Anwaar
Administrator
Speak the truth and keep on coming.
Posts: 463
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Post by Anwaar on Sept 20, 2005 21:56:06 GMT 4
This test only has one question, but it's a very important one. By giving an honest answer, you will discover where you stand morally. The test features an unlikely, completely fictional situation in which you will have to make a decision. Remember that your answer needs to be honest, yet spontaneous. Please scroll down slowly and give due consideration to each line:
You are in Florida, Miami to be specific. There is chaos all around you caused by a hurricane with severe flooding. This is a flood of biblical proportions. You are a photojournalist working for a major newspaper, and you're caught in the middle of this epic disaster. The situation is nearly hopeless. You're trying to shoot career-making photos. There are houses and people swirling around you, some disappearing under the water. Nature is unleashing all of its destructive fury.
Suddenly you see a man floundering ! in the water. He is fighting for his life, trying not to be taken down with the debris. You move closer . . . somehow the man looks familiar. You suddenly realize who it is. It's George W.Bush! At the same time you notice that the raging waters are about to take him under, forever. You have two options--you can save the life of G.W.Bush or you can shoot a dramatic Pulitzer Prize winning photo, documenting the death of one of the world's most powerful men.
So here's the question, and please give an honest answer:
Would you select high contrast color film, or would you go with the classic simplicity of black and white?
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dana
Junior Member
Posts: 30
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Post by dana on Sept 21, 2005 0:26:06 GMT 4
A new monk arrives at a monastery.
As is customary, he is assigned to the copy of ancient texts, in a long drafty library, where he promptly joins his fellow novices. He notices, however, that each of them is copying the same text from an equal number of copies... Troubled by the idea, the newcomer goes to his superior to express his concern.
He points out that if there were an error in the first copy, it would be repeated sucessively in all of the others. The Father Superior reassures him, "We have been copying from our copies for centuries, but you make a good point, my son". And with a copy of a manuscript under his arm, the superior hobbles down to the cellar to verify the copy against the original. Hours go by. No one sees hide nor hair of him.
Concerned, the novice goes downstairs to investigate, and is met with the sound of heart-wrenching sobbing coming from the back of the cellar. There he finds the elderly man hunched over the original, face streaming with tears. The novice asks him what could be troubling him so, and in a choked voice the old man replies...
"The word is 'celebrate'
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hagall
New Member
May what's truth in your eyes, always be as real as the truth in mine.
Posts: 12
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Post by hagall on Sept 26, 2005 6:23:47 GMT 4
Good question Anwaar, I would have to say high contrast color film would be my choice. To define the fact that the world is not as black and white as Bush would have everyone believe. To see him being swallowed by natures forces in black and white, however, might highlight the grey in between. But you can always take the color out to make things appear black and white. James G
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dana
Junior Member
Posts: 30
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Post by dana on Sept 27, 2005 23:02:39 GMT 4
The Foot Steps Of WaterLife's a pleasant tradition. Life's wing is as vast as death. Life's a jump the size of love. Life's not something, we put on the mantel of habit and forget. It does not matter where I am. The sky is always mine. Windows, ideas, air, love, earth, all mine. Why does it matter if sometimes, the mushrooms of nostalgia grow? Let's take off our clothes. Water is just a foot away. Let's have a basket and fill it up with all the greens and all the reds. We are not to comprehend; the secret of roses, but maybe swimming in the incantation of roses. Or may be looking for the song of truth between the morning glory, and the century. —Sohrab Sepehri Translated by: Mahvash Shaheghlisten herewww.perlit.sailorsite.net/Mahvash/sohrab1.htmlSohrab Sepehri, Iranian poet. www.sohrabsepehri.com/main.asp
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dana
Junior Member
Posts: 30
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Post by dana on Sept 27, 2005 23:06:04 GMT 4
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dana
Junior Member
Posts: 30
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Post by dana on Sept 27, 2005 23:35:50 GMT 4
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Anwaar
Administrator
Speak the truth and keep on coming.
Posts: 463
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Post by Anwaar on Sept 28, 2005 18:38:53 GMT 4
Donald Rumsfeld is giving his daily briefing to George Bush.
He concludes by saying: "Yesterday, 3 Brazilian soldiers were killed."
"OH NO!" the President exclaims. "That's terrible!"
His staff sit stunned at this display of emotion, nervously watching as the President sits, head in hands.
Finally, the President looks up and asks, "How many is a brazillion?"
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hagall
New Member
May what's truth in your eyes, always be as real as the truth in mine.
Posts: 12
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Post by hagall on Sept 29, 2005 9:12:52 GMT 4
I see your point of view downtroddenscohort. But if truth is really black and white, why is is so hard to make others see the difference? Yes they don't want to see, it's easier to believe the lies. Is this because the truth is complex, and lies simplify what would otherwise be a very chaotic existence? Is the truth that my motivations in speaking what is I see are selfish? I see their, I hear their pleas, I feel their pain, I know the truth of what is causing it! I can see a solution, should I offer it? It will make me feel better to speak waht I feel to be true. Will it improve their life/outlok on it? Or will it cast them into greater despair, from being unable to comprehend the complexities of truth? The burden of those who see beyond the lies, and whose minds are to with the chaos behind them is great. We find ourselves in the moral dilemna asking ourselves, Just because i can, is it the "right" thing to do? Thank you for truth, it will have great effect on my never-ending search for my own. I look forward to many more such passionate posts from you, James G.
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element
New Member
All of us, children of nature, paint our own portraits!
Posts: 21
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Post by element on Oct 1, 2005 13:08:47 GMT 4
I see this man; suddenly it matters not what he has done to my personal life...one thing he couldn't do was take my soul. I would drop that camera! I would save his life, there is no question. It is who and what I am. I, unlike him, value life, and leave the judgements of who should and who should not live to a higher deity. If it is meant for hiw life to be spared, it will be so. If not, my attempts will fail, at all costs. However; I will have remained true to myself. I wonder: How could I enjoy having my pulitzer prize handed to me when I would have to look at the images of a man, of ANY color, creed, or personal belief.....DYING...those images would be much more intense than any film oculd EVER capture! Yes, even if it were my least favorite person in the universe...bush...I think I would much rather take the photos of the reunion between he and his family, than take the pictures of his weeping children at his funeral! I do not reply to life with a "tit for tat" attidude. I fully believe that life is precious, that people will be, and are defined by their actions, and that the higher powers take care of our light work...meaning, I have no right even indulging the thought of NOT saving a human life, be it BUsh's or not. I have yet to sell my soul to Bush, or to his idealisms, and I REFUSE to do so now! I am very much UNlike this tyrant, and EVERY thought and action I make will be to PROVE this! I truely like to think of myself as just a human. I am just me. I won't be persuaded to act like the tyrants that run this country! Besides: Why would I WANT to have, yet another picture of this man in the media? Has he not been burned into our images well enough? I think I'd rather be known as the one who was better than this man. (If only one.)
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hagall
New Member
May what's truth in your eyes, always be as real as the truth in mine.
Posts: 12
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Post by hagall on Oct 1, 2005 13:25:14 GMT 4
Hey if the raging waters are about to take him down, they'd probably take me with him. It's noy a matter of liking or hating the man. Personally I am indifferent to him. He is just another man who has grown up in the conformity machine, and is doing what he believes in, because that's the way his world is. I might not agree with the way he is doing it, but he is still just doing his job in the manner expected of him. But in this hypothetical situation, the "higher powers" seem to be taking care business. Far be it for me to disagree.
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michelle
Administrator
I have broken any attachments I had to the Ascended Masters and their teachings; drains your chi!
Posts: 2,100
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Post by michelle on Oct 1, 2005 13:34:01 GMT 4
My! The posts here are starting to carry a serious tone! I understand what you mean by not being judgmental. It holds one back in life's journey to judge others, so some of us walk a razor's edge, observe the world and work to shine light on the darkness. This allows others to begin to see and transmutes the dark. I appreciate the points taken here, but can we get back to the original intent of this area, "A Lighter Side" from now on. Post humor, amusing stories, or even poetry. You can then comment about more serious things in relevant places or about anything you want at the "General" board. Thanks so much, Michelle
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michelle
Administrator
I have broken any attachments I had to the Ascended Masters and their teachings; drains your chi!
Posts: 2,100
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Post by michelle on Nov 13, 2005 1:28:19 GMT 4
GWB's Clock
A man died and went to heaven. As he stood in front of St. Peter at the Pearly Gates, he saw a huge wall of clocks behind him.
He asked, "What are all those clocks?"
St. Peter answered, "Those are Lie-Clocks. Everyone on Earth has a Lie-Clock. Every time you lie the hands on your clock will move."
"Oh," said the man, "whose clock is that?"
"That's Mother Teresa's. The hands have never moved, indicating that she never told a lie."
"Incredible," said the man. "And whose clock is that one?"
St. Peter responded, "That's Abraham Lincoln's clock. The hands have moved twice, telling us that Abe told only two lies in his entire life."
"Where's President Bush's clock?" asked the man.
"Bush's clock is in Jesus' office. He's using it as a ceiling fan."
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michelle
Administrator
I have broken any attachments I had to the Ascended Masters and their teachings; drains your chi!
Posts: 2,100
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Post by michelle on Mar 7, 2006 18:50:01 GMT 4
Internal Revenue Service Department of the Treasury Washington, D.C. 20001 March 07, 2006 RE: My Tax Remittance for 2005CC: DICK CHENEY [article: Cheney urges Americans to save more]www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2006-03-02-cheney-saving_x.htm?csp=34 Enclosed is my 2005 Form 1040, together with payment. Please take note of the attached article from USA Today archives. In the article, you will note that the Pentagon paid $171.50 each for hammers and NASA paid $600 each for toilet seats. Please find enclosed in this package four toilet seats (value $2,400) and six hammers (value $1,029). This is in payment for my total tax due of $3,429. Out of a sense of patriotic duty, and to assist in the political purification of our government, I am also enclosing a 15" Phillips head screw, for which HUD duly recorded and approved a purchase value of $2,200, as my contribution to fulfill the Presidential Election Fund option on Form 1040. It has been a pleasure to pay my taxes this year and I look forward to paying them again next year in accordance with officially established government values. Sincerely, Another satisfied American taxpayer
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michelle
Administrator
I have broken any attachments I had to the Ascended Masters and their teachings; drains your chi!
Posts: 2,100
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Post by michelle on Sept 1, 2006 2:40:00 GMT 4
Ain't it the truth
While walking down the street one day a US senator is tragically hit by a truck and dies. His soul arrives in heaven and is met by St. Peter at the entrance. "Welcome to Heaven," says St. Peter. "Before you settle in, it seems there is a problem. We seldom see a high official around these parts, so we're not sure what to do with you."
"No problem, just let me in," says the man.
"Well, I'd like to, but I have orders from higher up. What we'll do is have you spend one day in hell and one in heaven. Then you can choose where to spend eternity."
"Really, I've made up my mind. I want to be in heaven," says the senator.
"I'm sorry, but we have our rules."
And with that, St. Peter escorts him to the elevator and he goes down, down, down to hell. The doors open and he finds himself in the middle of a green golf course. In the distance is a clubhouse and standing in front of it are all his friends and other politicians who had worked with him. Everyone is very happy and in evening dress. They run to greet him, shake his hand, and reminisce about the good times they had while getting rich at the expense of the people. They play a friendly game of golf and then dine on lobster, caviar and champagne. Also present is the devil, who really is a very friendly guy who has a good time dancing and telling jokes. They are having such a good time that before he realizes it, it is time to go. Everyone gives him a hearty farewell and waves while the elevator rises...
The elevator goes up, up, up and the door reopens on heaven where St. Peter is waiting for him. "Now it's time to visit heaven." So, 24 hours pass with the senator joining a group of contented souls moving from cloud to cloud, playing the harp and singing. They have a good time and, before he realizes it, the 24 hours have gone by and St. Peter returns.
"Well, then, you've spent a day in hell and another in heaven. Now choose your eternity."
The senator reflects for a minute, then he answers: "Well, I would never have said it before, I mean heaven has been delightful, but I think I would be better off in hell."
So St. Peter escorts him to the elevator and he goes down, down, down to hell.
Now the doors of the elevator open and he's in the middle of a barren land covered with waste and garbage. He sees all his friends, dressed in rags, picking up the trash and putting it in black bags as more trash falls from above. The devil comes over to him and puts his arm around his shoulder. "I don't understand," stammers the senator. "Yesterday I was here and there was a golf course and clubhouse, and we ate lobster and caviar, drank champagne, and danced and had a great time. Now there's just a wasteland full of garbage and my friends look miserable. What happened?"
The devil looks at him, smiles and says, "Yesterday we were campaigning... ... Today you voted."
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michelle
Administrator
I have broken any attachments I had to the Ascended Masters and their teachings; drains your chi!
Posts: 2,100
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Post by michelle on Nov 4, 2008 10:06:04 GMT 4
The Latest from the Regressive Antidote - Special Election Edition Date: 11/3 9:31 AM Greetings, Good People –
I hope this message finds you well, happy and productive!
Here’s a special election edition of the Regressive Antidote for you. I hope it gives you a smile or two. I thought it might be a good idea for all of us to practice our smiles, as I suspect we’ll be doing quite a lot of that tomorrow. And, of course, it’s been so long now since that happened. Think good thoughts!!
Check it out. Till next time, be well! Cheers - dmgJohn McCain Finally Gets Tough Silly liberals seem to think there’s nothing the McCain camp won’t say in order to trash their opponent and win this race for the presidency. Barack Obama has been labeled a socialist, a pal of terrorists, someone who’d rather lose a war than win the presidency (which is a long way of saying ‘traitor’), a kindergarten pornographer, and now also a guy who would bring about the death of Israel. Wow.
Strong stuff, to be sure, but not really strong enough. McCain is still heading for a landslide loss. That’s why Karl Rove has been criticizing the McCainiacs for pussyfooting their way through this election, and failing to play some real political hardball. McCain, the high-stakes gambler/warrior, liked what he heard from Rove, and asked him to generate the text for a new 30 minute, hard-hitting, television ad – just like Obama’s! – that would kick out the jams and slam The One with some very tough, but of course completely fair, criticism. We managed to get to the transcript for part of the ad, and can bring it to you now:
Cue the ominous, dark synthesizer chords, and the grainy black-and-white photos...JOHN MCCAIN: “Most people don’t really know much about Barack Obama, even though he’s been running for president for two years now. There’s a reason for that. You see, my friends, the more you know about Barack Obama, the harder it will be for me to become president. That’s not okay. So let me just set the record straight, right here and right now. Barack Obama is a pedophile. He’ll steal your wife. He’ll steal your husband. He’ll kick your dog. He’ll confiscate your 401(k). He can’t wait to set your house on fire. He’s gonna score a bunch of coke, snort it in the Lincoln Bedroom, and charge it to your credit card, getting your account info from the NSA. He’s a secret Soviet agent – nevermind that there isn’t a Soviet Union anymore. He’ll require you to wear strange undergarments. He wants to outlaw the consumption of food. He’s gonna give nuclear weapons targeting information to Kim Jong-il. He plans to sandblast George Washington’s face off of Mount Rushmore and replace it with Karl Marx’s. Obama is a very bad man. Even his mother said so, one day when he was ten and tracked a bunch of dirt into the house. He plans to put Michelle in charge of your day-to-day life. Every morning you’ll get your schedule faxed to you from the East Wing of the White House, along with a list of your chores for the day. Oh, and Michelle doesn’t really like you, so there’ll be lots of chores. The senator, meanwhile, will be seeking to run America into the ground as fast as he can, so that Arabs and Muslims and assorted other brown people can take over the country. He’ll appoint Fidel Castro as Secretary of State. He can’t wait to raise your taxes. In fact, he’s got Joe Biden assigned to think up brand new taxes, just so he’ll then have even more that he can raise. He’ll tax your shoelaces. He’ll tax your flower vases. He’ll tax the sugar in your rhubarb pies. Ah-ah, Mr. Wilson, he’ll tax the pennies on your eyes. He’s going to teach your children about sex, even before they learn to read. Really dirty stuff, too. With pictures and everything. He’s also going to force you to have gay sex every Tuesday, and every other week on Saturdays. Then, he’s gonna tell all your friends that you really, really liked it. Barack Obama is for socialized medicine. He wants to make sure that even poor people get decent medical care. He’ll allow the homeless into our doctors’ offices and hospitals. He wants to rip away massive parasitic payments from our hard-working insurance and pharmaceutical companies and use that money to provide even more actual healthcare. He opposes infant mortality. He’ll force you to have an abortion. Even if you’re not pregnant. Heck, my friends, even if you don’t have a uterus. People don’t know this, but Obama is dedicated to the destruction of America. He wears his American flag button on his left lapel, which is a secret signal to Osama bin Laden, telling him that he can continue not to worry about George Bush actually pursuing him. Obama is not really American, and never has been. In fact, he’s not even from this planet. He once said that the Constitution was “imperfect” because it authorized slavery. Can you imagine that, my friends? What kind of man would sell his country out in order to criticize human bondage? Can you imagine what someone so dedicated to ripping up the Constitution would do to this country if he were elected president? Signing statements? Suspension of habeas corpus? Spying on Americans without warrants? Extraordinary renditions? Torture chambers and indefinite suspension on island gulags? The mind fairly reels, my friends. Senator Obama is a real piece of work. He didn’t even impulsively pick a clueless woman to be his running mate. Think of it. Why would he not do that? Why does he hate women so much? Why does he hate clueless people so much? Why does this sexist, misogynist, elitist – snob who once actually lived on the East Coast – why does he look down on ordinary people like you and me? Why does he refuse to take foreign policy advice on the Middle East from Joe the Plumber? Is he too good for Joe the Plumber’s solutions, involving the use of nuclear devices? Why won’t he commit to making the world hate us even more? Doesn’t his hatred of policies that make America-haters hate America even more than America is already hated prove that he must hate America too? And doesn’t he hate our brave soldiers as well?. He does, and that’s why he’ll send them off to die in needless wars that have nothing to do with American security except to make it gravely worse. And then, when those wars turn sour because Obama would be as bungling a commander-in-chief as he has been a candidate for president, he’ll double-down on them and send even more brave Americans – Americans with whom I’m constantly getting my picture taken – off to fight there as well, even if they’re fifty-somethings who just joined the Guard or Reserve for a little extra pocket cash and to get away from the wife on weekends. And he’ll leave our brave soldiers to rot when they come home from war with physical or psychological damage, instead of making sure they get the first-class care they deserve at Walter Reed. Did you know that Barack Obama wants to cripple our economy in the name of some ridiculous theory about global warming? He’ll put hippies and drug dealers and tree huggers in charge of our government, take away all our cars, and force us to live in teepees. He’ll make you eat granola. Three times a day! Is this the kind of person we want running our country? America needs more wars, not less. America needs less healthcare, not more. We want to pass on to our children more debt, not less, so that millionaires can become billionaires, and billionaires can buy that fourteenth house in the south of France, that private Caribbean island all for themselves, or that personal jumbo jet to skip across the Atlantic on a whim for a quick twelve-course dinner. These are the real Americans, not people who work stupid regular jobs and actually pay taxes. My friends, we need to take better care of these true Americans – the ones who talk all the time about the virtue of going to church – not the boneheads who actually do it. Barack Obama. He’s dangerous. He’s risky. He’s black. And, he’ll ruin my ambition to be president. Socialist, terrorist, pedophile, misogynist, African American, career-wrecker. The United States may be able to afford four years of Barack Obama in the White House, but I can’t. So this November 4th, my friends, do what’s right for me, John McCain. Put America last, just like I’ve been doing for a decade now, and take care of McCain above all. Yes, this November 4th, vote for the white guy for president, and keep your wives and daughters safe. I’m John McCain and I approve this ad, because nowadays, prostitution is not just for prostitutes anymore.” Source: www.regressiveantidote.net/Articles/John_McCain_Finally_Gets_Tough.html
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