Waves

I have been staying away from posting about the tsunami, however I just stumbled across these pictures.

Banda Aceh Shore (Before Tsunami)


Banda Aceh Shore (After Tsunami)



Shocking.

-Tsyko

Dave Barry, 2004 in Review

Good ol' Davie has done a great 2004 in review. Where else could you find William Hung and Paris Hilton in the same sentence?

Thanks Justis for the pointer!

Kids tear into retro-gaming

In this article, 1Up let some kids play some retro games from yester-decade.

"The first action role-playing game, Adventure sent its dot-size hero--armed with an arrow-shaped sword--into dungeons inhabited by dragons that even the game's creator admits look like water fowl.

Bobby: A duck ate me.

EGM: A what ate you?

Parker: A pink duck.

EGM: What do you think this character's name is?

Parker: Dot. Or Adventure? That's what this game is, isn't it? Go up, go up, go up.

Bobby: Stupid duck. I hate the duck. The duck is evil."

I recall playing this game.

Wow.

Feeling old

right

about

now.

-Tsyko

Yes, I own stock..

But at least I had another reason for the trip. I was not in seattle to pay Homage at the Home of the Grounds.

Really.

No, really!

Warehouse 23 does not exist. really.

Open a Box

Holidays (over)

Well, in the world according to Tsyko, the Holidays are over. Sure we have New Years - but that is just an excuse to party. The Holidays are that months long ramp up to Christmas. It's nice at first, but in the last weeks, it gets really old. Now we have a short week and long weekend to recover from the Holidays, and then it's back to normal for 9 more months.

Whew - survived another one.

Here's hoping that yours was good, stress free or worth it!

-Tsyko

Christmas comic that is, well, wrong

It's wrong in so many ways. And right. perhaps left too.

You will just have to head on over and find out for yourself.

Thanks to the Head Dork for the pointer.

-Tsyko

Last Year's Zeitgeist

So, it's that time of year again where Google releases their Zeitgeist rankings. It's all based off of statistics from their search engine and news site. It shows some intresting things - like in the People section, #1 was George W, #2 was Janet Jackson and #3 was John Kerry. Hmmm..

Also intresting to check out is the Interactive Zeitgeist site. Neat stuff

-Tsyko

Pass on the Password?

Dave Justus says in re an article at Forbes:

"Yahoo! is standing by its policy of protecting the privacy of its e-mail subscribers, spokeswoman Karen Mahon said. This is an interesting dilemma. Should an email account and the electronic documents it contains be considered part of an estate, to be transferred to the heirs of a person after death or should it remain private? Typically I believe traditional letters would become the property of the heirs but one could argue, as I guess Yahoo! is doing, that email accounts do not automatically transfer."

I think that in this increasingly digital age, this is going to become more of a problem. I know that if I were to die today, there are three sites that would die as well, as my brain is the only place the passwords are kept.

Passwords and accounts need to be willed. One should leave specific instructions on how to handle all of ones affairs - and now days that includes Blogs, Websites, email accounts, Pay Pal accounts, Ebay - the list goes on and on.

I side with Yahoo! on this one - unless there are specific instructions in the Will of the person that gives his or her heirs the rights to access the accounts. There could be information in the email that perhaps he did not want people to read. We do not know. With out more specific instructions from the deceased, I feel that we should not impinge upon his privacy.

-Tsyko

Have you heard that the world's gone crazy?

So whatcha doin' tonight?
Have you heard that the world's gone crazy?
Young Americans listen when I say there's people puttin' us down
I know they're sayin' that we've gone lazy
To tell you the truth we've all seen better days
Don't need no fast buck lame duck profits for fun
Quick trick plans, take the money and run
We need long term, slow burn, getting it done
And some straight talking, hard working son of a gun.
Whatcha doin' tonight, I got faith in our generation
Let's stick together and futurize our attitudes
I ain't lookin' to fight, but I know with determination
We can challenge the schemers who cheat all the rules
Come on take pride, be wise, spottin' the fools
No more big shots, crackpots bending the rules
A fair shot here for me and for you
Knowing that we can't lose
Styx Rocking the Paradise

I think that these words ring as true today as they did in 1981 when the album was released. Except, now the people puttin' us down are also blowing us up and have declared war, not on us, but on our way of life.

The enemy does not want to take some of our land, they want to see all of us dead. They want our way of life dead. They want to strangle Ronald McDonald in the street, and behead Jack (of Jack in the Box) in front of a video camera. They want to control what music we listen to, what we wear and how we worship.

Now, as a Buddhist, I am supposed to be against killing. And I am in most cases. However, I feel that defense of my family's life, of my freedom and of the freedom of my country people is a worthy cause. I salute the men and women that are on the front lines – giving up their holiday time with their family's to defend us, and to help another people realize the freedom that we all deserve.

As a people, we must approach the rest of the world with compassion, and a iron fist in a velvet glove. When we need to hit, it must be hard, precise and with out remorse. However, when the iron fist is not the answer, we have to start actually helping the rest of the world. We cannot continue our ways of funding extremists who happen to be fighting our enemy at the time. If there is a famine, we need to assist as the richest country in the world can. We need stop propping up governments and companys – and start dealing with the problems at home. We need to behave less like codependent parents and more like a good friend.

-Tsyko

A shout out to the computer geeks out there

Check This out. Heh.

Catticus Maximus

You scored as Pissed at the World Cat. And here we have the next serial killer. Try having some cotton candy, it'll make you feel all warm and fuzzy inside, Psycho. Pissed at the World Cat 83% Derranged Cat 75% Ninja Cat 75% Couch Potato Cat 75% Nerd Cat 67% Drunk Cat 33% Love Machine Cat 17% Which Absurd Cat are you? created with QuizFarm.com

Nod to GamerGeek007

Political Humor

You just gotta check This out...

Wow.

The 'Axis of Just as Evil'.

Keyboard kill material.

-Tsyko

10 best quotes from Democrats

Here are the 10 best quotes from the Democratic Underground in 2004. To quote Justus Heh. Thanks for a laugh man!

Superman!

Ok, they are back, and in big boys sizes. Click on the picture for the 'whole' story.

(thanks Dave!)

-Tsyko

They extracted the Christmas Spirit!

Why can't we have the Christmas Spirit all year?

Not the one where angry housewives beat each other up to obtain the newest stuffed toy, or fustrated drivers try and kill each other while exiting the malls of America. I am talking about gathering around the family, enjoying them. Forget the presents, the Egg Nog, and Xeroxing your butt at the company party.

This season is not about making some shopkeeper's books balance. It's about seeing loved ones. It's about celebrating the days starting to get longer. Of all the years and all the Holiday seasons that I have lived through - here is a list of the best memories that I have:

Making turkey stuffing with my Dad

Visiting my Aunt in LA - Several times

Seeing my Granny in Oregon

Playing Jenga at another Aunts house

When I got my Porche from Santa.

Just kidding about the last one.

We should try and focus on the good times, good freinds and family. The Corps have pushed and advertised us and coaxed us into thinking that the season is about how much you can buy, how much more useless crap you can stuff into your life. If you are not spending a ton of money on those that you love, then you must really not love them, right?


-Tsyko

Skeptical Thinking about Science

Michael Crichton has a really good article about the role of skeptics in science. Read it, it speaks on it's own.

Thanks to the Frogster!

Who am I?

Jack Tripper


What classic sitcom character are you?
brought to you by Quizilla

Thanks Justus and Nome!

Hey - and I even look like him! [grin]

New Screenshot

yeah.. so I am proud of my 'puter.



Click on the image for a full on/full size. I know, I know I am using the same wallpaper that I posted a few days ago. What can I say? I like it! [grin]

-Tsyko

I am Buddha

"Buddha is not to be worshiped,
one has to become a buddha.
Except for that, there is no worship, no prayer.
You don't need any priest, you don't need any scriptures,
you don't need to be in any religious organization,
you have to be just yourself --
silently, peacefully settling within your home." Osho

"No one saves us but ourselves,
No one can and no one may.
We ourselves must walk the path,
But Buddhas clearly show the way. -- Dp 165"
The Buddha

I believe these statements to be some of the most powerful in Buddhism. They speak to me of freedom from fear, freedom from repression and freedom to find my own path. It empowers me to think for my self. In fact, it forces me to make my own choices, and live up to the consequences of these choices. When we come to the understanding that our world is created by us, by the choices that we make, it gives us the power to understand the world and create happiness for ourselves.

"To know what is right and wrong in god-centered religions, all that is needed is to do as you are told. But in a man-centered religion like Buddhism, to know what is right and wrong, you have to develop a deep self-awareness and self understanding. And ethics based on understanding are always stronger than those that are a response to a command."
Good Question, Good Answer

Ethics (or lack thereof) are what drive our choices. When we are told how to choose, we erode our ability to make choices for ourselves. When we are allowed to make up our own minds, we live the effects of the choice, good or bad. That can be a very powerful lesson.

When we make choices in a vacuum, and do not take into account what the repercussions will be on others, we tend to hurt them. Only by not following edicts from on high, and rather exercising our 'Ethics Muscle' can we hope to be able to face the world as whole people.

We should not rely upon some one else to make these choices for us. We need to be the Buddha, and forge our own path. We need to learn from our mistakes and victories.

-Tsyko

Email Scams

First off, go and read this, making sure that you read all of the comments. Then come back and read my ranting.




WOW! Can you belive that? I was laughing my butt off, then I realised that that person was serious. And I started to get rather scared for the future of humanity...

OK a bit more. Before replying to any request such as these, make sure that you engage your brain. Check The Snopes Urban Legend Page Google or what other resources that you feel you should.

-Tsyko

What is Buddhism?

Since I have been prattling on about Buddhism lately, I thought that I would provide you a link to a page that explains the basics from a 5,000 foot view.

Check it out here

This is not the blog you are looking for...

Just a quick shout out to Student of the Force. As the freinds of Tsyko continue to invade Cyberspace and one day it will be MINE!!!!! Muhahahahahaha[ahem]. Yeah. Did I say that out loud?

-Tsyko

Rejoice in Today!

"The old religions believed in renunciation. Renunciation has been a curse. I bring a blessing to you: I teach rejoicing, not renunciation. The world has not to be renounced, because god has not renounced it ― why should you? God is...why should you be out of it?" Osho

Many of the religions practice renunciation. Suffer in the current world so that you can live large in the next.

"teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age," Tit 2:12

"choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin" Hebrews 11:25

Al-Hasan said: "Beware of the diversions of this world, which are many. If a man opens a door for diversions, then that door may open ten others." THE LIFE OF THIS WORLD IS A TRANSIENT SHADE

Ibn As-Sammak said: "Whoever tastes the sweetness of the life in this world for his inclination towards it, will also taste the bitterness of the Hereafter for turning away from it." THE LIFE OF THIS WORLD IS A TRANSIENT SHADE

"Woe to you...Who lie on beds of ivory,
Stretch out on your couches,
Eat lambs from the flock
And calves from the midst of the stall;
Who sing idly to the sound of stringed instruments,
And invent for yourselves musical instruments like David;
Who drink wine from bowls,
And anoint yourselves with the best ointments..." Amos 6:1-6

God created us the way that we are. In fact, she created us in her image. Why should we turn away from this wonderful world that she has created for us? Why should we not enjoy the bounty of our hard work, as we share it with others?

Selflessness, when carried to extremes is a very negative trait. Anything, when carried to extremes can turn dark and stenchful. We should live lives of moderation. Going out an having fun, cutting loose some times, but putting our nose to the grind stone and getting the tasks at hand as best we can when it is time to work.

My views can be summed up as this: Be as close to perfection in everything you do, and be moderate in everything you do. When it is time to meditate, strive to be better then you can at it. When it is time to play pool, have fun! If you wish to drink - do so, in moderation. When you want to make love, do so safely and respectfully. If you want to skip down the sidewalk, enjoy the experience.

We live now, not yesterday or tomorrow. Plan for the future - spend money wisely and save for things that you want, but do not worry about what is going to happen tomorrow. Tomorrow will be today soon enough, and you will have plenty of time to worry about it then.

-Tsyko

Follower Syndrome

Earlier I spoke about being a follower. I belive that there are two types of followers. Ones who have open minds and ones that do not. Followers that have open minds are not afraid to question, raise concerns, and expand their understanding of who and what they are following.

"I am not here to make you a sheep. You have been a sheep for too long already. I am here to make a man out of you. It is going to be arduous, but you have to start becoming responsible for your own life. Once you start feeling responsible for your own life you start growing, because then there is no point in wasting time in postponing, in waiting. Nobody is coming to help you. All waiting is futile, all waiting is sheer wastage." Osho

However, there are people who need the comfort of being told what to belive, what to feel and think. Some even need to be told how to vote. There is a movement in American politics to make the goverment 'take care' of the people. The baseball issue is a perfect example. Why should the goverment make more rules about a sport? The drugs these guys are using are illegal to start with, so why add more laws on the books.

It's like talking on the cell phone while you are driving. Did you know that every state already has a law that covers this? It's called (among other things) distracted driving. If you are reading a book while you are driving, you will get in trouble, under these laws. Do we need to make an additional law that says "Reading a book while driving is illegal"? No! it's already covered.

So if you are driving talking on a cell, and you are weaving all over the place, the police should get you under the law that exists. Heck, if you are changing the station on your radio, or watching some cute male/female/horse/dog/cat and are swerving or even hitting other things, let's just use the laws we have.

I think that it all comes down to personal responsiblity. Many people today do not want to take responsiblity for their actions. They want it all laid out in front of them, so that they can take their brain out of gear and just idle along the highway of life. They want to be told what to do by someone.

Until we start to think for ourselves, we as a people are going to remain sheep.

-Tsyko

Everything is true!

“I am not a logician. I am an existentialist. I believe in this meaningless, beautiful chaos of existence, and I am ready to go with it wherever it leads. I don't have a goal, because existence has no goal. It simply is, flowering, blossoming, dancing - but don't ask why. Just an overflow of energy, for no reason at all. I am with existence." Osho

I also identify with Discordism, and this passage neatly intertwines Buddhism, Zen and Discord. No Mind - existing at the whim of the present merges neatly with Discordism

GP: Is Eris true?
M2: Everything is true.
GP: Even false things?
M2: Even false things are true.
GP: How can that be?
M2: I don't know man, I didn't do it.

Why are we so concerned with Why we are here? If we found out, would it really change that much? Why not just live each day the best we can, and die with peace? And, honestly, does the universe really make that much sense?

Every time we dig deeper with Physics, or String Theory, we find another layer of complexity. It's like the universe is an Onion with layer after layer of tear inspiring complexity. Will we really ever get to the bottom of the rabbit hole? Do we want to?

-Tsyko

Zorba the Buddha

In my net reading for the last article I posted, I came across a site that I kind of liked. The person behind the site has several books out, and I plan on getting a few of them. I lifed some quotes from his site that impacted me the most, and decided to put them here for ya'll with my commentary over the next few days.

"I have no wish to placate you with false, hollow and worthless words exhorting you to love mankind. The so-called religions have said these things to you for generations. I am here to urge you to love real men, to love your fellow beings - not mankind but the men who live and work around you. Humanity is just a word; mankind is just a label. You cannot find humanity or mankind anywhere. And so humanity is easy to love because the only thing you have to do is mouth a few platitudes." - Osho

I have a book called Everyday Zen. One of the passages talks about tooth-brushing. If, when you were 4 or 5 and starting to brush your teeth, you dwelled on how you would have to do this every day for the rest of your life, you might not have ever started. However, I doubt that you did. Instead, you simply did it today. Habits are easy to form if you just do the action today.

Most major changes seem large, if you look at the entire thing. Sort of like painting an elephant. Over all, it is an overwhelming task. But, if you get close, and look at just the trunk, and decide to paint it, it would not take all that long. and the same with the legs, sides and back. Sooner then not, you are looking at a pink elephant.

The same thing with Love. Do not aspire to love all of humanity. just aspire to love the people that you meet through out the day. The Dali Lama spoke about thinking "I Love You" you every person that you meet through out the day. He said that puts you in the correct frame of mind, and that the person can tell through your body language and expression what you are thinking. This puts them at ease and makes true communication possible.

-Tsyko

Where am I in Hell?

I saw this on another Blog that I read...

Looks like I am headed down... [grin]

The Dante's Inferno Test has banished you to the Eigth Level of Hell - the Malebolge!
Here is how you matched up against all the levels:

Level	Score
Purgatory (Repenting Believers)	Very Low
Level 1 - Limbo (Virtuous Non-Believers)	Low
Level 2 (Lustful)	Moderate
Level 3 (Gluttonous)	High
Level 4 (Prodigal and Avaricious)	Low
Level 5 (Wrathful and Gloomy)	High
Level 6 - The City of Dis (Heretics)	Moderate
Level 7 (Violent)	High
Level 8- the Malebolge (Fraudulent, Malicious, Panderers)	High
Level 9 - Cocytus (Treacherous)	Low

Take the Dante's Divine Comedy Inferno Test

On Religiosity

I love to make up new words.

I think that there is a fundamental change happening in our culture. And some folks are petrified of it. I am talking about the change from Religion to Spirituality.

First, let's discuss what each means

re·li·gion
n.

a. Belief in and reverence for a supernatural power or powers regarded as creator and governor of the universe.
b. A personal or institutionalized system grounded in such belief and worship.
2. The life or condition of a person in a religious order.
3. A set of beliefs, values, and practices based on the teachings of a spiritual leader.
4. A cause, principle, or activity pursued with zeal or conscientious devotion.

“A personal or institutionalized system grounded in such belief and worship.” is the most telling of the definitions here. “based on the teachings of a spiritual leader.” is also important.

Being religious is being a follower. Now, there is nothing wrong with being a follower.

Each Church teaches their own opinion of what Christianity is, and there are some divergent views on that! In fact, each sect of each religion teaches it's own view on their 'parent' religion. People used to go to the church that their parents went to, and that was that. But times are a changing.

spir·i·tu·al·i·ty
n. pl. spir·i·tu·al·i·ties

1. The state, quality, manner, or fact of being spiritual.
2. The clergy.
3. Something, such as property or revenue, that belongs to the church or to a cleric. Often used in the plural.

the thing to take away from this is #1 - “The state, quality, manner, or fact of being spiritual”.

Spirituality is a personal experience. It is you, in a state, quality or manner of being in touch with spirit. Each person decides what is their path, and what is correct for them.

I sense a groundswell away from the larger organized religions in this nation, towards a more personal connection with the divine. America is made up of rugged individuals, after all. So why should we be told what to believe? If God is all-pervasive, then S/He should be able to contact each of us, one on one and talk with us.

Why should I have to go to a building to worship? Why can I not use the trees as the walls of my temple, and the sky as it's roof? Where are we closer to God, in a man made construct, or in the middle of his great creation?

I feel closest to the Divine when I am out in the wilderness, and meditiating. When I can feel the breath of God in the wind, and can hear God talking in the rustling of the leaves.

When you meet the Buddha, kill him!

When God speaks to me, it is not through a priest or preacher or book, it is when I listen. When I quiet my mind and just listen.

I have had to overcome my willingness to be a follower in my search for a spiritual life. I had to start to think on my own. Every person is falliable. So when I am listening to a sermon, I remember that this is the experince of that human talking. I listen, and try and relate it to what I have found works for me, in my life.

That is all – life is a personal experience. Live it yourself – do not let some other person tell you how to feel or believe. Do not let some other person make you believe that you are not a good person because you do things that they do not agree with.

If you honestly try to make each choice, each day, from a foundation of Love, then you are a very good person. If you do not, and let hate rule you, it is never to late to try to change.

-Tsyko

New Stuff

One of my compaints about this whole blogging thing is that there was no (obvious) way to let people subscribe to a blog via email, and get sent updates.

Well - I guess I was totally wrong, as you can see by the little subscribe button. It will send you an email when this site is updated, and then you know that the Dukk has posted new stuff.

New stuff is good stuff.

-Tsyko

Merlyns Update

First off, I was at Merlyns yesterday, and it was interesting. There was a crowd of Getaway Loyalists and and crowd of Merlyns Folks. I must say, Merlyns has improved their customer service about 90%. My crew continued on a star base assault that we are working on in SFB - the Federation Star base is toast, it just does not know it yet. But we had a blast. The only detractor was the TV playing movies on in the gaming room. There were times that the entire Klingon Command structure was slack jawed watching Tomb Raider.

'KaPla!'

Pooch Power

My dog, out in the feild this last summer...

Flowers Wallpaper

Here is a picture I took this summer - You can click on it for a full size image. It was taken west of Spokane.

Instant Hot Coco

I really love instant hot coco. I really do not know why – it's not that hard to make the real thing, but the instant stuff just seems hit some spot for me. Perhaps it's the little chunks of unmixed coco that form and float around. I dunno.

I think that life can be like instant hot coco. Some times you hit a gooey sweet spot, and some times you are stuck with the coco.

Hmm... Did that make sense?

I don't think so.

Oh well.

-Tsyko

Ugh

Long day. 16 hours - 8 on the road and 8 working at various sites. tired. sleep. nite.