So, as some people here know, out in the Real World beyond our tight cybercommunity- it still exists, trust me, though in somewhat degraded form- I'#039#039m a professional musician. nbspnbsp Oh, I'#039#039ve done other things. I have and still do teach at a variety of levels- most people in the business do, even if they don'#039#039t '#039#039need'#039#039 the money; it'#039#039s an odd combination of truly wanting to share our art and experience with younger up-and-comers and the shoring up of the fragile-yet-often-immense egos so common in our field by showing that we '#039#039know better'#039#039 than someone else.

I'#039#039ve delivered bad restaurant food. For a while, I worked at a New Age bookstore and head shop- the stories from THAT place would be worth a blog in themselves. I even dipped a few toetips in the shallow pool of non-profit arts consulting, but that'#039#039s long since gone by the boards, devoured by economic slumps and larger and more versatile groups with, admittedly, more and better-trained staff. nbspnbsp Funny how the most under...

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I'#039#039ve tried to explain this to several people over the years and people look at me like I'#039#039m crazy. So, I'#039#039m going to try to explain it here and see if it doesn'#039#039t ring true for other creators, just in case someone out there knows what it is I am talking about.

Growing up, I was a bit of a spacey kid, often...

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As the Three Kingdoms era of China was coming to a close, there were two empires that remained in contention for total control; Jin and Wu. Among these forces were two enemy tacticians that had strained themselves and their armies against one another on the frontlines of war; Yang Hu (styled '#039#039Shuzi'#039#039) of Jin and Lu Kang (styled '#039#039Youjie'#039#039) of Wu.

Despite being enemies after a major conflict, the two had entered a détente -- or, an '#039#039easing of strained relations'#039#039. During this time, the two had a strange friendship from their sides of the theatre of war. Lu Kang had once sent wine to Yang Hu, who drank it without any suspicion. Later on, Lu Kang was reported to fall sick. Yang Hu had sent medicine to him in response, to which Lu Kang also took without suspecting anything. The people of that time remarked that the relationship between Lu Kang...

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This is what I tell myself. To shed that anxiety and stress when going outside in this current environment.

Not entirely Patch Adams in intention, though it more relates to the channeling of Law of Attraction. To focus on what brings joy. A Kondo'ing of the mind.

The grass is a lush green, sun-baked underneath a clear and beautiful sky. I laugh given the irony of the situation. It is a beautiful day, and most of known human life in my area have to stay home. A fortunate opportunity for me, given that I live in the outskirts by no man's land.

No neighborhood dogs roaming around, no delinquents causing a fuss. No neighbors partying until 4 a.m.

Nice.

Quiet.

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Exegesis is a fancy-pants term for reading a text, usually a religious text, and attempting to critically interpret the meaning of the work. It’s “Bible study” but what is studied about the Bible is its literary and rhetorical composition. It’s not taking for granted the truth of the accounts, but the meaning the author is attempting to convey through the use of relevant cultural references, language, and literary techniques. Essentially, it involves the analysis of the stories and texts through the eyes of the literary critic or folklorist examining any other piece of ancient mythology.

Before I go on, I do want to take a moment to discuss what I mean when I say that something is a myth. There ar...

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First and foremost I want to thank the staff for the opportunity for allowing me to help raise awareness of Emotional abuse, the members and other guests taking the time to read this as well and hopefully help spread the awareness, in helping other people like me find the strength to break the cycle of abuse.




This...

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[floatleft][img width=250 padding=5]https://static.gamespot.com/uploads/original/172/1720905/3549616-review_imperatorrome.jpg[/img][/floatleft]The Roman Republic is a fascinating subject of study for the student of history. One of the biggest things you’ll learn if you trace the rise and fall of the Republic is just how virulently anti-monarchical the Romans were. From legend, this is a repudiation of the idea of absolute power in the hands of a single person after the Rape of Lucretia, which probably never happened any more than George Washington and his Cherry Tree, but as founding myths go, it does a wonderful job of telling the allegory of Roman hatred of monarchy. Even centuries later, the rumor that Tiberius Gracchus had as...

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A troubling conversation spurned between a peer of mine and myself concerning abuse and a victim'#039#039s choice to forgive them. This sparked from thoughts regarding human redemption that has been a reoccurring theme in my talks, lately.

As a disclaimer, I will say that if you suffered any serious abusive tribulation... you have a choice on how you deal with it (or don'#039#039t). I am not one to judge you for that choice, as it belongs to you. You do you. Just as what I write here and say are by my own choice. I choose to forgive my abuser. Now, I will begin with the points used against me in this decision:

"quotquotBut you can'#039#039t/shouldn'#039#039t really forgive monsters like this. It sets a bad example for our society."quotquot

No, it doesn'#039#039t. This is a misrepresentation of equating a victim'#039#039s choice to heal as being the same as enabling the abuse. These are not the same. In my case this is a choice to s...

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It was in a waking dream this morning. This was what it took for me to realize what matters to me. What drives me to act as I do. What compels me to utter the words I say. Those among the many that I cherish deeply even while I only feel valued by the few. What seems to be untouched depths of the heart. That which was unclear before, now a kindling fire of what motivates the 'human spirit'. Is that to belong to fate or myself? Is the dream only a dream? A naive sentiment for an uncharted destination? Am I the sentry, the kind soul that weathers the vehement storm? Am I truly the architect of my own destiny?

Could this dream manifest in reality?

Footsteps, we continue to walk... until we find answers on our own. Sometimes, we cannot afford to simply kneel.