tao1776

globalization definition glob·ali·za·tion ( glō′bəl i zā ′ s̸hən, -ī- ) noun the process of globalizing something; specif., the expansion of many businesses into markets throughout the world, marked by an increase in international investment, the proliferation of large multinational corporations, worldwide economic integration, etc. interconnectedness - all of our great spiritual leaders and the great minds searching through the science of quantum physics conclude that all is interconnected. The discovery and acknowledgement of this fact brings wonderment and compassion to the wise. Why is it that when I hear of connectedness, as an American, and as part of a nation that professes to be "Christian," I see not the wonder and compassion of this discovery but the monetary perversion of it?

video of Stalag IX-B being liberated Between December 16, and December 19, 1944, my father was one of the many captured American prisoners during the famous "Battle of the Bulge." Wading through the two foot snow and below zero temperatures, they were crowded upon cattle cars and transported to Stalag 1X-B at Bad Orb, Germany. As stated by another POW...December 17Th, Captured. - Walked all night December 18Th walked all day- 1/3 Loaf bread cheese, marmalade December 19Th in PW cage December 20Th walked all day December 21st walked all day December 22nd walked all day December 23rd Boarded train no food December 24th on train no food no water December 25th on train no food little waterDecember 26th 1/6 loaf, little meat 0100 on train December 26th left train at 0900 Bad orb Stallager (IXB) In April of 1945, the 44th Infantry Division pushed through German territory to liberate the POWs. This is what they had to say: Stalag IX-B is usually regarded as the worst...

DAY, DECEMBER 18, 2009 Prologue: The Compassion Project We cannot deny that we often live our lives as some very complicated series of moments strung together by memories, used to define where we were and where we came from, balanced by hopes and fantasy for having a better future. Families struggle with job loss and health concerns, bills accumulate; the holiday season manufactures increased weight upon our already burdened shoulders. Man , it can get you down! Perhaps you are unaffected by the economic downturn and give little concern to paying your mortgage or making your car payment. Your health is good and the political push for a new healthcare system or the "War on Terrorism" concerns you about as much as the weather in Bangladesh. I think that we can agree that we are seldom the proverbial "hot knifes through butter" when it comes to sliding smoothly through the everyday issues that confront us. Our problems vary as much as our political opinions. But th...

I've had this idea rolling about for some time now. It has been restlessly trying to take form. I've been discussing throughout the pages of this blog for several years about how it was (is) that I fell off the cushion - "Help - I can't get up!" There are times when we can find ourselves walking in balance. This sense of balance, much like that of the "weebles wobble and they don't fall down" - you fret not when times are rough; you know that, "what goes up, must come down." The cold of winter will one day be transformed into the budding growth of springtime. But what happens when things seem to turn into a proverbial "ice age." That all you have lived, all that you have learned, "implies a discovery of facts to which he does not know how to adapt himself."

Its hard to imagine that on December 4 th I was pouring cement and that the temperature was nearing 55 degrees. Yesterday we were hit with close to ten inches of snow followed by freezing rain, It made for a heavy mess. The next few days will see temperatures below the freezing mark. I am extremely grateful that I live in a fairly warm house. I used to heat exclusively with wood. Now I burn when I am home most evenings and on weekends. I was very blessed in that my daughter's boyfriend worked to gather, cut and split and stack almost two cords of wood for me this summer. One big-ass piece of oak burns away in my 1970's Vermont Castings stove right now. Thanks, Jake! I stood in my yard today trying to fill some holes and apply some insulation to areas that allow cold air to seep in. The wind was blowing hard in great rolling gusts that could be heard in the distance like far off giants in some forgotten fairy tale. Just as some smells awaken old memories, the sound of winter...

(Chapters 1 -6 posted earlier) City of peace The more regulations there are, the poorer the people. The more weapons there are, the greater the chaos. Lao Tzu Six years had passed since Bai, his cousin Feng, and Hong Xiuquan carried out the destruction of the shrine of King Gan. “Oh, how quickly my life has changed since that day,” Bai thought. He began to whittle the chronological order of things in his mind from those early days until now. Hong and Feng were held in such high regard among the God Worshipers for tearing down the idol of King Gan. However, the anger of the local villagers caused the arrest of Feng, his rescue, and of his arrest once again. The numbers of the God Worshipers increased in numbers and many that responded did so based on the sole reason of wanting to oppose the local magistrate who, with the aid the government militia moved into the hills around Thistle Mountain looking to oppose any group that would disrupt local tradition. After months of leng...