A daily series, Connect! Unite! Act! seeks to create face-to-face networks in each congressional district. Groups regularly socialize but also get out the vote, support candidates and engage in other local political actions that help our progressive movement grow and exert influence on the powers-that-be. Visit us every morning at 7:30 A.M. Pacific Time to see how you can get involved. The comment thread is fun and light-hearted, but we're serious about moving the progressive political agenda forward.
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Any OBE's or NDE's in your experience?
Smileycreek sent the link to a very cool article about Near Death Experiences and Out Of Body Experiences: http://www.salon.com/... It's really a great read. For the first time it concludes with what I believe about these types of things based upon personal experience.
This article goes into the ways these types of experiences can be explained scientifically and physiologically. The problem is there are almost no witnesses that can corroborate what people say they saw when having OBE's. There are, however a few exceptions to that, which the article mentions.
What is clear is something definitely happens when a person is very near death or has temporarily died. And it appears to be universal as similar experiences have been reported from people all over the world. Socioeconomic class isn't a factor nor is being religious or athiest or being a women or man. So what's going on?
One thing that's always bothered me about this topic is frequently those who've had NDE's claim they know what it will be like when they die. That's just not possible because they didn't die or they wouldn't be back to tell us about their near death experience.
I've had a number of out of body experiences which I quite enjoyed. I find myself floating around somewhere while not being focused within my body and yet having entirely lucid and clear awareness of what's around me. How is it possible to sense things without using our sense organs? It's obvious that is exactly what's going on, but by what mechanism? And why is everything in perfect auditory and visual focus with fine detail? I've always wondered why.
I've definitely had a bunch of experiences in which I was aware of things not normally experienced the way we do in what I call "everyday default awareness." I've had far too many of these over a whole array of different circumstances to poo poo them all as being just a bunch of creations of hallucination. I know the difference between hallucinations and things that aren't.
Hallucinations come from how the brain works and how the occipital lobe is physically structured. Literally, the physical orientation of neuronal pathways has tons to do with the types of hallucinations that come up for folks. Oliver Sacks wrote a great book about hallucinations. If you like understanding this kind of thing, here's a link: http://www.amazon.com/...
More after the orange dongle
Latest Updates on Kossack Regional Meet-Up News Can Be Found Below the Orange Group Hug.
I have a good friend who was running around outside after church when she was 5 years old. The church she belonged to was very small and local. She new all the people. After church let out she ran around and climbed up on a picnic table then fell off and hit the back of her head on the concrete below. She was instantly knocked out and no one was able revive her. She stopped breathing. They tried CPR but it didn't work. After several minutes they stopped trying. She was dead. The priest picked her up into his arms and people started to cry.
She watched all this happening from high above the whole scene looking down at all of it. She had no pain. She had no bad feelings. She was perfectly content just going on and leaving her small body behind. But she also could "hear what they were thinking," she told me. She was able to read people's minds somehow, and with that she could also feel deep sadness inside them as well. She saw her family members crying. Once she felt that, she decided she wouldn't leave because it would make so many people so sad. So she chose to return. It was entirely her choice whether to do so or not. The instant she made that decision, she woke up the the priest's arms. No one could believe it because she was dead. To them it was a miracle.
A couple years ago I had my own NDE after receiving chemotherapy with a huge dose of Cisplatin which turned out to be extremely neurotoxic to me in a very rare way. I had central nervous system problems that affected all my senses in radical ways. On the third day after this chemo, I was home alone in bed and my physiology started crashing. I could feel myself slipping away so I kept checking my pulse frequently for both strength and rate. My pulse rate was really slowing down and became very weak and thready. The last time I took it, it had dropped to 34 beats per minute and was barely perceptible. I kept willing myself to stay conscious because I didn't want to end up in a coma. But I wasn't able hang on and slipped into unconsciousness.
The next thing I knew I was moving through what can only be described as the most amazing blue-white light. It wasn't just light though because it also created the most calm and loving feeling. How strange. Then I suddenly stopped moving along. I felt the presence around me of "helpers" of some sort. They had guided me to the edge of a huge "place" filled with billions of "beings" that didn't have bodies or features. They were constantly changing what they were doing which was creating the very thing I was seeing. I saw several huge gorgeous crystalline structures...but they weren't crystals. These were being made of them on the fly. They kept creating and then recreating what I was seeing with their own energy and being. The structures weren't separate from them, they were all of them. Now that gets your attention because you don't see that...ever.
The colors were the most vivid I've ever seen. There were colors I'd never seen. The one thing that was so amazing is I could "feel" it all too. These billions of beings were just pure joy that loved being what they created. There was no difference between them and their creation. What was this?
There were four "helpers" around me. Two were behind me and one was on each side of me but out of my vision. They told me they brought me to see this but it was time for me to leave because I couldn't stay. Suddenly I was back in my bed. Weird or what?
Here is what that experience taught me. When these experiences happen, people will initially see what they strongly believe. Some see dead relatives. Others, if Christians, see the Mother Mary or Jesus. People who follow other religions will see prophets or Gods that relate to them. Others, like me, see no people or religious figures. However, seeing bright light and feeling like you're rushing along seems to be universal. Another thing that seems consistent is, no matter what you see, it feels more wonderful and is more beautiful than anything you've ever known. Why?
One last thing that was made extremely apparent to me is what we consider to be our consciousness isn't 100% due to our brains and bodies. I know all about the "death molecule" as DMT (N,N-Dimethyltryptamine) is called. It gets released in our brains when we are near physiological death and is considered by many to be the reason we see what we see. I know all about the brain when it's oxygen starved. I know all about being able to stimulate the brain with electromagnetic and magnetic waves and pulses which cause hallucinations and Near Death Experience-type visions to occur.
Not one bit of all of that can successfully explain what I experienced, however, or what others report when they've experienced that kind of stuff. Part of our consciousness is not centered in our body and brain and it's not completely due to brain cells working via neurotransmitters. There is no way I can use words to convince you why I now know this, but the experience I had made it crystal clear. There is a part of our consciousness that is not centered in our bodies and brains.
There are always two camps regarding OBE's and NDE's. One camp with tell you we are 100% our bodies and brains and that's that. They will say there is nothing else. They say everything folks experience during NDE's is an hallucination due to oxygen deficit and physiological break down.
The other camp will claim there is something other than just our bodies and brains creating our entire consciousness. Obviously the biggest part of who we are is coming from our brains, but not 100% of it. The debate will continue and will not likely end any time soon. If you read the article I linked to, you might be intrigued.
The one thing that I've always wondered about when I've had OBE's, and now my one NDE, is how do we sense things without our sense organs working and why is that perception even more clear and lucid than what we experience normally? How can folks see something that is physically no where near where they are and yet can be corroborated by other witnesses?
How about you? Any experiences like these for you?
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Silicon Valley Kossacks Protest the KXL Pipeline
at President Obama's Personal Appearance in San Jose
by navajo ♥ for Silicon Valley Kossacks
Glen The Plumber alerted us about 350.org's notice that President Obama was speaking at a fundraiser in Silicon Valley on May 8th. 350.org rallied about 1500 people and the Silicon Valley Kossacks attended. Since it was so last minute only a few of us could attend but we brought our Daily Kos/Connect! Unite! Act! banner to remind President Obama that we helped elect him.
You can join the Silicon Valley Kossacks by sending a Kosmail to Glen The Plumber.
SFKossacks Roll Out the Red Carpet for
LeftOfYou and Expat Okie
by navajo ♥ for SFKossacks
On May 13th, the SFKossacks welcomed LeftOfYou and Expat Okie visiting from Chicago. They're here on a cruise up the West Coast after LeftOfYou retired last week from the US Postal system. What a pleasure to meet them and enjoy some quintessential San Francisco cuisine — Chinese deem sum.
We had a wonderful gathering and fantastic food. The bonus for Daily Kos is that LeftOfYou offered to lead a new group for St. Louis, Missouri when he moves there soon. I took him up on that. What a great day! We wished them well as they headed up the coast to Vancouver.
L-R: (front) Lorikeet, dharmasyd, Expat Okie, LeftOfYou, Justice Putnam
(back) jpmassar, citisven, maggiejean, side pocket & navajo
You can join the SFKossacks by sending a Kosmail to navajo.
by Sara R ♥ for Koscadia
Ten, count 'em, ten Koscadians got together for political conversation and trendy food truck cuisine at a food truck pod in Portland. They've reported that everyone in attendance enjoyed it.
L-R: (1) markdd, llbear, PSNPDX (2) markdd (3) Ozsea1 (4) winglion
Please visit Sara R's diary for many MORE photos! Enjoy! You can join Koscadia by sending a Kosmail to Sara R.
by randallt ♥ for DKos Asheville
The Asheville Kossacks had another successful meet-up with excellent food supplied and prepared by Gordon20024. There's excellent food pr0n in the diary, btw. Steelergrrl brought tomato plants to give away. randallt handed out large Register to Vote signs along with information handouts on the new North Carolina voting law and a comprehensive guide to obtaining an ID for voting. Asheville Kossacks have been setting the example of GOTV for the rest of us. Kossack cultjake told an informative story on his new work on the precinct level of politics. randallt also made Asheville Kossack nametag lanyards for everyone. I'm impressed with all the ideas he's thought of to Connect, unite and activate his group.
See diary for identities
Please visit randallt's diary for many MORE photos! Enjoy! You can join DKos Asheville by sending a Kosmail to randallt.
Event Organizers! Please contact wink from Netrootsradio.com by KosMail to schedule airtime with them to live broadcast your Event. Wink & Justice will then promote it on The After Show radio program!
Saturday, May 31st
LA Kossacks Meet-up with Guest Speakers:
Matt Miller, US Congress candidate for CA-33 and Sandra Fluke, California Senate candidate for the CA-05 Senate district. CA-05 Senate and CA-33 US Congress overlap 50%. Both candidates agreed to speak at the same meeting.
TIME: 2:00 PM
LOCATION: Casey's Irish Pub
613 S Grand Ave. • Los Angeles
ORGANIZER: Send susans a kosmail to attend.
RSVPs:
1. Shockwave
2. susans
3. Otoelbc
4. jakedog42
5. Joe Bacon
6. tmservo433
7. SanFernandoValleyMom
8. steeveoh
9. Just Saying
10. Just Saying's friend
11. GleninCA
12. Roman Smith
13. whenwego
14. whenwego's guest
15. Ravenstream
16. Lisa
17. Mr. Lisa
18. BruinKid
19. Ducktape
20. Zwenkau
21. Zwenkau
22. PanoramaCityChick
23. jhb90277
24. Karyn blumenfeld
25. Karyn blumenfeld's guest
26. gmats
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Maybees: |
Latest diary: LA Kossacks rock! Next - Saturday Sandra Fluke and Matt Miller (videos of last meeting)
Saturday, May 31st
Houston Area Kossacks Meet-up
TIME: 1:00 PM
LOCATION: Fadi's Mediterranean Grill
4738 Beechnut Street • Houston
ORGANIZER: Send Chrislove a kosmail to attend.
RSVPs:
1. Chrislove
2. Bree Davis
3. MarciaJ720
4. cosette
5. Mary
6. Alan
7.
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Maybees:
Mr. cosette
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Latest diary: Houston Area Kossacks: Meet-Up Scheduled for Saturday, May 31
Saturday, May 31st
Motor City Kossacks Traveling Road Show Meet-ups to Prepare as Hosts for NN14
TIME: 6:00 PM
LOCATION: The Avenue Café
2021 E. Michigan Ave. • Lansing
ORGANIZER: Send peregrine kate a kosmail to attend.
RSVPs:
1. peregrine kate
2. lehman scott
3.
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Maybees:
ProvokingMeaning
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Latest diary: Motor City Kossacks: Next Round of NN14 Prep--Sat 5/31 Lansing, Sun 6/1 in Oak Co.
Sunday, June 1st
Motor City Kossacks Traveling Road Show Meet-ups to Prepare as Hosts for NN14
TIME: 1:00 PM
LOCATION: TBD
TBD • Oakland County
ORGANIZER: Send peregrine kate a kosmail to attend.
RSVPs:
1. peregrine kate
2. Brainwrap
3. Chem Bob
4. Michele
5. Sharon B.
6. Gregsullmich
7. GwenM
8. Amy L. S.
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Maybees:
ProvokingMeaning
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Latest diary: Motor City Kossacks: Next Round of NN14 Prep--Sat 5/31 Lansing, Sun 6/1 in Oak Co.
Saturday, June 14th
Inaugural New Jersey Kossacks Meet-up
TIME: Noon
LOCATION: Cranberry's Gourmet Cafe
10 Cedar Brook Drive, Cedar Brook Corporate Park • Cranbury
ORGANIZER: Send Avilyn a kosmail to attend.
RSVPs:
1. Avilyn
2. belinda ridgewood
3. zitherhamster
4. avamontez
5. Christin
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Maybees:
Trosk
profewalt
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Latest diary: First New Jersey Kossacks Meetup!
Sunday, June 22nd
March for Democracy Arrival Rally
Call for a national Constitutional Convention for the sole purpose of proposing an amendment to end big money's corruption of our democracy. Dolores Heurta will be there to speak.
If you can't be there in person please sign this petition.
TIME: 11:00 AM
LOCATION: California State Capitol
1315 10th St • Sacramento
ORGANIZER: Send navajo a kosmail to attend.
Latest diary: Something big is brewing in California
Tuesday, June 24th
NYC Kossacks Roll Out the Red Carpet for Dave in Northridge
TIME: 6:00 PM
LOCATION: Donburiya
137 East 47th Street (Lex & 3rd) • New York
(Not wheelchair accessible, entrance is 2 steps down)
ORGANIZER: Send sidnora a kosmail to attend.
RSVPs:
1. sidnora
2. Dave in Northridge
3. Avilyn
4. plf515
5. followyourbliss
6. MBNYC
7. cohenzee
8. joanbrooker
9. waterstreet2013
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Maybees:
Laura Clawson
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Latest diary: NYC Meetup 6/24: Come Meet Dave in Northridge
Saturday, June 28th
DC Kossacks Meet-up
TIME: Noon
LOCATION: TBD
TBD • Washington, DC
ORGANIZER: Send NinthElegy a kosmail to attend.
RSVPs:
1. NinthElegy
2. mdmslle
3. webgenie
4. mimi
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Maybees: |
Latest diary: [Waiting for linked diary]
SPECIAL OFFER FROM NETROOTS NATION
FOR READERS OF CONNECT! UNITE! ACT!
You know you want to go but you're procrastinating, right? NN is offering a limited-time offer of $50 off the current registration of $325. Use the special promo code of Connect to get your registration for $275. This offer will be good until May 31st.
This July 17-20, the largest progressive conference of the year will take place in Detroit, MI: the ninth annual Netroots Nation conference. Each year, thousands of online activists, community organizers and progressive leaders come together for four days of panels, trainings, keynotes and fun networking opportunities.
Highlights include:
• A keynote featuring Sen. Elizabeth Warren (and more speakers to be announced soon)
• 80 panels and 40 hands-on training sessions
• A progressive film Screening Series
• A kickoff party sponsored by the Michigan Senate Democrats and the DLCC
• A closing night party sponsored by Alliance for American Manufacturing
• A special Tech Tools Shootout and reception sponsored by Google, New Media Ventures and Netroots Nation
• Annual events including our pub quiz, comedy show and candidate reception and much more!
Wednesday, July 16th
Annual Cheers & Jeers Dinner to Kick-Off NN14, Kossacks Only
TIME: 5:00 PM
LOCATION: Vicente's Cuban Cuisine
1250 Library St • Detroit
ORGANIZER: Send navajo a kosmail to RSVP.
RSVPs:
1. Common Sense Mainer
2. Bill in Portland Maine
3. smileycreek
4. paradise50
5. side pocket
6. Mrs. side pocket
7. norm
8. maggiejean
9. Shockwave
10. a gilas girl
11. susans
12. Sara R
13. belinda ridgewood
14. sidnora
15. Mr. sidnora
16. thankgodforairamerica
17. brillig
18. mik
19. K1
20. loggersbrat
21. Dave in Northridge
22. 714day
23. NormAl1792
24. texasmom
25. texasdad
26. a gilas girl
27. peregrine kate
28. provokingmeaning
29. justiceputnam
30. tmservo433
31. Mark E Andersen
32. Son of Mark E Andersen
33. winkk
34. theRoaringGirl
35. shermanesq
36. Doggie269
37. shanikka
38. jakedog42
39. ramara
40. skohayes
41. DebtorsPrison
42. gmats
43. Adam Blomeke
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Daily Kos Staff:
1. Markos Moulitsas
2. Susan Gardner
3. Will Rockafellow
4. Meteor Blades
5. Joan McCarter
6. Faith Gardner
7. Laura Clawson
8. Chris Bowers
9. navajo
10. Jen Hayden
11. Elisa Batista
12. Denise Oliver-Velez
44. LuLu
45. Chicklette
46. PerfectStormer
47. 4Freedom
48. DemSign
49. vicki
50. Cedwyn
51. jotter
52. aha aha
53. Dennis Shreefer
54. ohmydem
55. Brainwrap
56. Mrs. Brainwrap
57. Eclectablog aka Chris Savage
58. Anne Savage
59. BlueBarnStormer
60. sandiegodem
61. Pam Miles
62. TexMex
63. linkage
64. 2thanks
65. bunnygirl60
66. binkaroni
67. zenbassoon
68. nomandates
69. thepegster
Maybees: N in Seattle, Turbonerd, winifred3
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Latest diary: Connect! Unite! Act! ATTN: DC, Tucson & Seattle Meet-up Info! +Q: Roll Call, Are You Attending NN14?
Friday, July 18th
Daily Kos Detroit VA Hospital Service Project
Sara R delivers 65 quilts, hand knit scarves and hats, books, 65 teddy bears, hand made greeting cards, and phone cards from the DK Quilt Guild, WAYWO, the Readers & Book Lovers, IGTNT and individual Kossacks to the nursing home at the Detroit VA Hospital. This is a wonderful project that many people can be involved with even if they don't attend the convention. If you care about veterans in a nursing home this is your project. Please volunteer to help.
DELIVERY TIME: Noon
LOCATION: Volunteer Office of the Detroit VA Hospital
4646 John R St. • Detroit
ORGANIZER: Send Sara R a Kosmail to participate in making the gifts and/or deliver them.
RSVPs to help deliver gifts:
1. Sara R
2. NormAl1792
3. Winifred
4. Ninepatch
5. linkage (videographer)
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Maybees: |
Latest diary: DK Quilt Guild: What Inspires You?
Plenary Session Tables during the rest of the Convention
ORGANIZER: Send navajo a kosmail to have a seat reserved for you in the main ballroom of the convention center for the big events. These table will be there so we can all find each other as a group. The seating is not assigned. You can float from table to table. I'm only counting to see how many tables I need to reserve.
Cheers & Jeers Table:
1. Common Sense Mainer
2. Bill in Portland Maine
3. brillig
4. mik
5. K1
6. vicki
7.
8.
9.
10.
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Motor City Kossacks:
1. peregrine kate
2. provokingmeaning
3. 4Freedom
4. Brainwrap
5. Mrs. Brainwrap
6. Eclectablog aka Chris Savage
7. 2thanks
8. Sydneyluv
9.
10.
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SFKossacks Table:
1. navajo
2. Meteor Blades
3. smileycreek
4. paradise50
5. side pocket
6. Mrs. side pocket
7. Tim Delaney
8. maggiejean
9. Jeff in CA
10. Mrs. Jeff in CA
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SFKossacks Table II:
1. a gilas girl
2. justiceputnam
3. Dragon5616
4. DebtorsPrison
5. tmservo433
6. shanikka
7. aha aha
8. jotter
9. norm
10.
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Los Angeles Table:
1. Shockwave
2. susans
3. Dave in Northridge
4. gmats
5. 714day
6. jakedog42
7.
8.
9.
10.
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New York Table:
1. sidnora
2. Mr. sidnora
3. belinda ridgewood
4. thankgodforairamerica
5. Denise Oliver-Velez
6. hayden
7.
8.
9.
10.
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Seattle & Portland Table:
1. Lefty Coaster
2. Sara R
3. loggersbrat
4. N in Seattle
5. Cedwyn
6. linkage
7.
8.
9.
10.
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Texas/Oklahoma/New Mexico Table:
1. texasmom
2. texasdad
3. TexMex
4. nomandates
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
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Maybees:
kjoftherock, angry marmot, boran2, Turbonerd, northerntier, northerntier's SO,
Sunday, July 27th
Phoenix Kossacks Roll Out the Red Carpet for navajo
Event will be potluck, so please sign up here with food, beverages or booze
TIME: 4:00 PM
LOCATION: Mother Mag's Rooftop Terrace
(address given privately to RSVPs) • Downtown Phoenix
ORGANIZER: Send Mother Mags a kosmail to attend.
RSVPs:
1. Mother Mags
2. navajo
3. Azazello
4. Mrs. Azazello
5. arizonablue
6. Mr. arizonablue
7.
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Maybees:
rasbobbo
DaNang65
drnatrl
dewey of the desert
Mr. dewey of the desert
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Latest diary: Arizona meet-up: Summer potluck with Navajo!
navajo maintains the above event list. Kosmail her if you have any diaries
about your event or if you have changes or additions.
EVERYONE is welcome, tell us what you're working on,
share your show and tell, vent, whatever you want.
This is an open thread. Nothing is off topic.