stands on the right.
In other words,
         They stand in accordance with mourning ritual.

         The killing of masses of human beings,
            we bewail with sorrow and grief;
         Victory in battle,
            we commemorate with mourning ritual.      


If I am reading into this correctly, and bear with me for having a twisty mind...

I am fully capable of action but must always choose between one or the other, creativity or destruction, good or evil, etc.  At my core I believe in life as art and CHOICE as the greatest freedom.  My ethics allow me to show support (ie fight) for what I believe is best, but I exist within a society quickly losing touch with basic rights.  Everyone seems to get up in arms without regard for the consequences, with no consideration for balance.

I am here to address the balance.  Providing a space for freedom of expression, creativity, and movement.  Allowing others to express themselves and working towards unshackling community from the strictures imposed by the American conservative paradigm in society might be the greatest achievement in my lifetime.

Now to create an app for that.

a moment w/ Tao Te Ching

24 (61): Translation by Victor H. Mair & based on the recently discovered Ma-Wang-Tui Manuscripts

A large state is like a slow-moving estuary,
     the female of all under heaven.
In the congress of all under heaven,
     the female always conquers the male through her stillness.
Because she is still,
     it is fitting for her to lie low.
By lying beneath a small state
     a large state can take over a small state.
By lying beneath a large state,
     a small state can be taken over by a large state.

Therefore,
     One may either take or be taken over by lying low.
Therefore,
     The large state wishes only to annex & nurture others;
     The small state wants only to join with & serve others.

Now,
     Since both get what they want,
     It is fitting for the large state to lie low.


--- I'm not entirely happy with the wording, but it fits my view of corporations and similar businesses.

Dietary Recommendations

http://www.webmd.com/heart-disease/guide/plant-based-diet-for-heart-health

A dietary breakdown by WebMD... clear, concise, & core research backing essay.  As a detailed review & comparison of common plant based diets, it served to remind this guy that a diet varies from day to day...

And I have always needed to increase veggies and decrease red meat.  Thanks for the reasoning, WebMD.

My only note... pushing soy products as replacements for dairy.  Bleh.  Stick to almonds and clarified butter (ghee).

Two diets not mentioned... (this was a review of plant-based diet) 

The Paleolithic Diet  &  The Ketogenic Diet

Both tend towards a high meat content.  Paleo eliminates refined foods, whereas Keto severely restricts carbs.  Both have proven to be extraordinarily beneficial to many many many people, including yours truly & friends @ r/keto & r/paleo.

Any diet can be made convenient with the correct behavioral or habitual adjustments.  Keep at it.

American Indian Healing Arts: The Little People

"The Little People can be found throughout American Indian folklore.  They are mysterious changelings who can appear as salmon, fireflies, mosquitoes, or medicine plants.  They are shape-shifters, emerging as wood dwarfs peering out of a living tree, a face in stone, or a presence in the water or soil.
"The native Hawaiians have the Menehunes, who are magical stonemasons, always creating special things in their Pacific Island archipelago and then suddenly disappearing.  They lead healers to special medicine plants and reveal secrets of healing.
"Some say the Kokopelli, the prehistoric humpbacked flute player pictured in stone throughout the desert Southwest, was a little dancing storyteller.  S'he charmed the animals and plants for the First People to help them survive in earliest times.  Certainly Kokopelli, pictured everywhere now, is the ultimate survivor.
"And Cherokee children hear about the Thunderers, Yunwi Tsunsdi, who have been dancing and drumming in the Great Smoky Mountains for thousands of years.  They control the mushrooms and medicine plants, and manage the game animals -- and some say they manage the people, too.  The Thunderers bring knowledge of healing to chosen people in their dreams.

I  am looking forward to traveling.  In the foreseeable future;

Perhaps even as soon as next year.

Preferably with a partner, but I've done it alone.

There are always opportunities to find inspiration in people.

Strangers, friends, dangers, just be careful who you choose;

Some folks be flippin crazy.