Eyepoet's Spiritual Technology eZine

but then
as eye grew older
eye learned
that His Big Bag of Love

was just imagination
(why, it wasn't even in the Bible!)
and that love was
too important
too scarce

to be squandered
it had to be rationed
& given only to those who
were good enough

who obeyed
and eye've had trouble
sleeping
ever since.

when Eye was little
after my prayers
Eye would rock & smile myself to sleep
because Eye knew
Jesus kept this Big Bag of Love
right there
above His Head

and whenever Eye needed some
He would give me enough
to fill my little heart
and His Bag would never ever
run out.

-Jesse Alexander

By Jesse Alexander

A Sermon, Sunday, April 17, 2011

Readings

“Whether the response is coming from local or state officials—or both—most emergency management agencies and government plans assume it may take 24 to 72 hours to get assistance to individuals, particularly those who remain in affected areas. Consequently, successful emergency management can, in part, depend on individuals’ […] preparedness to survive independently for the 24 to 72 hours that responders expect it will take to first deliver assistance.” From “A FAILURE OF INITIATIVE Final Report of the Select Bipartisan Committee to Investigate the Preparation for and Response to Hurricane Katrina U.S. House of Representatives

for Wilmore O. Henry
(a found poem, from the The Encyclopedia of Trains & Locomotives by C. J. Riley)

despite the ravages of the depression
     magnificent
     elegant
one of the most handsome of any type
     revolutionary

tremendous acceleration and ability to storm up the grades
at no loss of speed
     extraordinary
     impressive
clearly superior

served faithfully for many years
an unqualified success
outlasted everything else
an exemplary locomotive
holds a very special place in railroad history.

The conventional wisdom says that following our "bliss" is the same as picking the path of least resistance--that the "right" path is the same as the easy path!

I've always had doubts about this story. It just doesn't ring true.

I'm reminded of the story my father told about an acquaintance who was a classical pianist. This pianist didn't have perfect pitch. In fact, he didn't show a particular musical talent as a child. And he had to practice 3 times harder than his presumably talented colleagues to achieve the same performance level.

Using the current conventional wisdom we would ask "Why did he bother?" We would draw the conclusion that he was obviously "not made to be" a concert pianist, and that he should choose another line of work more suited to his "path".

For the past few years (off and on) I've been looking for better and faster (as in data rate or bandwidth) to support emergency communications. And, I'm particularly interested in the self healing, robust nature of wireless mesh networks.

Years ago there was a lot of buzz about the High-speed multimedia radio (HSMM) (AKA Hinternet), but that has since died down (at least in the ARRL) because the interest of some well-connected amateur radio operators in supporting a for-profit Wireless ISP model. As well, international organizations like, Inveneo, are providing mesh-based HSMM service in support of NGO/NPO relief efforts in Haiti--handling more emergency, priority, and "health and welfare" traffic for served agencies than amateur radio.

sniff-test: (noun) the test of an electronic circuit during which the experimenter applies power and attempts to detect the success or failure of the circuit by the absence or presence of the smell of something burning. Usually the scent of a component burning indicates failure.

Barbara Ehrenreich, in her new book, has busted "the magical thinking" of The Secret wide open during the tour for her new book Bright-sided
How the Relentless Promotion of Positive
Thinking Has Undermined America. And given permission to cynics like myself to air our long held misgivings and problems with the fad and the book.

There has been entirely too much controversy about whether or not President Obama deserves the Nobel Peace Prize, and not enough clear and critical thinking. Apparently pundits get paid by the word.

I find it hilariously hypocritical of those on the right to hold up Martin Luther King as an example of the "ideal" recipient of the award, when only "yesterday" they opposed just about everything Dr. King supported.

I'm thoroughly enjoying listening and watching them flail about their lack of influence over the Nobel committee.

As well, people on the left are pissed at the President because he has continued the country's involvement in two wars despite his campaign promises.

he
was too black & scary &

he
lied
& told the truth at inopportune times
& inopportune ways &

For those of you that have not been following me on twitter or facebook, I've been attempting to get Verizon to repair FiOS service to my house for almost two and a half weeks now.

I'm solving this problem by switching to service from a competitor. But that's not important. What is important is that I had a chance to observe some patterns of behavior that have prevented Verizon from solving my problem.