Some of you might recall I recently led a retreat at the Zen Center where I teach & practice. At the beginning of every retreat, participants read something called "Temple Rules" which are kind of a guideline for how to "work, play, and practice well with others" in a confined space for a period of time. Here is an example of one of them.
2. On Mindfulness - Do not cling to your opinions. Do not discuss your private views with others. To cling to and defend your opinions is to destroy your practice. Put away all your opinions. This is true Buddhism. Do not go where you have no business. Do not listen to talk which does not concern you. Do not make the bad karma of desire, anger, or ignorance.
If in this lifetime
You do not open your mind,
You cannot digest
Even one drop of water.
This mindset is clearly beyond most GOBP bat$hitters, so maybe a picture would be better. :D
It's time for "this day in history!" On this date in 2000, the Food and Drug Administration approved the use of RU-486, a pill that allows a woman to terminate a pregnancy days or weeks after conception. Why wasn't this little gem around during the time one Mr. & Mrs. Charles Heath were bumping uglies in Idaho in late 1963?! Countdown contributor, "progressive" favorite, and bane of FAUX News & tea bagger existence Janeane Garofalo is 47 today. She was a hoot in Mystery Men!
On with The Rachel Maddow Show!
"Anything You Say Can and Will be Used Against You..." - Governor Secession's never lost an election. Well, there's always a first time - I HOPE! Senator Kay Bailey - Hutchison gave him a decent run for his money. She tried to make him teh gay on some of her websites via hidden texts. HA! :) All sorts of folk have tried the "my opponent is gay" shtick. Cameron Todd Willingham was brought up, too. Rachel, do you really REALLY have to keep playing that "execution clapping" clip?! I'm all for it being in campaign ads, but I've seen it enough on news shows, thank you very much. We all know that Governor Secession's not lost any sleep over anything he's done or said in his life. FL had 1 of their executions delayed briefly today to check on the chemical used in their lethal injections. Troy Davis will be laid to rest later on this week & have a memorial service. Rachel, I've never seen The Hangover, either; we can look like doofuses together. :) The producer of that movie who volunteers A LOT in L.A. jails has seen a lot of inmate beatings. The FBI is now investigating the L.A. County Jail. There are gangs among deputies?! YIKES! The ACLU wants the DOJ to begin a criminal investigation of how that jail is operated. Some deputies even beat up a visitor to the L.A. County Jail? Wow.
"Pipe Down" - Senator Rand "We Don't Need No Stinking Civil Rights Act" Paul is pro - people getting blown up because of shoddy oil & gas pipelines; as I've said before, he probably also thinks it's cool that some people can set their tap water on fire. The bill Senator Randy's opposing has actual bipartisan support AND industry support? YIKES! There's San Bruno pics again; THAT was something. Senator Randy must like 'splosions & stuff. He's blocking safety for his own constituents; the scary thing is that they will probably vote for him again! *&^%$#@! President Obama has been talking more about his principles & his values in comparison to those of the GOBP when he's hitting the road - 'bout damn time! We also get a review of the fact that most Americans would like the super rich to pay their fair share in taxes. We, the people like the Buffet Rule! Joe Sonka gets pipes & Senator Randy duty.
"Really Really Really BIG Government" - So, FL Governor Ricky wants welfare recipients & potential state workers to be forcibly tested for drugs. Members of the state legislature? Not so much! ;D SC Governator's making people answer state phones "It's a great day in South Carolina!" Yea...well, SC's on my list of places I won't travel to even if my damn life depended on it, so it'll never be a great day in SC for me. FL welfare recipients live more clean drug lives than most Americans do, but he still wants FL citizens to pony up the coin for it. Carl Hiaasen is a columnist who's offered to pay for out of his own pocket for FL state legislators to be drug tested! HA!! Yea, don't hold your breath on state legislators beating down your door on THAT offer. :)
"Best New Thing in the World Today" - Yea band! :)