Occupy Wall Street.......Some History

I was referred to the article at the bottom of this post by Mal over at Hoe Hen Inn@ Cow and Chicken Town. 

It is about us, the 99% which the Occupy Wall St. groups around the world have been talking.

It gives the history, according to the article's author, of why the U.S. and therefore the 'western world' find themselves in such a mess economically.

Give it a read when you have a chance. It may, as it did for me anyway, fill in the spaces a bit of what happened over the last few decades.

Click the following link:
http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/news/how-the-gop-became-the-party-of-the-rich-20111109?link=mostpopular1

                            Occupy Nova Scotia in Halifax last month.

Contemplative Monday

The following is Thich Nhat Hanh's response to the question: What can we do to help someone in a difficult situation without getting overwhelmed?

    "When you feel overwhelmed, you're trying too hard. That kind of energy does not help

  the other person and it does not help you. You should not be too eager to help right away.

        There are two things: to be and to do. Don't think too much about to do-----to be is first.

                  To be peace. To be joy. To be happiness. And then to do joy, to do happiness-----

            on the basis of being. So first you have to focus on the practice of being. Being fresh.

                      Being peaceful. Being attentive. Being generous. Being compassionate.

         This is the basic practice. It's like as if the other person is sitting at the foot of a tree.

   The tree does not do anything, but the tree is fresh and alive. When you are like that tree,

sending out waves of freshness, you help to calm down the suffering in the other person.

          Your presence should be pleasant, it should be calm, and you should be there for him 

             or her. That is a lot already.When children like to come and sit close to you, it's not 

            because you have a lot of cookies to give, but because sitting close to you is nice,

 it's refreshing. So sit next to the person who is suffering and try your best to be your best---

    Beach grass in winter.

pleasant, attentive and fresh." 


Taken from an interview by Andrea Miller in the January 2012 edition of the 'Shambhala Sun' magazine.

Sunday Selection

I seem to be stuck on this piece by Erik Satie. I came across this arrangement by Liona Boyd.


It is a quiet version which just may suit your Sunday well.

Retro Saturday

A Ride Down Hollis Street in Halifax

These photos of buildings were taken while driving down Hollis Street in downtown Halifax last week. 

              It was approaching 3 P.M. and the light was reflecting on these sandstone gems.

I am learning that late winter afternoon sun creates/produces great shadows and texture.

                      The building on the left was the former Dominion Building and is now the 

Art Gallery of Nova Scotia.

                 The building to the left was a trust company building back in the 50's and 60's.

This building is the Consular Office of Finland. It is also known as the Benjamin Wier House.

           Here's a close-up. I wish I knew the architectural style but I don't. Someone, please

                                      enlighten me! The one above is a private residence. 

This is an old refurbished warehouse down near Pier 21 and is used by the Nova Scotia College of Art and Design.
This is but a few of the older buildings that are still standing in Halifax.

Waste Not, Want Not

Just look at all that is taking place on this rotting tree trunk.  Talk about diversity! And sustainability! Now if we could only learn to do the same.

Thinking Out Loud

           
       As our first snowfall is hitting along the eastern shore, I am happy that just a few days 

                      
                       ago I 'harvested' the few Scarlet Runner beans left for next years crop.

                      I cannot remember the last time I have had to buy these beans to plant.

  I wait for them to turn brown on the vine and then bring them in to dry out completely. 

  After a few days I 'shell' them and put the beans in a paper bag and place in the fridge.

And towards the end of May I will take them out into the garden once again, and continue the cycle.

Straight Out Of Camera (SOOC)

                    Last Friday I posted photos that Ron took while traveling across this bridge.

                      On Saturday past we were driving under it and the timing was perfect.

             With a dark grey backdrop in the east, and the sun shining brightly from the west,

    it created a photographer's 'dream shot' scenario. Look how the grey makes the colours

                 on the bridge 'pop'. I clicked away as fast as I could until we were directly under

                      and past. These photos have not been 'shopped' at all. Goes to show that

                                      nature still  produces the best lighting available.

Laughing Out Loud

Derek Edwards is one funny guy! The clip is a few years old but the content is timeless.


Enjoy!

Contemplative Monday

"Without realizing it, we continually put up protective walls made up of opinions, prejudices, and strategies, barriers that are built on a deep fear of being hurt.

"These walls are further fortified by emotions of all kinds: anger, craving, indifference, jealousy and arrogance.

"But fortunatly for us, the soft spot---our innate ability to love and care for things---is like a crack in these walls we erect.

"It's a natural opening in the barriers we create when we're afraid.

"With practice we can learn to find this opening.

"We can learn to seize that vulnerable moment-------

"love, gratitude, loneliness, embarrassment, inadequacy------

"to awaken bodhichitta."

These words were written by Pema Chodron in last week's Heart Advice: Weekly quotes from Pema Chodron, 'Seize the Vulnerable Moment'.