Officer Commendation

I am critical of abuses of power and often those abuses are perpetrated by law enforcement officials.  I write today to compliment a police officer from Albany, Oregon: Officer Jim Estes, a gentleman who represents law enforcement well. His actions and attitude speak to his training and his composure in today's environment of presumed guilt and aggressive interactions.  It also speaks to who he is as a man.

My desire is that all officers interact with the public with as much respect for the individual and the constitution as officer Estes, whether or not they are carrying guns or cameras.  

There is the fact he was being filmed and that he was approaching someone with an AR-15...maybe his composure was in response to both occurring simultaneously as he recognized their activism and that he would be tested and/or made an example of.   I like to think that he is just an intelligent, ethical officer with a protect and serve mindset and intent.  No matter what the situation was, he passed with flying colors and should be commended.

He did his job by verifying that the young men were adhering to state laws regarding chambering and clips while respecting the 1st, 2nd and 4th amendment rights of the individuals he was questioning. 

I think it's important to point out that he also respected them as people as he spoke to them, not just adhering to the letter of the Constitution.  He didn't overreact or get defensive.  He made multiple requests for information, but at no time intimated that they were obligated to comply.

Thank you for fulfilling your role as an honorable, knowledgeable and respectful public servant.

21 Helmets Show

No time to blog lately, but I found Drake Thor's project to be inspiring.  

May it inspire helmet artists everywhere!!!

(photo from: Hell for Leather Magazine) 

Sigh No More

Love; it will not betray you

Dismay or enslave you

It will set you free

Be more like the man 

You were made to be

There is a design

An alignment, a cry

Of my heart to see

The beauty of love

As it was made to be

May love set us all free!!!


If you have difficulty viewing on my site, click here to watch on YouTube. 

Mumford & Sons

From Within a Cimerian Shade

Effulgence from deep within a

Cimerian shade of my own creation

Peering out, looking in, imploding... 

Exploding alignment! Components

Forming beauty greater than before

In the darkness of these moments

Synaptic symphonies replace silence

Songs of peace, comfort and light

Colorfully fill the reality of my now

My BEing alight; bursting forward

Illuminated bubbles appear before me

Filled with past, present and future

Undulating iridescent capsules

Of factuality brighten my now

Bringing a promise of a new way

I choose to listen.

Is It Time You Climb?

Danielle Ate The Sandwich - Morning Music

The lovely Danielle sings Someone Like You (Adele Cover).

I Wanted This To Be Different

I have been very busy following and photographing Occupy Austin although I haven't been sharing much on my blog.  I planned to share some of the beauty I had witnessed  and commend Chief Acevedo and APD for being respectful of the rights of Americans.  Instead, this takes precedence:


A Marine from Wisconsin, Scott Olsen (24), was shot in the head by a projectile fired by Oakland police. When people ran to his aid, an officer threw a flash grenade at the limp body and the would-be rescuers.  As police watched, the critically injured veteran was eventually swept up and carried away by human beings.

It is unfortunate that many officers have yet to understand that most in the Occupations support police, the difficulties and stresses they face and their wage/benefits challenges.  

The following is Oakland Mayor Jean Quan's response:


Taken from her Facebook Page
October 25, 2011
7:30 am

Many Oaklanders support the goals of the national Occupy Wall Street movement. We maintained daily communication with the protestors in Oakland.

However, over the last week it was apparent that neither the demonstrators nor the City could maintain safe or sanitary conditions, or control the ongoing vandalism. Frank Ogawa Plaza will continue to be open as a free speech area from 6 am to 10 pm.

We want to thank the police, fire, public works and other employees who worked over the last week to peacefully close the encampment. We also thank the majority of the protestors who peacefully complied with city officials.

I commend Chief Jordan for a generally peaceful resolution to a situation that deteriorated and concerned our community. His leadership was critical in the successful execution of this operation. City Administrator Deanna Santana developed the plan and secured mutual aid from other departments and the State of California. She will direct departmental teams, including safety, public works, communications, to restore conditions at the Plaza so that it is available for public use.

The City welcomes all Oaklanders to continue to use the Plaza during daylight hours for peaceful protest.


~Mayor Jean Quan


Apparently, 1st Amendment rights expire at sunset.


At the time of this post, there were 9,854 comments on the above Facebook profile post.  I read about 200 and found only one comment supporting her.  The post has been shared 848 times and when I linked my blog to the post.  Apparently, her e-mail address (jeanquan4@gmail.com) has been disabled.

Carlos Miller reported that the mainstream news turned a blind eye as police attacked an unarmed crowd of people exercising their 1st Amendment rights.


What are you going to do about this?

Goodbye Sweet Franzi

We met Franziska Bader shortly after we returned from tour back in 2002.  She greeted us with big hugs, fed us fantastic food and asked questions that made our brains hurt.  She became a close friend and client who we stayed with each visit to or through Dallas.  

We will miss you so much.  Thank you for all you taught us. Thank you for all of your love, generosity and integrity.  Thank you for your BEing.

It is with a heavy heart that I share that she passed away while on a journey to see her parents in Switzerland.  

Our friend Franzi was an artist, friend, teacher, student, seeker and a lover of life.

Thank you to Shane for sharing her final adventure and providing the comfort she needed to find that final smirk.  

Video Footage from NYPD HQ Plaza - 30th September 2011

What's Happening in Freedom Plaza?

The first rustlings of a movement.

Respite

We breathe in darkness daily

Often, not conscious of our 

Capacity for transmutation

In with darkness, out with light

In with darkness, out with light

In with darkness, out with light

We are the catalyst for light

We are love for the world

We are the change we want to see

In with darkness, out with light 

In with darkness, out with light

In with darkness, out with light

Fill this world with your light

You are the catalyst 

You have been waiting for

In with light, out with light

In with light, out with light

In with light, out with light

MedMob at Barton Springs - Memorial Day Weekend

Join us for the Memorial Day Weekend MedMob event (Sunday May 29th). We will gather for a silent meditation on the South Hill of Barton Springs. Sit anywhere you wish, remembering to be courteous not to block any public pathways. Feel free to spread out so that more are able to participate in the experience. We will gather in the center of the hill for an 11 minute sound bath at 1pm. There is no requirement to attend the entire meditation or sound bath. Join in and leave as you are lead. Many arrive early to visit before the meditation. The Intent: To create an environment for people from all walks of life to come together in meditation.  To expose people to meditation through direct contact in locations common to all. To gather as a community, sending positive intentions into the world. Remember... There is more than one way to meditate!

Visit MedMob.org for more details on this event or to set up an event in your city.

The Sacred Geometry of Fire

the zen of it all - such a blessing

darting, parting, blazing, trailing

life in blues and yellows

a bob, a weave -- an exercise in subtlety

feeling it, hearing it, knowing it

fire transforms thought, time, & intuition

 each breath slows to an eternity

movements conscious, yet not

mathematical, transformative, instinctual

sacred geometry scores the night air

possibilities of heat-formed fields of 

dancing arm-hair dandelions loom

seering, red-hot, metal kisses

etch for a while, if not forever

a memory, a sensation, a lesson

instructors sent to direct and guide

dancing fireballs admonish and chide

each reminder less than the last

rushes of wind and sounds of fire

driving energy beyond the bounds

and through my very being

grace, beauty and movement

as the heart expands, so does the mind

no reaction, just flow-no attack, just flow

83rd Annual Zilker Park Kite Festival (2011)

I was very excited about attending the 2011 Zilker Park Kite Festival.  I prepared our kite the night before, charged 4 backup batteries for my cameras, polished the lenses, oiled my bike chain and formatted my flash drives.   The next morning, I packed oranges and cashews into my pre-packed photo-bag, strapped it to my back and headed out for a day of kite and photo fun.  
(click on any picture to enlarge)

I expected to see a scene like last year:

(photo credit to somethingtocelebrateblog)

However, this is the scene I was greeted with: 

Let me begin by saying I truly appreciate and respect the men and women of the Military,  National Guard and the Texas State Guard.  These amazing individuals have dedicated their lives to the idea of protecting me, my family, my community, state and nation.  

My deepest gratitude for your service.

"The Texas State Guard (TXSG) mission as a branch of the Texas Military Forces is to provide mission-ready military forces to assist State and local authorities in times of state emergencies, with homeland security and community service through Defense Support to Civil Authorities (DSCA). To augment the other two branches of the Texas Military Forces, the Texas Army National Guard and Texas Air National Guard as force multipliers"







I asked numerous soldiers why they were there.  Each responded in the same manner: "We are here to aid with security."  

 




After numerous such responses, I went to the "Command Tent" and the officers gave me their attention as I asked why they were there.  The gentleman who addressed me advised me that his troops had been working hard all year and this was their reward.

Wouldn't it be  a better reward to give them the day off and let them enjoy Kite Day with their families?  



Would they be any less vigilant in watching over their community if they volunteered without the uniforms?






I don't think so.
 

Rather than inculcating a military presence into the consciousness of our community, maybe we could focus on continuing to strengthen the bonds our community is famous for.

The command center was the recruiting center, located between the restrooms and the primary drop-off/pick-up points for the school buses that shuttled families in - supervised by the Guard.

There must be other venues more appropriate for a military recruiting tent.

 If organizers believe that a recruiting tent for a branch of the Texas Military Forces is necessary at the family (children's) kite festival, maybe they would consider a proximity away from arriving families and an agreement to maintain conformity with other vendors and organizations. 

I respectfully request that uniformed soldiers not be involved in ANY security or policing duties.

In retrospect, can we agree there are better ideas than setting a military perimeter around a children's festival? 

Although most of the TXSG was courteous and respectful, a good number appeared to find the presence of a long-haired guy on a bicycle with a camera in South Austin to be a concern.

 

 



 






























This is a family kite festival and there is no need for a military presence or this level of security.

After contacting the organizers of the festival with my concerns, Billie McCulley contacted me let me know that "...Amazingly enough we have fewer than 20 members who are able to work the fest..."  "...we rely heavily on volunteers, usually numbering in the 800s." 
          "...This year we asked the Texas Guard to volunteer and to set up a recruiting booth."  

"...The Guard is a gallant and patriotic organization that sounded like a group of volunteers who could help us take care of 30,000 attendees."    

I let her know I am thrilled that the TXSG wants to volunteer their talents in security and logistics, but that it's a concern when done by the same people in uniform. The children that attended this function looked at generous volunteers offering up their time and saw military uniforms instructing them where to go and running security.  From my "Keep Austin Weird and America Free" perspective, I view this as a potential slippery slope for our community culture.

Ms. McCulluey asked me to come to one of the Kite Festival Planning Meetings to voice my concerns and to share some of the ideas I have to let more people know about the festival and how they can contribute.  You know I'll be there!

The ‘Kite Tournament’ was created by The Exchange Club of Austin in 1929 with a mission to encourage creativity in children. It is still owned and run by the club.

I've attended the  Zilker Park Kite Festival for years before we became residents of Barton Hills. We love our neighborhood, our park and our community.  We look forward to attending again...When my backyard is military uniform-free and filled with children flying kites in a creative, care-free environment.

Please help get the word out!  This is not a city event.  This is an organization that needs inspired, creative, committed help.  It doesn't cost anything to volunteer.  

They are struggling to accommodate crowds attracted and inspired by a great idea.  


 If you or your organization would like to volunteer  talents & resources to help with the festival, please click here.


My hope is that others would:  Share their point of view with the sponsors of the event with respect, love, reason and ideas with an intention of positive change.  Let's continue the tradition of non-uniformed community volunteers at the Zilker Park Kite festival.

I truly believe that there is a better way.

I love you, I'm sorry, Please forgive me, Thank you. ~ Hoʻoponopono

On My Way To The Capital

I met a lady who introduced her self as, "Peace". 

She thanked me for asking before taking her photo. 

She took my hand, looked deep in my eyes and told me to have a beautiful day. 

She said nothing more.

On the Instruction of Flames

Flames cleanse and correct

Instructing unforgivingly

On balance and harmony

Creating neurological pathways

This space where time slows

Intuition expands by necessity

Flexibility, flow and subtleties

Appear where they were not

Enough is Enough

Ron Paul on the floor of the Congress last night, speaking on the ridiculous treatment of citizens by the TSA:

Terrorism is bad.
The 4th Amendment is good.
Fear should not rule our intellect.
Fear does not trump inalienable rights.
Let's reinstate the 4th amendment--then there wouldn't be a need for his bill.