A Quiz
Here's a little quiz I found in the kid's section of today's paper. The winner gets to run for the next presidency:
Abraham Lincoln was the only president to:
A. Play golf
B. Obtain a patent
C. Wear a stovepipe hat
Lincoln was known for what annoying habit?
A. Insomnia
B. Biting his nails
C. Rude language
While in the White House, Lincoln often hosted:
A. Seances
B. Square dances
C. Archery tournaments
At Lincoln's inaugural party, Frederick Douglas was:
A. Given an award
B. Announced as "Francis"
C. Thrown out
What did Lincoln have in his pocket the night he died?
A. An apple
B. A $5 Confederate bill
C. Opera glasses
Answers:1. B. (he invented a device to help lift ships over dangerous shoals....just like an Aquarius. 2.A 3.A (after the death of their son, Lincoln and his wife held several seances to try and contact him...interesting. 4.C. 5.B.
Photograph by Sonja Bullaty and Angelo Lomeo
posted by jm at 3:40 PM
63 Comments:
It just dawned on me. Picking a candidate now is like picking someone from the line-up down at the city jail.
The only one where I wasn't sure was the one about his pocket. Fancy that. The things people need to know to run for high office.
OMG. Something else just dawned on me.
The USA has a SN in the 2nd, meaning bondage to money. It's now out of control and the huge amounts are buying us nothing. Our greed is causing major breakdowns.
I just noticed something phenomenal. The node was transited by Neptune, guess when? Yup. September 11...the World Trade Center and our financial standing. I can't believe I missed this. Neptune was exact at 6 degrees Aquarius on the South Node, just about to station and go direct. Dissolving our prehensile grip on the material. Of course it has yet to play out fully. But mostly I think the inner understanding of how little we really have for what we spend, is percolating. This current pantheon of paid for politicians is alarmingly empty and cheap.
This is heartening. I always felt that time was a turning point and now I know for sure. It will be interesting to see how it unfolds. The economic summit at Davos has been quite revealing if anyone has been following it.
Really???? You should have gotten that one!
How did you know about the seances? I found that very interesting.
Funny about the $5 bill. Apparently he had some monetary system flap going on...nationalizing the currency, I've heard, and this is why he was assassinated.
"How did you know about the seances? I found that very interesting."
Oh, I'm not sure. Maybe it was when I took a one-semester philosophy course one year in Hawaii -- it was History of Parapsychology or something like that.
OOOOH JM your observation of the south node in the 2nd being transited on 9/11 gave me chills...of recognition. Feels like truth to me.
OMG about Neptune on 9/11.
And OMG about this: Apparently he had some monetary system flap going on...nationalizing the currency, I've heard, and this is why he was assassinated.
OMG.... There is evidence that Kennedy was planning to do something major with the monetary system, prior to his assassination.
Remember the other, eerie parallels between AL's and JFK's presidencies?
This monetary system overhaul isn't mentioned when you do a general search engine, such as this:
http://hnn.us/articles/1109.html
I had a link to the connection between Kennedy and the overhaul of the monetary system but I lost it when my bookmarks were deleted by a virus earlier this summer... damn.
Found something, anyway. Don't know if this is common knowledge but it's worth repeating:
"In 1963, President John Kennedy wanted an end to the Federal Reserve System, which had a strangle-hold on the United States and virtually the world. By a simple stroke of the pen, President Kennedy dismissed the Federal Resene System and ordered the U.S. governmcnt to restore its Constitutional-mandate of controlling the money. President Kennedy was dead three weeks later. When President Lyndon Johnson took office, he immediately rescinded Kennedy's order and the Federal Reserve won another round."
link
Executive Order 11110.
You are on to something JM Neptune on our SN-
And Joe reminds us of Prez Wilson selling the country down the river in a secret midnight deal to the fed reserve. Guess when? Uranus transiting US south node.
Tseka, I felt the same way when I discovered that today. Very strange that I either don't remember or overlooked it before. But when I see these exact touches I feel very reassured. A lot of money issues ahead.
There is evidence that Kennedy was planning to do something major with the monetary system, prior to his assassination.
Yes Joe!!!!!! I heard the same thing.
I'm sure with the Capricorn something is coming. It'll be the 2nd house.
It really hit me today about the expense of launching these horrible people into office. What our money is buying. Value learning time ahead.
a one-semester philosophy course one year in Hawaii -- it was History of Parapsychology or something like that.
That sounds odd enough.
Whoa!!!!!
And Joe reminds us of Prez Wilson selling the country down the river in a secret midnight deal to the fed reserve. Guess when? Uranus transiting US south node.
Thank you tseka!
Joe, this is the story I heard, and that LBJ was implicated. I wouldn't be surprised if this comes up in the coming years. Some people believe that simple nationalization of our treasury would solve many of our problems. If the people can get power back.
Very interesting to note is that the National Treasury chart also has a SN in Taurus. It's written everywhere for us.
Neptune will be transiting the USA Moon next, the ruler of the 8th house...other people's money. This will be very very interesting.
You will love the node investigation coming up. It applies to so many things.
"That sounds odd enough."
Good for easy credits. ;-)
Oh man, I need some easy credits! And then some easy money. Will I have to go to some exotic port?
What were you doing in Hawaii anyway?
I love their music and I was told their alphabet has 13 letters. Lots of repetition conducive to music.
Wow, you folks are onto some amazing stuff. Re: JFK's attempt to undo the Fed, I recall that JFK had a loaded 8th house, including several planets in Taurus. And didn't his chart have Neptune in early Leo, near the USA's node, as well as Saturn in Cancer 180 USA Pluto (as W does)?
"What were you doing in Hawaii anyway?"
Oh, I had some family there at the time, and the University was a quality institution to try out. All warm weather and rainy seasons; people complained about the one unusually cold morning when the temperature dropped to around 60 degrees Farenheit.
"I love their music and I was told their alphabet has 13 letters. Lots of repetition conducive to music."
Delightful music, comfortable, healthy, celebratory and flowing. According to the Wikipedia, "Hawaii's musical contributions to the music of the United States are out of proportion to the state's small size. Styles like slack-key guitar are well-known worldwide, while Hawaiian-tinged music is a frequent part of Hollywood soundtracks. Hawaii also made a major contribution to country music with the introduction of the steel guitar."
One day, a visiting aunt declared that the islands had some really nice pop songs that she didn't get to hear at home. Which was generally true, but the song she mistakenly cited as an example turned out only to be a new Debbie Harry song -- "The Tide Is High (but I'm holding on, I'm gonna be your number one)" -- that was released on the mainland precisely when the aunt was traveling. There was a funny one on the radio stations at the time about everyone wanting some "sweet okole" (pronounced like "oh-KOH-lee"), something about girls on bikes and guys in black boxers, I think.
The language is intriguing, full of repeated syllables, a different stress pattern, and rhythms fun to roll off the tongue. Ho'-no-lu-lu, Ma'-no-a. And it was good to be exposed to the island mythos.
That's interesting, Kad. Recently, a local early-music ensemble performed ancient music from Hawai'i as one of their members is originally from Kaua'i. Titled Oli And Mele, the performance featured compositions by Queen Lili'uokalani, some cowboy-style numbers and many traditional instruments.
I missed the performance but I'm told it was very unusual, and very much a departure from the Rose Ensemble's usual style of European and Mexican early music.
Sounds wonderful, joe! It's interesting how Hawaii changed over the centuries and finally became a significant cross-cultural center between East and West, moving from isolation to being a global influence in culture and research.
"HA-vai-ee" certainly has a colorful history, complex, caste-structured and war-prone (seeming so unlike the surviving spirit of aloha and welcoming mahalos). I remember being taken with the folklore about little people called menehunes, and myths about a red-haired volcano goddess.
Speaking of finance, I just heard that someone I knew was accused of embezzlement. And everyone else thought he'd done so well for himself from rough beginnings. I remember when he was just a charming kid. If the allegations are true, then it seems like another case of someone who thought he'd escaped his roots, only to recreate them on a grand scale. Must be very difficult for his family.
It's a huge shock to families, although I think those traits are there and maybe mothers aren't as surprised as they seem. I wonder why he did it, if he wanted the money or the thrill. And if there were any signs in retrospect.
Hawaii also made a major contribution to country music with the introduction of the steel guitar."
This connection alwys facinated me and I mention often in conversation.
The ancient music is beautiful. Gentle with subtle dynamics. I think they worship nature in their music.
HA-vai-ee" certainly has a colorful history, complex, caste-structured and war-prone (seeming so unlike the surviving spirit of aloha and welcoming mahalos This is why I wanted to go into anthropology. I wonder what happened to the war prone tendency. The smoking violent volcanoes are always there as a reminder.
I wonder what changes societies so much.
Oh I know...tourists!!
"I wonder why he did it, if he wanted the money or the thrill. And if there were any signs in retrospect."
I have no idea. My aforementioned aunt declared that she is quite shocked by the news. She'd always worked hard for her wealth, lived frugally, and managed it all well.
It happened mostly within the last year or so. I've had the impression that he'd gone off into like a different world professionally and socially. Which was fine, but there was a subtle unfulfilling material undertone that I didn't like, although there was nothing I could put a figurative finger on.
His father was estranged and a ne'er-do-well due to a gambling addiction. His mother died a few years back. One of my relatives married into that family, but we're not related to them by blood.
It sounded like he went on pleasure and spending sprees. Perhaps a form of grandiosity. The brain chemicals are imbalanced.
I can wonder if some constitutional vulnerability finally gave way, due to emotions, stress or physical wear and tear. Rather like how certain conditions are more likely to manifest as the brain ages, possibly always latent but compensated to a degree by youth or good health.
"I think they worship nature in their music."
Yes, and after all, much of their environment was paradisical to see.
"I wonder what happened to the war prone tendency. The smoking violent volcanoes are always there as a reminder.
"I wonder what changes societies so much.
"Oh I know...tourists!!"
LOL!! Apparently, they finally figured out there were other ways to live than in the feudal-like monarchic systems of the past. That might have helped.
So, your flippant answer was not too far off!
His father was estranged and a ne'er-do-well due to a gambling addiction
Hmmmmm....
Very interested in the chemistry behind gambling and this is connected. Risk and thrill.
Got a birthday?
Apparently, they finally figured out there were other ways to live than in the feudal-like monarchic systems of the past
It seems that given time societies can do this. It is all so interesting. There have to be specific changes that make survival depend on peace and cooperation. I want to know what they are. Hopefully, I'll live long enough to indulge my interest in anthroplogy. Perhaps in the big comfortable bed I plan to spend my very last years in, relaxing in my frail(?) state.
I'd have to ask my mother the next time I see her whether she happens to know any of their birthdays.
Let me ask you a question.
feudal-like monarchic systems
Do you know if these systems are the majority in the world today?
"There have to be specific changes that make survival depend on peace and cooperation. I want to know what they are."
Mm, yes. And the world at large is slowly awakenening to the need to know them, and to consciously enact them.
Well it's the same impulse. Easy excess money. Beating the system. At least gambling isn't formal stealing.
Will he do time? A lot of money? And of course he wanted to get caught. How did that happen?
Rather like how certain conditions are more likely to manifest as the brain ages
At the same time, other conditions diminish. Very interesting the flux and constant attempt to find equilibrium.
"Do you know if these systems are the majority in the world today?"
Hmm, political science is not my thing. But per the Wikipedia, "Since 1800, many of the world's monarchies have ceased to have a monarch and become republics, or become parliamentary democracies." And many surviving monarchies have little actual power in their political systems. So Hawaii's transition was right in the midst of the global trend.
And the world at large is slowly awakenening to the need to know them, and to consciously enact them.
It does appear that way. As a whole, the behavior has improved. As we realize in the upcoming years the facts about resource conservation and renewal, I venture to guess even more cooperation will enter.
There does seem to be a natural progression given enough time.
I wonder if behavior changes heredity. Changing geographics/demographics affect patterns and heredity maybe.
Natural selection.
Since 1800, many of the world's monarchies have ceased to have a monarch and become republics, or become parliamentary democracies."
Excellent. That seems about right timewise with other factors I've looked at.
Now I'd like to know what causes these transformations. Industrialization?
"Will he do time? A lot of money?"
Yes, a lot. He's pleading innocent, though it's hard to see how that will fly. If convicted, there's a maximum prison sentence of twenty years.
"And of course he wanted to get caught. How did that happen?"
I can't really say that I knew him well enough to presume that as a significant motive. It's not clear how he was caught, but to me it sounds irrational.
"Now I'd like to know what causes these transformations. Industrialization?"
LOL! From Leo to Aquarius?
Maybe it's like a Rubic's cube. You can make interesting symmetric patterns appear from an apparently disordered state. However, although there are many possible choices, all possible states are constrained and intrinsic to the design of the cube. The existence and circumstance of each component make opportunities and contraints for all other components.
These crimes are motivated by strange things. Confinement is part of the desire. Stealing is particularly interesting to me. Every human does it on some level. We want what someone else has. I'm sure it goes back to survival and changing resources.
So much war is motivated by this, which is why I always talk about our own look at ourselves as the ultimate fundamental cure.
The eye darts automatically to what others hold.
You can make interesting symmetric patterns appear from an apparently disordered state. However, although there are many possible choices, all possible states are constrained and intrinsic to the design of the cube
Aha!! Back to the basic question. Are we governed by an overall order, trying to re-establish itself? Are we learning through these trials and errors to reunite? Who's in charge?
"Are we governed by an overall order, trying to re-establish itself?"
That could be one of those debates that can't get very far without defining basic terms in a consistent way for everyone -- which may not be a easy task.
Atheists see impersonal order where creationists see conscious design, and order and design are not necessarily the same concept to everyone.
Some people think everything is already basically orderly, and the patterns simply change and evolve to more sophisticated expressions. One could consider the world's evolution as a evaluative system processing a problem, generating and testing potential solutions to arrive at a satisfactory result. Or maybe there's some other perspective that's closer to fundamental reality.
"Who's in charge?"
Pick your favorite philosophy, I guess! If power is shared and free will is real in any sense, then everything contributes to the co-creation of reality.
"As we realize in the upcoming years the facts about resource conservation and renewal, I venture to guess even more cooperation will enter."
Absolutely. The writing's on the wall, and enough people will really care once they see it and know it's real.
One could consider the world's evolution as a evaluative system processing a problem, generating and testing potential solutions to arrive at a satisfactory result.
I like this one.
If power is shared and free will is real in any sense, then everything contributes to the co-creation of reality.
This I'm sure of. Every single act by every person influences the outcome. It's always the sum of the parts. Integration. One. Unity. Just like the individual body with its warring phagocytes and everything else within. the unit survives.
I do like the concept of creating as we go by experimentation.
The writing's on the wall, and enough people will really care once they see it and know it's real.
It very interesting and quite a pleasure to see this unfold progressively. I was born conserving...probably drank just the minimum amount of milk..:-)
And now it's enjoyable for me to see others become more and more aware of their actions. This is the extra benefit. As they conserve they become more conscious of all their actions. Mindfulness resulting, and a better world environment for me.
"And now it's enjoyable for me to see others become more and more aware of their actions. This is the extra benefit. As they conserve they become more conscious of all their actions."
That's an excellent point. A return to quality after the pursuit of quantity.
The excesses of today will be unthinkable in future. Good thing the healthy brain is flexible and adaptive.
return to quality after the pursuit of quantity.
The pendulum. Perhaps in the Capricorn years?
I might have been waiting patiently for this. Waiting for the audience to cease demanding volume and excess in all ways. To start to listen and peer into the product rather than amass more of it. And also look for its durability.
The excesses of today will be unthinkable in future. Good thing the healthy brain is flexible and adaptive.
This is a great thought. How we look back to an almost unrecognizable past. The adaptability of the brain is one of my most treasured things in life.
Rigidity is reqired for the matrix, but even bone is flexible. Then the outer boundary is rigid/flexible like this. In between is great fluidity. Everything is going someplace else, it seems. The routes are free.
"This I'm sure of. Every single act by every person influences the outcome. It's always the sum of the parts."
And then the something greater than the sum of its parts emerges, unfolds, like the way chemical compounds, and life forms, can surprisingly exhibit emergent properties unapparent in the component elements.
If, on the other hand, power is not shared at all amongst centers of consciousness, and it absolutely belongs to something theologically separate from the created (as some fundamentalist religionists believe), then we are like puppets, and unreal. In that case, the tragedy (or perhaps relief to some who fear power and responsibility) of our becoming aware of that fact doesn't actually matter because we won't really exist in a deep sense.
Touching on the luck factor from a previous thread, I think it's been better understood nowadays that the human being who grows more conscious, and begins to act according to her or his awareness, has more creative options than the unconscious person. The conscious person has greater resources and operates as an integral part of larger systems and the whole. Spiritual protection can be real. The unconscious person will not consciously recognize her or his own hand in fate, and be unable to identify with the forces that form and stream through experience. Fate may appear either beneficient or punitive, but it will seem to come from without.
Persons who are finally trapped by outer circumstances have finally at least the opportunity that was always present, however faintly, of becoming acquainted with themselves and learning what really matters. Like our erstwhile embezzler who can weigh what societal expectations, family, spouse and child have meant to him thus far, and can mean in future, given the sudden loss of reputation and success. Life entails risk, avoiding risk is also a gamble, and perhaps it is that some issues ignored too long reappear as pursuing furies.
A friend who started taking tai chi lessons once asked my opinion about when someone could know he was ready to be a teacher. He was musing on how some students eventually became teachers, and how to identify quality teachers. I suggested that one marker is that the lessons and practice were well integrated, and generalized beyond the original forms of presentation to be a positive influence in other areas of life and on other people. The would-be teacher has reference points demonstrating the value of his knowledge.
I'm inclined to think that knowledge's challenge in the sphere of earth is to integrate itself into life, to make it fully real or realized, in some way. Some people can meditate to achieve heightened states and insights, but stall in their personality growth and in dealing with relationship issues. The importance of ethical action in some spiritual traditions is one counter to that.
Rephrase: The would-be teacher should have reference points, see the value of expertise demonstrated in life. :-) If not, then why not?
Your comment is full.
The conscious person has greater resources and operates as an integral part of larger systems and the whole. Spiritual protection can be real.
I know this from my experience. I have always relied on spritual protection. But of course, I don't consider bad events really bad. Just a conduit in my path, my destiny. Necessary, nothing can be eliminated. I see the value in all experience and feel an innate sense of protection. It is very very real. One thing leads perfectly to another.
can surprisingly exhibit emergent properties unapparent in the component elements.
Part of the plan. The grand urge to experiment and discover the unexpected. The "risk" of the lab when you put elements together and take your chances that the building won't blow.
In that case, the tragedy (or perhaps relief to some who fear power and responsibility) of our becoming aware of that fact doesn't actually matter because we won't really exist in a deep sense.
The lesson of Leo and the sun.
Life entails risk, avoiding risk is also a gamble, and perhaps it is that some issues ignored too long reappear as pursuing furies.
Very very beautifully put and true.
The erstwhile embezzler is pursuing himself. A meeting. A moment of truth.
The pursuing furies is such a good image. There are wind and change involved. seemingly uncontrolled movement. A great challenge in eveyone's life as these urges are necesary and will surface...taking many different forms.
Some people can meditate to achieve heightened states and insights, but stall in their personality growth and in dealing with relationship issues.
I think relationships are vital in this integration of knowledge with life. There is a unique mirroring in others of ourselves that we must have. Our endless search for the right ones are those that reflect who we are becoming...probably. A very fascinating dynamic as we intergrate and separate a trillion times per second in relationship.
The question of the teacher is a great one.
In other words...practice.
lessons and practice were well integrated, and generalized beyond the original forms of presentation to be a positive influence in other areas of life and on other people
Generalized is the key. Beyond the personal need to some extent. The personal need becomes the exchange, dissemination rather than the original lesson.
I think experience is part of the key, which is why books are limited. Lectures too. The great teacher doesn't pontificate but arouses the motivation to seek.
I can never decide whether the student finds the teacher or vice versa. Both, as the knowledge finds its transfer in the relationship and magnetism comes into action.
Both the student and the teacher are exactly equal.
It's interesting with the embezzler, and all of our not so obvious embezzlers, how money so often becomes a point of fury and self confrontation. I am completely fascinated by the symbolism of money.
It's supposed to be a medium of exchange, but is this case, the exchange is blurred. A path to some obscure place.
Also the extraction from an unwilling source made so easy. It would seem endless until the point is reached. the confrontation with the wall. A mythological journey. Embezzling is interesting. A solo act, private, yet destined to be revealed. An extraction from the self?
"Both, as the knowledge finds its transfer in the relationship and magnetism comes into action."
Yes, I think so. And from one point of view, it would look as if the student enters the orbit of the teacher, but it is a shift in frequency of the student's energy.
A more light-hearted cubic demonstration from New York City. ;-)
It's good to know they are suitably occcupied..:-)
Pd
recall that JFK had a loaded 8th house, including several planets in Taurus.
Thank you so much for the info. Makes sense. Perfect sense.
Nancy Pelosi also has a lot of Taurus/Scorpio. Money issues will be big.
An interesting article on financial fraud: "Six common myths about fraud;
if not debunked, they can obscure the existence of white-collar crime". It predicts that as the population ages, violent crimes decrease but white collar crime increases. In one study, "40% of all white-collar criminals were female, but only 2% of those who committed violent offenses were women."
Most frauds stem from a combination of three factors together: motive (financial problems), opportunity and weak values. Perpetrators seem to operate on an instinctive level of reward and punishment, and come from all walks of life which makes them difficult to recognize.
In one study, "40% of all white-collar criminals were female, but only 2% of those who committed violent offenses were women."
40% is interesting. Verifies my suspicions.
Perpetrators seem to operate on an instinctive level of reward and punishment
Isn't everythng based on this?
I don't know. Apparently, altruistic brains don't light up their reward systems the same as selfish brains, per the article Neith cited. So there is something to be differentiated there.
I just try not to seem too reductionistic or overreaching. :-) Perhaps everything anyone can say is like an impressionist's painting.
But anyway, I think they really mean something that might fit with something like Kohlberg's levels of moral development. Instinctive levels of reward and punishment would correspond to the first two levels.
Apparently, altruistic brains don't light up their reward systems the same as selfish brains
That deserves some study. Maybe it's the type of reward. And more subtle unselfish types don't register the same way. Different brain parts.
Kohlberg's levels of moral development.
?
Well, I don't feel a particular need to explore it too much. The issue raised is, of course, different from the context of the statement in the article. I just remember that philosophers warn against using terms too broadly, because then they begin to lose definite meaning and things can easily get muddled. Delving into ethical reasoning is a large endeavor.
Kohlberg's levels of moral development was an attempt to identify developmental stages of moral reasoning. At the lower levels, the implicit question seems to be "Why be good?" But at the highest, it's been suggested that the question changes to "Why live?" How the individual answers such questions indicates the level of moral development.
Perhaps the existence of a reward can be considered separately from whether it was a major motivation behind an action. The desire for reward suggests a sense of lack. But sometimes we are moved by a sense of overflowing radiance that may reflect the power of undistorted being.
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