short & long tales

Short term tantrums of typical tyrants like Trump can seem insurmountable in their in-your-face tactics. Unless viewed through the long lens of human history here on earth. 

The past week the world celebrated - banned books week, world migratory bird day, and indigenous people's day. That's only the top three on our list of worthwhile pursuits to counter our frustrations. 

a strong stream of solar wind

When it feels like the weight of the world is tipping towards tragedy - remember what feeds the collective spirit. Direct attention, action, and aggression away from doomsday doldrums. 

a proud moment

Pinoy pride fills our heart and spirit to overflowing as we listen to Maria Ressa's acceptance speech at the Nobel Peace Prize awarding ceremony. 

Philippine VP Leni Robredo with Maria Ressa

The Nobel Peace Prizes were awarded today in Oslo, Norway. This year's winners were two journalists honored for their unrelenting pursuits of truth in a world becoming less free.

Dmitry Muratov, editor of one of Russia's last independent news sources, was recognized for his work. Philippines journalist Maria Ressa, editor of Rappler.com, called for a reform of social media platforms.

Nobel Peace Prize Awardees - MLK & Maria Ressa

At stake are truth, facts, our democracy - threatened most by social media and technology. Where the spread of lies, laced with anger and hate, is prioritized over facts. Without the facts, you can't have truth. If you don't have truth, you can't have trust.

murdered Philippine journalists - GenSan, Mindanao 2009

Without trust, all is compromised and much is lost. These are the folks at the forefront of this fight. Kudos to them for holding the line for truth and accountability for the rest of us.

This win is a victory for press freedom advocates across the Philippines and the world. Mabuhay!

good intentions & the road to hell

As we celebrate yet another Thanksgiving day, feasting with friends and family, strangers or loved ones, too few know the truth behind this beloved celebration.

The tale of food, football and oppression we celebrate as Thanksgiving. 

Caught between the fiction of what really happened and the ignorance of not bothering to find out, many are divided between grief and gratitude or outraged betrayal and corrupted commercialism.

This new retelling of past pilgrim history recounts their voyage as one of folks fleeing seduction rather than persecution.

Fearing materialistic corruption they fled the comfort of Holland for the unknown wilderness of America.

Much as their intent was to remain pure and holy, they were unprepared for the dire consequences of their dream to risk all for the ideal commonwealth.

To this day we tell ourselves tall tales and misguided misrepresentations of those times. As we sit in the warm comfort of our homes, over tables groaning with food, intent on stuffing ourselves to bursting.

Happy Thanksgiving to one and all.

revoking permission

Standing revealed in a moment of clarity
surprised
stunned

Revelation appears in a torrent of torment
recalling
replaying

Apparently this matters much in my world
revealing
resonance

In the center of my circle
complete
conscious

A voice steadily nurtured
vehemently
validates

A L L that is

intuition vs. intellect vs. intelligence vs. insight

Intuition is one's instinctive sensitivity and awareness.

Intellect is one's mental capability to understand.

Intelligence is one's ability to decipher, distinguish and differentiate.

Insight is what one comprehends from one's perceptions.

Given these distinctions, it would seem that intelligence and insight serve one more than the other two.

While intuition and intellect are valuable and even admirable attributes - intelligence and insight are how we express and apply what we experience, know and understand.