Nature . . .

. . . cannot be changed . . .



(from John Adams by David McCullough)
". . . To Adams nothing had changed about human nature since the time of trhe ancients. Inequities within society were inevitable, no matter the political order. Human beings were capable of great good, but also great evil. Thus it had always been and thus it would ever be. He quoted Rousseau's description of th "that hideous sight, the human heart," and recounted that even Dr. Priestley had said that such were the weaknesses and folly of men, "their love of domination, selfishness, and depravity," that none could be elevated above others without risk of danger. . . How he wished it were not so, Adams wrote. Thucydides had said the source of all evils was "a thirst of power, from rapacious and ambitious passions," and Adams agreed. . ."

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Bravery . . .

brav·er·y
ˈbrāv(ə)rē/Submit
noun
courageous behavior or character.
synonyms: courage, valor, intrepidity, nerve, daring, fearlessness, audacity, boldness, dauntlessness, stoutheartedness, heroism


Security is mostly a superstition. It does not exist in nature,
nor do the children of men as a whole experience it.
Avoiding danger is no safer in the long run than outright exposure.
Life is either a daring adventure, or nothing.
To keep our faces toward change and behave like free spirits
in the presence of fate is strength undefeatable.
– Helen Keller

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Bears . . .

. . . repeating. . . 

.

(from NBCNews.com) ". . . The following are Dr. Kent Brantly's prepared remarks given at a news conference at Emory University Hospital in August 2014, provided by his charity Samaritan's Purse:

"Today is a miraculous day. I am thrilled to be alive, to be well and to be reunited with my family. . . We moved to Liberia because God called us to serve the people of Liberia. . . As I lay in my bed in Liberia for the following nine days, getting sicker and weaker each day, I prayed that God would help me to be faithful even in my illness, and I prayed that in my life or in my death, He would be glorified. . . I have learned since, that there were thousands, maybe even millions of people around the world praying for me throughout that week, and even still today. . . what I can tell you is that I serve a faithful God who answers prayers. . . God saved my life — a direct answer to thousands and thousands of prayers. . . with the love and mercy of Jesus Christ. . . Please do not stop praying for the people of Liberia and West Africa. . . I am forever thankful to God for sparing my life . . . "


Guess the Doc never thought science, nature, germs and choices had ANYTHING to do with it, or why for that matter, his God chose him over the many Liberian folks who, presumably without the thousands of 'prayers' HE received, did happen to die.

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Learning . . .

. . . from the past . .

(from Doctor Faustus by Thomas Mann, translation by John E. Woods)
". . . One can call what came to light here the dark possibilities within human nature in general-but is was in fact tens of thousands, hundreds of thousands of Germans who committed the acts before which humanity shudders, and whatever lived as German stands now as an abomination and the epitome of evil. What will it be like to belong to a nation whose history bore this gruesome fiasco within it, a nation that has driven itself mad, gone psychologically bankrupt, that admittedly depairs of governing itself . . . that will have to live in isolated confinement, like the Jews of the ghetto, because the dreadfully swollen hatred all around it will not permit it to step outside its borders-a nation that cannot show its face? . . ."

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Know . . .

. . . your enemy . . .


(from http://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2015/03/what-isis-really-wants/384980/)
". . . The Islamic State, also known as the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS), follows a distinctive variety of Islam whose beliefs about the path to the Day of Judgment matter to its strategy, and can help the West know its enemy and predict its behavior. Its rise to power is less like the triumph of the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt (a group whose leaders the Islamic State considers apostates) than like the realization of a dystopian alternate reality in which David Koresh or Jim Jones survived to wield absolute power over not just a few hundred people, but some 8 million.

We have misunderstood the nature of the Islamic State in at least two ways. First, we tend to see jihadism as monolithic, and to apply the logic of al‑Qaeda to an organization that has decisively eclipsed it. The Islamic State supporters I spoke with still refer to Osama bin Laden as “Sheikh Osama,” a title of honor. But jihadism has evolved since al-Qaeda’s heyday, from about 1998 to 2003, and many jihadists disdain the group’s priorities and current leadership. . . "

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and don't forget to visit http://www.ohomusic.com 

My latest solo offering, Just More Music by Ray Jozwiak, featuring original, instrumental piano music is now available at - Just More Music by Ray Jozwiak

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Interpretation . . .

I never have put much stock in the interpretation of dreams. The vast and varied array of characters, places and circumstances always appeared to be too outrageous, too unbelievable, to be able to place any stock in or to glean any worthy or rational lesson, instruction or insight therefrom. It almost seemed as if the nature, detail or level of gruesomeness contained in my dreams was purely the result of the food that I consumed at the dinner table and nothing more.

But now in my increasing years (and hopefully accompanying wisdom) dreams, like so many other aspects of life that I (and we all) ponder from time to time, no longer seem to be such a cut-and-dried affair (black-and-white, if you will and NO pun intended). On a (for lack of a better word) 'higher' plane, and when one does not attempt to skew, elucidate or embellish the significance of any one aspect, interpreting dreams may not be so ridiculous a pursuit as I once thought.

In short, I now view dreams in a broad, very, very human way as first, reflecting many and varied thoughts that cross our minds during the course of a normal day.  But in addition to a reflection, maybe dreams are also a mechanism to reassure, comfort, or even dare I say - instruct us about situations or issues with which we are confronted being the mortal animals that we are. Much like the strength we glean from the support of friends, family and community in the instance of an abnormal human tragedy.  Or even not unlike the comfort we receive during bereavement which girds and grounds and sends us back into the fray of our everyday lives.

What do you think?
Tell me at
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OHO's "Ocean City Ditty," the CD single is now available at http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/oho4
(and, if you're in town, at Trax On Wax on Frederick Rd. in Catonsville, MD) OHO is Jay Graboski, David Reeve & Ray Jozwiak.  Please Visit http://www.ohomusic.com 


My latest solo offering, Just More Music by Ray Jozwiak, featuring original, instrumental piano music is now available at - Just More Music by Ray Jozwiak

(To Access all Ray Jozwiak - Gonzo Piano music you can copy-and-paste this URL directly to
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Lines . . .

. . . Written in Early Spring
BY WILLIAM WORDSWORTH

I heard a thousand blended notes,
While in a grove I sate reclined,
In that sweet mood when pleasant thoughts
Bring sad thoughts to the mind.

To her fair works did Nature link
The human soul that through me ran;
And much it grieved my heart to think
What man has made of man.

Through primrose tufts, in that green bower,
The periwinkle trailed its wreaths;
And ’tis my faith that every flower
Enjoys the air it breathes.

The birds around me hopped and played,
Their thoughts I cannot measure:—
But the least motion which they made
It seemed a thrill of pleasure.

The budding twigs spread out their fan,
To catch the breezy air;
And I must think, do all I can,
That there was pleasure there.

If this belief from heaven be sent,
If such be Nature’s holy plan,
Have I not reason to lament
What man has made of man?


(from http://www.poetryfoundation.org/poem/181415)
Source: The Longman Anthology of Poetry (Pearson, 2006)


Hope
from Ambience & Wine
©2012 Raymond M. Jozwiak
available at CD Baby

What do you think?

Tell me at
http://www.rayjozwiak.com/guestbook.html  or at
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OHO's "Ocean City Ditty," the CD single is now available at http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/oho4
(and, if you're in town, at Trax On Wax on Frederick Rd. in Catonsville, MD) OHO is Jay Graboski, David Reeve & Ray Jozwiak.  Please Visit http://www.ohomusic.com 


My latest solo offering, Just More Music by Ray Jozwiak, featuring original, instrumental piano music will be released April 7, 2014  Just More Music by Ray Jozwiak

(To Access all Ray Jozwiak - Gonzo Piano music you can copy-and-paste this URL directly to
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Lines. . .

. . . Written in Early Spring. . . 

(By William Wordsworth)

I heard a thousand blended notes,

While in a grove I sate reclined,

In that sweet mood when pleasant thoughts

Bring sad thoughts to the mind.

To her fair works did Nature link

The human soul that through me ran;

And much it grieved my heart to think

What man has made of man.

Through primrose tufts, in that green bower,

The periwinkle trailed its wreaths;

And ’tis my faith that every flower

Enjoys the air it breathes.

The birds around me hopped and played,

Their thoughts I cannot measure:—

But the least motion which they made

It seemed a thrill of pleasure.

The budding twigs spread out their fan,

To catch the breezy air;

And I must think, do all I can,

That there was pleasure there.

If this belief from heaven be sent,

If such be Nature’s holy plan,

Have I not reason to lament

What man has made of man?

Source: The Longman Anthology of Poetry (Pearson, 2006)

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http://www.rayjozwiak.com/guestbook.html

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newest release:
AMBIENCE & WINE

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Spring . . .

 

. . . will be here in only 91 days (as of this writing) and boy, am I looking forward to it.


Written in Early Spring
William Wordsworth

I HEARD a thousand blended notes  
While in a grove I sate reclined,  
In that sweet mood when pleasant thoughts  
Bring sad thoughts to the mind.  

To her fair works did Nature link          
The human soul that through me ran;  
And much it grieved my heart to think  
What Man has made of Man.  

Through primrose tufts, in that sweet bower,  
The periwinkle trail’d its wreaths;          
And ’tis my faith that every flower  
Enjoys the air it breathes.  

The birds around me hopp’d and play’d,  
Their thoughts I cannot measure,—  
But the least motion which they made          
It seem’d a thrill of pleasure.  

The budding twigs spread out their fan  
To catch the breezy air;  
And I must think, do all I can,  
That there was pleasure there.          

If this belief from heaven be sent,  
If such be Nature’s holy plan,  
Have I not reason to lament  
What Man has made of Man?   

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AMBIENCE & WINE

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Soapbox. . .

A new day, a new week.  Old worries, new worries. 

That damned Fiscal Cliff fellow just won't go away.  Who to believe?  Boehner and his camp have not instilled me with great faith.  I prefer the perspective of the other side, but why don't the DO SOMETHING???  Maybe it's time for something drastic??? 

Christmas is coming.  The geese are getting fat.  (At least that's how the song goes.)  The sooner it arrives the sooner it will be gone.  The epitome of capitalism, is it not?

Korea wants to prove how far their missiles can go.  Worrisome? 

Warm weather for a couple of days in the east.  A tease from Mother Nature.  Can't fool me though.
It's winter.

Music remains abundant soothing this savage breast and maketh all things good again. . . well. . . at least BETTER!

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