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“ I don't keep a diary and I certainly don't consider myself a writer, but now and then I do enjoy jotting a line about things that peak my interest. Maybe an observation or a quote. Occasionally something a little more lengthy.” PHILOSOPHY JOURNAL COMMENTARIES COLLECTION "QUOTESMEFILES"© COLLECTION
All of Joseph Holbrook's images and commentary, "quotesmefiles"© etc., within this web site, are copyrighted. Written permission is required for any use.          
 
 
JOURNAL ARCHIVES AND COLLECTIONS 2010
JOSEPH HOLBROOK JOURNAL
 
JOURNAL ARCHIVES 2008 JOURNAL ARCHIVES 2007 JOURNAL ARCHIVES 2006 JOURNAL ARCHIVES 2005 JOURNAL ARCHIVES 2004, 2003 JOSEPH HOLBROOK; Journal
artist joseph holbrook,  joseph holbrook journal,  
If we pray for a miracle and one appears to come, we believe that we are worthy and our prayer has been heard If we pray for a miracle and one doesn't come, we believe our prayer hasn't been heard or perhaps refused. If we pray for a miracle and one appears to come and then somehow seems to be taken away or no longer seems to be working, we believe.. . . .well. . .we believe in all sots of different things.   The point is, what we "believe" is just our interpretation of whether miracles happen. And if they do, then it’s just our interpretation of why they happen, or how long they'll last. .  The truth is, we don't have a clue. A "Belief" is but an individual conviction. A sincere hope that what you think is true. . . .is Truth.   And if you place your complete faith only in things you "believe" to be true, you will inevitably be disappointed and confused.   How each of us interprets God's universe will always be different than IT really is, and always fall far short of how it really works.     To have faith in God is to have unconditional and unquestioning faith in all that God is.  And that is so much more than you can possibly “believe”.   Your only request, your only prayer should be for Clarity and Peace of mind about this.    If you are confused or dissatisfied with the answers you have, it has to do with what you believe.   Let go of what you believe. No matter what the request or the outcome, complete faith in God is always the answer.   (Joseph Holbrook) To an important lady friend who is confused about her Personal miracle at Lourdes, that has recently waned.
 
I purposely didn't watch the speech.   None of it.    I gather that Judge Alito's shaking head and moving lips were the highlight of the event for conservatives.   I'm sure it was all very well spoken.   These days, I allow myself the liberty to ignore such drivel.    It's not that what he says is depressing.. . .   but like Bob said. . . it's beauty contestant talk.   It's very well spoken beauty contestant talk, as he continues to try for approval.   I decided not to listen to it either.    It's one of those times you can afford to be less informed than your compatriots, yet feel absolutely comfortable knowing you didn't miss anything important.   My conclusions about him and where he's leading us remain the same.   The Change we need now is even more severe than it was before.   Unfortunately, the people who need to bring it about are in disorder and don't have any Thomas Jeffersons waiting to run the show. The ability to solve problems is the most important facility at mankind's disposal.   It is what makes us the species in power.   But when problems arise that are larger than those in power are solving, or possibly can solve . . .we get worried.   And should.   If there ever was a time for common sense, it's now. It's time to refine and clarify rules and goals. . . not make new ones.   We're not in a position for new ones.    Every Congressional decision puts us further in debt, further behind and in the wrong direction.   If there was ever a time for a true paradigm shift in thinking, it's now.    Because right now, as a species.  . . we're actually in position to destroy our world from every angle.  And right now, we actually have the intelligence to avoid it if we try.     I think we really ought to pay attention to that kind of stuff. (Joseph Holbrook) JANUARY 28, 2010 OBAMA STATE OF THE UNION SPEECH
All of Joseph Holbrook's images and commentary, "quotesmefiles"© etc., within this web site, are copyrighted. Written permission is required for any use.          
 
Good Lord man.  It's not the Warming!!.   It's what they intend to do to us in the name of THEIR interpretation of the cause.    Which, by the way, they say is US !!!.   People are pouring over global warming graphs and that’s just where they want them looking. What they intend to do certainly isn't on any graph that’s being shown!   Anybody can record data. Anyone can interpret and make projections.   And who knows, some projections may contain some truth.   IF there is warming, CO2 could certainly play a part.  It probably has before.   Probably will for millions of years more.   Earth does that.   But it’s what they Believe they can do about it.!!   (Or what they say they believe anyway).   Neither observant enough nor intelligent enough to get along or manage their own societies. . . they're gonna handle THIS???    Give me a break.   One of the things that will happen though ( in the name of science and the good of mankind) is a more severe economic nightmare than we can be prepared for.   And because corruption and the hunger for power is what it is, WE and the following generations will be the ones to pay for it all.    Realistically, it’s all for naught.   As a 5 billion year habit, when the Earth's climate is going to change, you can count on it.   My god man, they say they want to control the very gas that is exhaled from every living animal on earth.   (2.2 billion tons/year just from the humans).   It might make fodder for a book and I suppose people will continue to buy into whatever they want.   But to me, it's ridiculous.    What it is, is the creation of a new global fiduciary tool.   Backed by one thing that a lot of people seem to thrive on these days.. . .Bullshit. (Joseph Holbrook) Global warming: Replying to a concerned friend’s email full of graphs and links HOLBROOK ART Backward to: JOURNAL ARCHIVES 2009 Back to: “HOME” page JOURNAL ARCHIVES 2009 I'm getting tired of people complaining about systems being "broken".  Every area where human corruption and neglect has denigrated some system, the complaint has become. . ."the system is broken".   Certainly there are some systems that might need change or reform.   A brand new system that requires shake-downs and adjustments; or, IF system variables or goals have changed.   All of our societal systems depend on humans doing what they're supposed to do.   99% of the time People are the problem.  Not the system. Capitalism?  Of course the system works.  Immigration policy?  Both existing laws AND the Constitution have been been ignored.   Purposely.   The system didn't fail.   (What the “reformers” now have in mind is a system with different goals.  It's all about money) Just because the people we've put in power have screwed things up, it doesn't mean the systems are to blame.  Though that's what they'd like you to believe.   It means there is no reverence for our Constitution.  It means that ethics and morals are optional.  It means these people don't have the same goals, or they're too stupid to be holding the job in the first place.  There isn't a system in the world that will function as it should with these kinds of people in charge.  And there's no system change that will keep corruption away from those who believe in it.    We've got a lot of Priests that are molesting alter boys.  Gee, that means religion must be broken.   Give me a break. (Joseph Holbrook)
Broken systems
A Fatwa is issued by a recognized religious authority in Islam.  Since there is no hierarchical priesthood or anything of the sort in Islam, a fatwa is not necessarily "binding" on the faithful.  Perhaps it's sort of like Billy Graham proclaiming Christians shouldn't drink too much. There has been a Fatwa issued by the Fiqh Council of North America – a body of Islamic scholars - regarding body scanning at airports.  Their point is that this is a violation of religious rules concerning modesty.  Since body scanning Muslim extremists is pretty much the reason we came up with the idea in the first place, the word ironic doesn't quite fit here does it.   Muslims who decide to adhere to the fatwa should probably take a bus.   I think I'm going to start issuing opinions based on Common Sense.  I'll call each a “Skinnywa".   My first Skinnywa is:  If you're going to take a bus, don't sit near the Muslim guy who vehemently insisted on flying, but refused to get scanned . . . .for any reason. 
Fatwa
There are people who look forward to Eternal life. But if life continues after death, then Life right now is certainly part of that same eternity. That's the correct perspective. That's what people should be revering and appreciating and celebrating. But look what they're doing instead. (Joseph Holbrook) There are conflicting theories as to how the Neanderthals finally disappeared.   Some say they were extinguished, or just died out. Some say they were absorbed by interbreeding.   None are correct.   We ate them all. (Joseph Holbrook) I think it’s safe to conclude that the more confusion there is about who we are and where we're going, the easier it is to talk people into believing just about anything. Even the impossible. (Joseph Holbrook) Perspective is a Choice of View, if you will, while looking around for the Wise-People Campgrounds.  They have to be around here somewhere.  (Joseph Holbrook) There is nothing which I dread so much as a division of the republic into two great parties, each arranged under its leader, and concerting measures in opposition to each other. This, in my humble apprehension, is to be dreaded as the greatest political evil under our Constitution. •John Adams in a letter to Jonathan Jackson (2 October 1789)