I am the Hermit

2005-07-14T21:55:00.000+10:00

Whispers of the Call

The Call

2005-07-14T21:39:00.000+10:00

Carry the ways of the wise on your shoulders;
bear the burdens of your ancestors and
Deliver the exiles to their homes.

Create a new nation of wanderers
whose spark of the divine will light the path to eternity

Suppress the seeds of discord in your heart and
kill the desire of lust in your loins for those things
which are taboo

Instill the waves of harmony and love within you.
Cultivate the flow of truthful face so that shadows
of lies do not befall your countenance.

Go to the mountain. Do not let the mountain come to you.
Sit in its verdant valley of greens and yellows; let the
sparkling spring of summer soothe you.
Learn from its inhabitants then go out and share the wisdom.

Keep the secrets of the divine in your heart until the world
is ready to receive them. Only then, can you come home.

For now...rest when you can, for the days are long and weary.
In the ineffable name.
So mote it be.

2005-07-14T02:29:00.000+10:00

sisterhood

Here I am

2005-07-12T02:12:00.000+10:00

Portions of self
Contained replica, snatches of reality
Where did I go?
Who was I?
Lore of self a mask of people
Re-define my space
Upload my memory
Download my life
In a beamless bottle
Lightless, breathless

My Dignity

2005-06-15T06:25:00.000+10:00

My dignity.
My dignity is personal.

It doesn’t belong to you.
It belongs to me.

You have no right to injure
No right to condemn
No right to trample
No right to sneer

For the show of disrespect,
I will spit you out of my mouth
I will shun you in public
You are air to me.

What message shall I send
To make you understand that
I will not put up with your bullshit?.
That I will not cater to your insecurities?

My will is strong. My hatred runs deep.
Are you ready to reap the whirlwind?
Prepare yourself, for where I take you,
No one will stand beside you.

I take back the hand I held out in friendship.
I take back the compassion I gave.
I take back the understanding, when no one else did.
I take back the love.

When the hour of need is strong,
Do not look for me, for I will not be there for you.
You no longer exist in my life.
So mote it be.

2005-06-10T15:01:00.000+10:00

slaves in body and spirits of the past

Just As I am

2005-06-10T14:38:00.000+10:00

Just as I am
Is all the world will ever need of me
No long speeches
Dramatic gestures
Or hyperbolic ways

What you see is what you get
Nothing more; nothing less
My ways are transparent
My life, simple and sweet

Look for the tiniest grain of sand,
I am there.

Think the loftiest dreams of thought,
I am there.

Find the scum of the earth,
I am there.

For every song sung,
Every celebration of life,
Every tear of loss,
I linger there.

Do not betray my trust,
Do not betray my respect,
Do not betray my friendship,
Do not betray my love;
For in so doing, I will be destroyed.

In the cold of winter,
the heat of summer,
the cool of spring,
My presence will whisper to you
And you shall remember me,
Even when I am only a distant memory.

2005-06-02T01:42:00.000+10:00

Mark Felt revealed as "Deep Throat"

"Deep Throat" revealed after 30 years of secrecy

2005-06-02T01:25:00.000+10:00

The identity of "Deep Throat" has finally been revealed. Perhaps, one day, all speculation and controversy of the assasination of President John F. Kennedy will be revealed as well.

WASHINGTON -- Solving a mystery that lasted more three decades, a former top FBI official admitted that he was "Deep Throat," the secret source who helped expose the Watergate scandal. Washington Post reporter Bob Woodward confirmed Tuesday that W. Mark Felt, the FBI's No. 2 official in the early 1970s, was the mysterious figure who fed him tips about corruption in President Richard Nixon's White House. Full story, Detroit Free Press.

Does Viagra Cause Blindness?

2005-05-29T23:06:00.000+10:00

Millions of men take impotence drugs like Viagra. Now reports that 43 of them have developed a not-too-rare form of blindness have health officials examining if the drugs might play any role.

There`s no evidence yet that the drugs increase risk. Indeed, the same types of illnesses that lead to impotence are linked to this type of vision loss.

Still, "we take this seriously," said Food and Drug Administration spokeswoman Susan Cruzan, as the agency disclosed Friday that it was talking with the makers of Viagra, Cialis and Levitra about what the labels of those drugs should say about the reports. Cialis` maker recently, and voluntarily, added a one-line mention to its label.

At issue is sudden vision loss when blood flow to the optic nerve is blocked, a condition called NAION or non-arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy. Seven such instances were reported in a March case review by two University of Minnesota ophthalmologists. The report by Dr. Howard Pomeranz and Dr. Abdhish Bhavsar was one of the first warnings of a possible link, informs Twin Cities.

In a statement, Pfizer said that a review of 103 clinical trials with Viagra involving 13,000 patients found no reports of the sudden blindness, known as non-arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (NAION). "There is no evidence showing that NAION occurred more frequently in men taking Viagra than men of similar age and health who did not take Viagra," the statement said. Full story at PRAVDA.

2005-05-27T22:04:00.000+10:00

to capture the world in a thought

Political correctness shortchanges intellect

2005-05-27T21:12:00.000+10:00

How did it come to be that "political correctness" has become the social force of collegiate institutions? Rather than directing young men and women to be original thinkers, colleges and universities are sucking creative intuition from their minds and replacing it with "thinking that would bring accolades from the status quo."

There was a time when our college campuses were infused with creative thinkers. Young people spoke out against the social norms and blazed their own trails of social reform. What happened? Where is the fluent words of passionate discourse that moves a nation to change?

Today, the young intellectual is hesitant to express his or her views in writing or through dialogue for fear of rejection and ridicule. Furthermore, to do so would be misconstrued as a political stance against one thing or another. This is evident in collective think-tanks around the world. Many intellectuals of the day have traded in their professorship at some university to join this highly selective group that caters to government's dealings with foreign and domestic policies. And of course, these organizations are categorized as either liberal or conservative. The danger here is that intellectuals must adjust their basic beliefs to coincide with the ones who are buttering their bread. Yes, even genius can be bought.

As mankind moves forward in science and technology, is his individuality regressing back towards the dark ages? Will mankind experience another Renaissance? One would hope so.

May the passion of discovery and new ideas be the guiding light for those who repose at the feet of long-ago philosophers whose intense creative ideas shaped the thinking of today. Depose political correctness and force yourself to think creatively, answerable to no one or group other than your genius self!

The world in the palm of their hands: Bilderberg 2005

2005-05-26T22:02:00.000+10:00

Oh the theories and speculation about the infamous, super-secretive group, the Bilderberg. This group supposedly runs the world with full access to military arsenals, world armies, bottomless-wells of available funds. This group has always fascinated me. Here is an in-debth article on the Bilderbergs, with pictures. ONLINE JOURNAL

"The discussions they will engage in this year, from deciding how the world should deal with European-American relations, the Middle East powder keg, the Iraq war, the global economy and how to stave off war in Iran, and the consensus they reach, will influence the course of Western civilization and the future of the entire planet. This meeting takes place behind closed doors in total secrecy, protected by a phalanx of armed guards."

2005-05-26T00:53:00.000+10:00

saturate

I perceive my reality; my reality perceives me

2005-05-25T15:50:00.000+10:00

I find myself re-defining these words that have become a part of my life: to know, to dare, to will, to keep silent. There are times when a simple explanation isn't enough to understand a confusing or senseless thought- humans continue to re-create themselves to find their truth based on their perception of reality. This exercise is necessary for the survival of the individual for to ignore or fear new realities can result in a stagnant mind.

We are continually re-creating our reality, whether we are aware we are, or not. This is part of our intrinsic make-up. That man has the knowledge, indeed, the thought/ability/capacity to change, is remarkable and remains a mystery.

Can we then play a passive role in the environment that surrounds us? Are we able to change our world around us? Do we believe that we have the power within us to do so? Why is man dependent on a Supreme Being if he has the tools within him to alter his reality?

Can the bearer of bad news turn it into something that is pleasing to our pleasure center? When do we actually stop creating our reality? Is there anyone out there who has the answers to these questions? Does anyone care? I seek the questions because the answers are there. If a question is perceived, then there must be a corresponding answer. Don't you agree?

To know: to know that which is the make-up of my environment; all those sensory perceptions that affect me and those around me in a meaningful way-- for good or for bad.

To dare: to perceive these thoughts and their meaning in my life and what I choose to do with these thoughts. Will I risk all that I am, all that I believe, to search for a new truth?

To will: Shall I direct my thought to the next level in which I am aware of the ability to manifest my will so that it directly affects my environment? Do I perceive this to be a good or bad thing and even then, choose to direct my efforts towards an outcome?

To keep silent: And so, after I have directed my will towards that which is tangible-- that which I have manifested, shall I make my triumph known to my fellow men? Or shall I keep it to myself, safe in the knowledge that all that I am is a perception of my realities and all that which I manifest within my realm of dreams.

And then after this, what is the next step? Is there another realm that I can explore-- that I am able to perceive? How will I know I have reached a level of development that I am able to perceive, or is that new reality still a glimpse of dreams and possibilities not yet manifested?

Ahh... I love being human. I love the very act of thinking, of knowing. To know; to dare; to will; and to keep silent.

In Remembrance, Jason S. Cruz

2005-05-25T00:20:00.000+10:00

A neighbor's son who served in Iraq came home today... in a plain box and the American flag draped over it. He was a native son of Guam and a proud U.S. citizen-- a young soldier who served his country with honor. Maria, his mother, cried. She cried and cried and cried. He was only 21 years old.

Jason was attending the University of Guam and planned to major in business administration, when a thought entered his head... it was his duty to serve his country. He enlisted in the Army and provided for his mother and siblings by sending money home every pay day.

With his dream of a promised college fund from the military, after college, Jason planned to open his own car detailing business. A carefree, young man, Jason had a quick smile and a big heart. The oldest of three, he was the man of the house since his father passed away years ago due to a heart attack.

This post is dedicated to Jason S. Cruz, a native son of Guam, who died in Iraq.

A son who loved his family and cared for them.
A man who loved his country and died for it.
A soul whose faith sustained him in his hour of need.
R.I.P. my friend. You will be missed.

2005-05-22T23:03:00.000+10:00

sacred lights

I will triumph over mine enemies

2005-05-22T20:50:00.000+10:00

The heckling, the jeering voices,
Trapped in my head
Fatigued thoughts jostling
against the sharp walls of memory

passages of visions contort my face
cannot escape the carnage of emotions
that threatens to wither my peace

hide it behind my wall of silence
until another day, where the pain is endured
I remember the faces whom I sought to destroy
for they shall never forget mine

time I shall store until the moment is right
then shall I rise and smite my foes
passage of years will not detract my goal

I shall never forget the taking of my spirit
shall never forget the breaching of my soul
What is left but despair and revenge?

After the hunted season is through,
Then shall I earn the right to peace
I shall embrace my half-life and
Seek what happiness is left.

Other seasons will come, but this one, ah.
My heart will answer to the whispered one
Who will show me the way to freedom
I shall not falter, for strong is my faith

I shall render what is due them who caused me harm
I shall slay them, besmirch their words,
And triumph in my moment of glory.
Selah

Bush vetoes stem cell research; concern over cloning in South Korea

2005-05-21T18:25:00.000+10:00

President Bush on Friday said he would veto legislation that would loosen restrictions on embryonic stem cell research and expressed deep concern about human cloning research in South Korea.

"I'm very concerned about cloning," the president said. "I worry about a world in which cloning becomes accepted."
White House deputy press secretary Trent Duffy said the work in South Korea amounted to human cloning for the sole purpose of scientific research. "The president is opposed to that," Duffy said. "That represents exactly what we're opposed to."

South Korean researchers, funded by their government, reported producing human embryos through cloning and then extracting their stem cells. It is a major advancement in the quest to grow patients' own replacement tissue to treat diseases, tells the Washington Post. For more info on South Korea's efforts on stem cell research, click here (earthtimes).

According to the Guardian Unlimited, The president also threatened a veto of legislation that would clear the way for taxpayer money to be spent on embryonic stem cell research. Full story at Pravda. Click here for an Op-Ed piece on stem-cell research from the Ayn Rand Institute.

2005-05-18T23:34:00.000+10:00

Author Dan Brown. Jordanian authorities reportedly confiscated copies of the controversial bestseller, The Da Vinci Code, for slandering Christianity.

"Da Vinci Code" confiscated in Jordan

2005-05-18T23:24:00.000+10:00

For what it's worth, I enjoyed reading the "Da Vinci Code". However, readers in Jordan will not have the pleasure of reading it after copies of the book were confiscated.

AMMAN--Amman's daily Al Ghad said that copies of the book were seized from a publishing house in the Jordanian capital and its owner, Ahmed Abou Tawk, was summoned for interrogation.

The paper quoted the president of the state's Publication Department, Ahmed Kodat, as saying that other titles were confiscated in addition to The Da Vinci Code for undermining religions.

"This book is largely harmful for Christianity and was banned from many countries, including Lebanon," Kodat said, noting that Christian clerics in Jordan demanded the ban.

Jordan, a mainly Muslim country, has a Christian minority. Full story at Middle East Times. Visit author Dan Brown's website.

2005-05-16T22:07:00.000+10:00

Illustration of Chamorro women fishing with surround nets

The Plight of the Chamorro; My People

2005-05-16T21:57:00.000+10:00

Gather round my children and listen closely to my words,
The story of my people of long ago
who lived and died on this island we call Guahan

My Chamorro ancestors were tall and strong
Proud bearers of Micronesian and Polynesian descent
These hardy people traveled by flying proa, guided by the stars
An island they saw in the distance and knew it was their home
They settled and bore strong children,
tradition and culture were born.

Their ancestors, the aniti and taotaomonas,
the ancient spirits of past
watched over the people--the proud ones
From the land, they harvested taro, papaya and tapioca
From the sea, they gathered fish, eel and crabs
Every evening, they came together
and praised the gods for their good fortune
But it was soon to end.

One day, the Spanish with their Bibles and guns,
sailed into the harbor
They killed the mighty warriors
and taught the villagers to deny their gods
And replaced them with a man named Jesus Christ

With the Spanish came the plague that killed half of the Chamorros
The strong grew weak in health, heart, and spirit
The women were dying at childbirth
and the children lived with the manamko
Then the Spanish left,
but indoctrinated their Catholic legacy.
But it was soon to end.

One day, soldiers from the Land of the Rising Sun
flew warplanes over our sky and dropped deadly bombs.
Many islanders were in Church,
worshipping the Legacy of the Spanish priests and soldiers.
All ran to save their families, but alas, many died,
and many more marched as sheep to slaughter
to live in concentration camps.

Women were raped and men were humiliated in front of their family,
just to see a smile on a Japanese soldier’s face.
But it was soon to end.

Uncle Sam came and took Guahan from the Japanese,
driving them away
And the Chamorro people cheered. The war was over.
The Americans stayed and inculcated their western ways
Today, we eat hotdogs, drink beer, drive Chevrolets
Our children’s Chamorro heritage is learned in books,
Strangers to their language and culture

Our children see the old Chamorro ways
as backward and old-fashion
The ways of the ancient ones have been replaced
by televised ads of slim bodies,
white skin, and perfect teeth.
This is the way of our culture, of our heritage,
from our once proud ancestors
whose generation grows weak and die young, day by day.

The Chamorro people, a distant memory in my mind;
the distant echoes of the ancient ones lament,
for the spirits no longer protect and bless us.
Ancient Chamorro lands desecrated with impunity
in the name of economic growth.

Listen well, my children and re-learn the ways of the forgotten ones.
Their blood runs deep within you. Reclaim your heritage.

Massacre in Uzbekistan, 500 feared dead

2005-05-15T23:54:00.000+10:00

"The Independent" - - Hundreds of protesters are reported to have been gunned down in bloody clashes with government forces that have ravaged eastern Uzbekistan.

One human rights observer in the eastern city of Andizhan said that up to 500 people may have perished in the shootings and the gun battles that followed. A doctor spoke of "many, many dead", witnesses said 200 to 300 people were shot dead, and an AP reporter saw at least 30 bodies in Andijan. As night fell, tension was high, with armoured vehicles positioned at crossroads and trucks blocking main thoroughfares. Terrified demonstrators tried to flee the country, seen as a key ally by Britain and the US in the war on terror. Full story at ICH.

A Note from the Hermit

2005-05-14T16:18:00.000+10:00

I lost the entire contents of my blog a few days ago... actually, somehow, it was partially deleted. Blogger managed to retrieve it, but alas, I lost all my links. I'm making a list of all lost links and posting them back to my site. This is a tedious process. I hope I don't forget anyone.

Now I realize how addicted I am to blogging. Surreal depression quickly set in and honestly, I felt like I had lost a loved one. Hmm.. this is one for the books.