The Little Thread Which Grew - the Apollo '73 to Everything But

[CarmeloOrchards]

I know Paul's comments have merit and yet your family story should receive as much publicity as possible. Hubbard first published the story of Dianetics in "Astounding Science Fiction". He did not publish in the low circulation technical journals of his day. Dianetics was initially intended as a serious scientific study of the mind, I believe, though many will challenge this statement. He chose a high circulatiion Science Fiction magazine to get his message out.

Perhaps we could limit ourselves only to stories related to the Apollo in 1973 PLUS universal uplifting stories which benefit all people. Well, the consensus of those who have responded is to just keep doing what we are doing and have fun with our thread. The story of the Apollo, not just in 1973 but all years of it is receiving heavy intensive coverage again with secrets being revealed about those days which I never in my most optimistic moments thought I would be privy to. I also feel that anything to do with the early days of CCLA is relavent to discuss here because that was the prequel to me being sent to the Apollo.

With all that being said, let's just continue having fun with our thread and see were it will lead us. In the spirit of doing that, I wish to report that I went yesterday to the Hot Rod museum at the Fairplex in Pomona, took pictures and nosed around for about an hour and a half. To my delight, one of the key race drivers of the 50's, Gale Banks, drove a 1953 Studebaker bodied race car. There are lots of pictures of him and his '53 Studey at the museum and I listed that model as having one of the best auto shapes of all time, considering its time period.
Lakey

I know, for a fact, that Yvonne liked this quote:

"A foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds, adored by little statesman and philosophers and divines. With consistency a great soul has simply nothing to do."

by R.W. Emerson. He was a guy who lived in a brick house in New England some years ago. He was friends with a guy known for Civil Disobedience.

I think that pretty much says it all. Anybody who wants consistency from this thread probably is an enemy to civil disobedience also.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A1Y80ue92Ao

 

[lkwdblds]

We are honored to have you here with us!

Face, what a moving and courageous story you have told. I know I speak for everyone that is connected in any way with this thread in saying that we are honored and our lives have been enriched to have you here among us!!

I can not believe that any part of your brain having to do with writing has been impaired. You are among the most lucid writers on ESMB. Mark Baker stated it extremely well, if this is what you write like with impairment then prior to the impairment you must have been another Shakespeare!

I am so happy that you found what you were looking for on our thread and that this thread has given you solace and peace of mind and has aided you in your recovery. May you coninue to amaze your team of dedicated doctors as to how well you are doing!!

Lakey and all your Spiritual Team Mates on The Apollo - 1973 thread.

 

[Terril park]

I really, really don’t want to “derail” this thread with what I have written. I’ve said why I came here.

You can't derail this thread. You are one of its
premier ....er threads.

 

[Ted]

For Facey

Had this been the originations of my pc many years ago -- or even recently -- I would have figured, "Must be exterior." "Major blowout." Gently end off session.

The brain is a great deal more complex than Hubbard would allow.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UyyjU8fzEYU&eurl=http://videos.gaia.com/345492/jill_bolte_tay...

Now I think what passed for exterior, realizing that not all expressions of ext. are alike from pc to pc or even pc to self, is really brain reformatting. That isn't to downgrade any spiritual perception. After all, Jill Bolte Taylor remained aware of being aware. So science has yet to answer who or what is aware.

 

[SweetnessandLight]

Thanks for sharing, guys!

Wow! First of all, let me say about this:
"My friend has read some of this thread and has encouraged me to continue here with yall. He, and several of my children, are helping me write a book…don’t know if it will ever be published or worth publishing, but, that’s not the point...and I don't much care. It will take many, many months to complete as I am slow and cannot write much most days. Whatever it is I have to say, about whatever it is I want to say about whatever it is I’m trying to say I’ll say there."

Thank God for that!!! I'm so happy! You have much of great value to contribute to the collective world mind and knowledge, Facey...I'm positive that what you have to share with us and others is worth the effort. I fully agree with what Mark has said about your writing. I used to teach writing at the college level, and I detect no deficiencies in your work, whatsoever...to the contrary! I never would have known you are struggling in any way with it. Kudos to you for that!

I do understand the analogy of having only so many "coins to spend" in a given effort at a given time, and I just want to say that I support you in "talking" to us and telling your stories in whatever way works best for you. If you haven't explored "Dragon naturally speaking" or other voice recognition software, please ask your kids to help you find something workable that will make life a little easier.

The mind and consciousness is an amazing thing...the brain does have wonderful plasticity, and you are a living example of it!
I'm so glad that you have joined us here. I hope that writing along with us is helping you to grow and recreate yourself, and get some pleasure out of communicating with us! I know that I for one am getting a great deal of good out of what you are sharing with us, please do continue and don't feel that you owe us any apologies or explanations for being different in any way.

Facey Darling, what you are describing of your new perception sounds to me like an deeply artistic experience, one you share with many...the "new" you is seeing as an artist sees, whether you perceive yourself to be such or not, that's the way I see you. You don't have to paint or produce anything to "be" an artist. Just see the beauty in the world, especially where others are overlooking or "missing" it. It's a bonus if you can point it out to others. It seems from your description that you are doing this.

I used to think that part of the big success of our thread is that so many of us are surfers, especially the soul surfer variety (not shredders, although they are welcome too!) That we are dripping with theta should be evident to anyone with any sensability at all by now . But we have members of another kind of club, too. Those who have crossed over through death and come back to an embodied life in this lifetime...I myself am also a member of that club. So maybe there is another kind of kinship at work here, where we feel comfortable and safe in sharing day to day fun stuff, as well as heartfelt soul deep stuff. I enjoy this thread just as it is, although I understand Paul's attachment to form...and Lakey, don't you DARE go editing yourself and putting your deeper thoughts elsewhere!!! Go ahead and start as many threads on as many topics as you want, but remember the wisdom in what Carmelo is sharing about posting here, as opposed to a sleepy little going nowhere thread (no offense to ANYONE!)

Facey honey, thank you for being honest and open with us, there is GREAT freedom in being authentic, and transparent. I was all ready to adopt you into my family before this, but now please consider yourself a Calabash Uncle, Brother or Cousin...whichever you prefer!

Dear Carmelo, I was one of the viewers who earlier read your great post...families are sacred to me, so let me say thank you for posting it again here for more to see. Congratulations again on your daughter's graduation...that Puggy has his own ski goggles! I'm glad the family celebration was so nice. It sounds like a little slice of heaven, to me.

Roger- I'm betting that you have been able to share some good Fathering skills with many a friend, student, client in your time, you've done it with me on this board when I was in distress, and I thank you for it!

Lakey- there was just an article in the paper about the old Riverside International Raceway, it turns out there is a budding museum about that too...I"ll try to dig up information about it. Glad you had a good trip to Pomona. My Dad grew up there, back when it was a cosy agricultural town. I still have a warm fuzzy spot in my heart for it, and try to go to the L.A. County Fair there each year. Have a great visit with your dear daughter!

Happy Father's day in advance to all the great Dads out there! If you're disconnected from someone, reach out and get in touch with them, and wish them well.

 

[Lisa Ann Marie]

Right, for example when someone kidnaps your child you need to see the good in it, it's like taking a bullet in the head, just shake it off and laugh, life is a dream.

 

[CarmeloOrchards]

please consider yourself a Calabash Uncle, Brother or Cousin...whichever you prefer!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yp7r0j4XrO8

 

[lkwdblds]

Jimmy Durante - a class act - totally being himself

Jimmy Durante is another one of those special entertainers. He didn't have great looks or a great voice but he radiated great energy, true decency and love for people. The guy went through his songs and his jokes just enjoying being himself. One of the all time greats. I was lucky enough to be a young boy and be entertained by him for many years, ditto for the great Jack Benny.
Lakey

 

[CarmeloOrchards]

The story continues

What it means to be a mensch, even when you have just fucked someone over really badly:

Robbed! Blown call costs Armando Galarraga a perfect game
By 'Duk


It was a bang-bang play that left two victims dead.
The first was the masterful perfect game bid of Detroit Tigers pitcher Armando Galarraga(notes).
The second was the reputation of Major League umpire Jim Joyce.
Galarraga will likely move on with his major league career with the stinging Harvey Haddix-type knowledge that only one of the worst blown calls in baseball history prevented him from becoming the 21st pitcher to throw a perfect game — and, even more incredibly — the third perfecto this season and second in four nights.
You can't say the same for Joyce, a 23-year veteran who coupled his name with Don Denkinger when he inexplicably called Cleveland's Jason Donald(notes) safe at first with an infield hit. Replays clearly showed that Galarraga's foot beat Donald to the bag by a full step and Tigers manager Jim Leyland chewed Joyce out — deservedly so — both directly after the play and right after Galarraga retired the next Indians batter for what basically amounted to a 28-out perfect game.
Unreal.
Watch the controversial play here
It's not hard to see why Joyce's Wikipedia page was vandalized within seconds or why FireJimJoyce.com sprung up soon after that.
Galarraga was cooler than you or I might have been, but even Joyce knew he screwed up big time.
"I just cost that kid a perfect game," Joyce said afterward. "I thought he beat the throw. I was convinced he beat the throw, until I saw the replay."
“I don’t blame them a bit or anything that was said. I would’ve said it myself if I had been Galarraga. I would’ve been the first person in my face, and he never said a word to me.”
Joyce is only human and you can bet that this call will spur another heated debate over expanded instant replay in baseball that might actually go somewhere. (It should.)
Joyce will also get plenty of rightful criticism over why he was ruling such a close play safe considering the circumstances. Yes, tie does go to the runner ... except when there is no actual tie and there's a perfect game on the line.

But what's done is done and Joyce's latest black eye for his profession prevented the following from occurring:
• Fewest pitches (88) in a perfect game since Addie Joss' 74 in 1908
• Shortest perfect game (1:44) since Koufax's 1:43 in 1965
• The third perfect game in the 2010s, which would have put them one behind the 1990s for most perfect games thrown in a decade — one year into it.
Don Denkinger? You have company.

http://mlb.mlb.com/video/play.jsp?content_id=8616789

http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/blog/bi...ame-s-best-ump-despite-blown-G?urn=mlb,248168

Mon Jun 14, 2010 10:20 am EDT

Jim Joyce named game's best ump, despite blown Galarraga call
By 'Duk

Right or wrong, it's the tendency of fans to only notice an umpire when he blows a big call.
I would've assumed ballplayers might evaluate blue in a similar manner, but it looks like their close proximity and frequent exposure to the game's officials actually allows a more fair and balanced view of the group.
After all, how else can you explain Jim Joyce being voted the game's best umpire in a survey of 100 big league players conducted after he cost Armando Galarraga(notes) his perfect game with a missed call at first?
From the Associated Press:
ESPN said Sunday that 50 active players from each league were asked confidentially within the past week to select the three best umpires in baseball. Joyce was named on 53 percent of the surveys, topping Tim McClelland (34 percent).
"The sad thing about the Galarraga game is, Jim Joyce is seriously one of the best umpires around," one player told ESPN in its full report. "He always calls it fair, so players love him. Everyone makes mistakes, and it's terrible that this happened to him."
What's interesting is that McClelland was also involved in a memorably bad call — I deemed it the worst of all time because the right call seemed so clearly obvious — during last fall's American League Championship Series between the Angels and Yankees. But the overall reputations of the two umpires, culled from years of respecting the game and their craft, were able to survive the worst day they've ever spent at work. It's almost as if each survey participant cited the blogosphere's favorite qualification — "small sample size!" — before responding.
At the same time, C.B. Bucknor and Cowboy Joe West were named the game's worst umpires by the players, and I suspect the results would be the same if you asked the fans. Their sustained suckitude is apparently a lot more visible to everyone than one botched call that grabs headlines. Probably as it should be.

 

[CarmeloOrchards]

Stick a fork in it.

There is an important thread that shouldn't be missed by anyone interested in Alan Walter and his work. It will probably be off the radar by tomorrow.

http://www.forum.exscn.net/showthread.php?t=18591

 

[afaceinthecrowd]

I am truly humbled

Zinj…Good to be here with you. Thanks.

Mark A…Thank you. I did a lot of business writing—reports, analysis, procedural documents, brochure narratives, agribusiness magazine articles, meeting and symposium presentations, correspondence, etc.—in my “previous” life. I was known to be a very good writer. I could turn out pages and pages in a short period of time when the need arose. The only “writing” writing I did was mostly in school.

Ted…Thank you. I’m gonna hang around ‘til yall tell me to find another barn to mess around in. That is an excellent presentation by Taylor. My Primary Care Doctor had me watch it just after it went up on TED.com. He said, “You’ve got to see this…you will understand it ways that I cannot." I wept, as a being, when I saw it. Taylor’s work is part of what has been used to help me. Her work is truly groundbreaking. A few years ago I’d'a been a gonner for sure. I saw it for the first time just after I began to “wake”. A little over 1.5 ago my Psychotherapist friend told me, at the end of one of our sessions, that he thought something “Major” was about to “Crack off”. I had been really “grinding” away for quite some time when he said that and thought, "Yeah right, sport." He told me to call him anytime, day or night, if anything “happened” that I wanted to talk about. He was right…about 3 or 4 days later something did happen…and continues to happen…that I still have not found the words to describe. A day after that, my Doctor calls and tells me about Taylor’s talk. I immediately watched it and an hour or so later, while I was peacefully “drifting” my friend calls me and tells me about the video. Just by the sound of my voice, my words used, he said, “Something's happening”. I laughed, said “Yes…I can’t describe what “it” is but whatever “it” is, is gooder than good.” I watch Taylor’s video every few months…I get more out of it every time through. The form and text of her event was different from mine but very understandable to me—the context and “gist” of it are very similar. Scn is, and Scios are, always looking for the “quick fix”, the "rocket to the Moon, the “magic potion”. With the exception of my Neurosurgeon, every one of my “Team” was methodical, patient and pragmatic…no one “Cowboyed” a thing and there wasn't any "Grandstanding"...the skull-cracker was a bit of a "Showboat", but he is a renowned gray-matter cutter.

Rog…I really appreciate your kind words and the links. Helluva story…I’m still “coming to terms” with all that I experienced but that, in part, is what my book is about. To me, fear is real and “natural” but is, fundamentally, a self-actuated and not a self-actual “reality”. I finished your FZ presentation yesterday…liked it. Top down makes much more sense. The comm formula stuff I liked and agrees with my long-held views that have served me well. Wish they wouldn’t have edited out your comments re: El Ron and early tech days towards the end…the sparkly stuff I like.

BlueSpirit…Good to see you again. Thanks. I figured you for a card carrying CCG. So when are you gonna give us the “scoop”?

Carmelo…I like that quote, too (Yvonne’s). I've always liked Otter's summation and love Durante. You’re a little meshuggah, maybe? But, who am I to point a fingah? Re: Alan and his work…It is vile and so, so sad that some folks are Predisposed to Personally Possess, Leech and Manipulate Spiritual, Mental or Physical healing.

Lakey…Thanks, pal. I’m very grateful to be here…your words are very kind. I don’t think I explained my writing “difficulty” well…I’ll do that in another post in a day or so. “Adios Apollo” is still to be finished, too. As far as all yall go, here on this thread, your presence in my life means more to me than I will ever find the words for.

Terril…Thanks and Cheers to you.

SweatnessandLight…Oh My! Have you said some good, good stuff! I’m wrote out for the day but I’ve got some stuff I’ll be back with shortly re: your stuff. You’re a Sweetheart…forget the Uncle, Cousin thing…Sister.

Face

 

[SweetnessandLight]

Great St. Pete Times Editorial!

Just in case anybody missed this:

A Times Editorial
Scientology's family-friendly image contrasts with pressure for abortions

In Print: Tuesday, June 15, 2010

Among the beliefs listed in the "Creed of the Church of Scientology": "All men have inalienable rights … to the creation of their own kind" and "no agency less than God has the power to suspend or set aside these rights, overtly or covertly." Yet a very different picture emerges from women who became pregnant while working for the church. They relate painful stories of intimidation, shaming, shunning or outright coercion by the church until women agreed to abortions or were forced out. It is yet another example where the church's cultivated image does not match reality.

The public image of the Church of Scientology is family-friendly. But inside the organization's 6,000-member work force called the Sea Org, young women who became pregnant faced a barrage of tactics clearly designed to weaken their resistance to abortion. These women were victims, swayed by an organization that already controlled their lives and in effect denied them free will to make their own decisions about their pregnancies.

In reports Sunday and Monday, St. Petersburg Times staff writers Joe Childs and Thomas C. Tobin told the stories of women who said they as well as other women they knew were pressured to have abortions while working for the Sea Org. Those workers toil long hours for little pay and are subjected to punishments if they are not productive or try to leave.

In some cases the women joined the Sea Org while still children themselves, recruited by the church and lured into signing billion-year contracts. Separated from their parents and often married as teenagers, they naturally wanted to start their own families.

Laura Dieckman joined the Sea Org at 12, married at 16 and was pregnant at 17. But her disapproving supervisors pressured her to end the pregnancy, she said. Claire Headley joined the Sea Org at 16, married at 17 and was pregnant at 19. She felt pressured enough to have two abortions while a Sea Org member. Sunny Pereira, who joined the Sea Org at 15 and married at 21, also had two abortions.

The prospect of motherhood should have been a joyful time for them, but instead it became a grueling test of loyalty. Continuing their pregnancies, they were told, was an unacceptable distraction from the church's mission to "save the planet." Ending the pregnancies would prove their loyalty to the church and keep them in the fold. Women who continued their pregnancies were taunted or shunned by other Sea Org members, isolated from their husbands or assigned to long hours of manual labor, the women said.

Church spokesman Tommy Davis denied all of the allegations by the women. Yet the church acknowledges that children are discouraged because they get in the way of the group's work. Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard, who wrote the Scientology creed, was a father of six. After he died in 1986 and David Miscavige, who has no children, assumed the top spot, Sea Org members who wanted to have children were shunted off to work at small, unproductive Scientology churches where they could not earn a livable wage. In 1996, Sea Org members were banned from having children. Those who became pregnant were forced to leave.

Davis told the Times that the policy that now prohibits having children "evolved out of respect for families and deference to children." That's the height of hypocrisy, coming from an organization that recruits children into its labor force, requires them to sign billion-year contracts, separates them from their families and subjects them to 18-hour workdays.

No woman should be coerced into making this painful decision, which only she can make — even by powerful bosses inside a church. The stories of pregnancies terminated by vulnerable young women under considerable pressure are one more fracture in the polished facade of the Church of Scientology.

 

[FoTi]

Face,

That is a remarkable, and moving post you made above.

I too have been through the "death thing," so these links to my writing about it on ESMB might be of interest/use to you.
1) http://www.forum.exscn.net/showthread.php?p=198701#post198701
Interestingly enough, a member on ESMB chimed in later to relate he knew certain parties involved . . .

2) http://www.forum.exscn.net/showthread.php?p=209245#post209245
post #194

I'm off now, so I'll dig up some other info that might be useful to you . . . it's about "levels of mind."

YOu see when I was out and "dead" I had all my education and knowledge I'd acquired this lifetime available and was totally in charge of what I was doing . . . so my current view on it all is that that opens up all kinds of possibilities.

RogerB

When you dig it up, is it possible for you to post it here on ESMB?

 

[FoTi]

Carmelo, I too think your family history, like you wrote on this thread would make a wonderful book for others to read and would help parents to better raise their kids. It's delightful reading.

And Face.....I never would have guessed that you had any sort of disability at all, until you disclosed this info here. You write beautifully and I love reading your posts.

There are some amazing people here on ESMB. I just love reading this thread. It is so enlightening.

 

[lkwdblds]

An umpire admitting a blown call resonates with people

http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/blog/bi...ame-s-best-ump-despite-blown-G?urn=mlb,248168

Mon Jun 14, 2010 10:20 am EDT

Jim Joyce named game's best ump, despite blown Galarraga call
By 'Duk

Right or wrong, it's the tendency of fans to only notice an umpire when he blows a big call.
I would've assumed ballplayers might evaluate blue in a similar manner, but it looks like their close proximity and frequent exposure to the game's officials actually allows a more fair and balanced view of the group.
After all, how else can you explain Jim Joyce being voted the game's best umpire in a survey of 100 big league players conducted after he cost Armando Galarraga(notes) his perfect game with a missed call at first?
From the Associated Press:
ESPN said Sunday that 50 active players from each league were asked confidentially within the past week to select the three best umpires in baseball. Joyce was named on 53 percent of the surveys, topping Tim McClelland (34 percent).
"The sad thing about the Galarraga game is, Jim Joyce is seriously one of the best umpires around," one player told ESPN in its full report. "He always calls it fair, so players love him. Everyone makes mistakes, and it's terrible that this happened to him.

What's interesting is that McClelland was also involved in a memorably bad call — I deemed it the worst of all time because the right call seemed so clearly obvious — during last fall's American League Championship Series between the Angels and Yankees. But the overall reputations of the two umpires, culled from years of respecting the game and their craft, were able to survive the worst day they've ever spent at work. It's almost as if each survey participant cited the blogosphere's favorite qualification — "small sample size!" — before responding.
At the same time, C.B. Bucknor and Cowboy Joe West were named the game's worst umpires by the players, and I suspect the results would be the same if you asked the fans. Their sustained suckitude is apparently a lot more visible to everyone than one botched call that grabs headlines. Probably as it should be.

THE LIMITED COMMUNICATION CHANNEL BETWEEN THE UMPIRE AND THE FANS

About all the public can do to communicate with umpires is to boo them when they take the field or make a perceived bad call. Otherwise the umps are totally non descript. They don't appear on the pre or post game talk shows or answer letters to the editors and there is virtually no way for a fan to communicate with them.

They are expected to get all the calls they make right and yet due to the nature of their job, a certain small percentage of calls is going to be wrong, perhaps 2% would be an educated guess. If an ump gets a close call right the fans don't give him credit, it is expected, and if he blows a call, they boo him but figure "It happens 2% of the time." If an ump admits a bad call and voices this on national TV or in the newspapers, that is about the only communication the public will get all year from all umpires combined.

Therefore, the ump who admitted his mistake will be not most loved but least hated by the fans. For the players, they do have more communication channels with umpires and know them more as individuals. It is so rare for an umpire to admit he blew a call that the players are probably assured that he is a decent guy and is trying always to make the right calls so they will like him the best.


A STORY FOR APOLLO - 1973 PURISTS!
There is an analogy in Scientology relating to the Apollo - 1973. The rank and file staff members correspond to the public and the Execs correspond to the umpires. Initially, one assumes that because the "Commisioner of Baseball" LRH, is in close proximity, all the umpires will be correct in their calls almost every time. As it turns out, the Apollo "umps" blow well over 50% of all their calls. The worst umpire I encountered was Sandy Wilhere who I feel blew 100% of her calls, Sue Anderson and Maria Starkey were terrible umpires but they would get some calls correct.

Good Umps? The best umpire I met was Al Boughton who was the Program's Chief for Estates. He told me while I was there and got busted for CCLA not meeting local building codes that busting me was totally an incorrect actiion. He told me to write up everything when I returned to L.A. and keep persisting to clear my name and that some day, this unfair cycle would be corrected. The second best ump at Flag who I met was the Master at Arms, Stuart Moreau. He was not as bold as Al Boughton and would not admit that Apollo management was wrong but just told me that I was a good guy and a smart guy and that it was ridiculous for me to be thrown out. He tried real hard at the end to persuade me to stay and work out of my lower condition onboard the Apollo.

I probably would have done just that but my Dad's construction business was faltering, My Dad had just broke up with his partner and my Dad had just turned 60 then and had to not only do all his own selling but run all the jobs himself. He needed a new partner. When I found out I was going to be off loaded, I already told him by mail that I would join his business. BTW, the Sea Org at that time put all my letters through to my family and I received their mail unopened. Fortunately, I chose to leave the Sea Org and honor my promise to my Dad. Without that job waiting for me at home, I would have definitey stayed in the S.O. and worked with Stuart to get reposted.

MY FAVORITE "UMPIRE" AT THE APOLLO IN 1973? Of course, it was Al Boughton with a "notable" mention ranking for Stu Moreau who showed the traits of a caring human being and tried hard to help me. Why do I choose Al as my number one - easy, because he admitted that the Sea Organization's handling of me was wrong. In baseball or Scientology, it is so rare for someone to admit they or their group are wrong. It is even against Scio policy to do so, so when someone such as AL Boughton, does it, he goes to the top of the list, just like with the umpire Jim Joyce.

Turning a baseball post into an Apollo - 1973 post keeps my post on point! Enjoy it all you Apollo - 1973 purists!
Lakey

 

[afaceinthecrowd]

FoTi…Thank you. I like ESMB Folks and this thread, too…glad you’re here.

Lakey…I knew Al and Fran…fine folks. They along with “Stuey” were some of the good guys. Thanks for getting the thread back on track so I can try and derail it again. You’re a snide little bastard sometimes, aren’t you?

S&L…Well, I’m kinda impressed with myself if someone that once taught college-level writing says I’m doin’ okay…I like getting impressed with myself ‘cause it doesn’t happen often and doesn’t last very long when it does.

My problems with writing mainly have to do with converting thought “information packets” into symbolic notation and then reading the words to make sure it’s accurate to what I am trying to say and how I “feel” about how it’s said. My “thought” process now has very little language and “structure” to it…it is “energy” of varying “qualities”, “feelings” and “flavors”…wordless, formless but making complete “sense”. When I write something I put my attention on sort of a “Hershey’s Kiss” opener-tag and pull, and that "opens" the energy packet that contains the information I want to convey. I then wander and wonder around in the package, looking to find “the right word”, as opposed to the “the words”, to describe the detail of each “sub-packet” that makes up the whole “packet”.

It has taken me 20 minutes to write the above paragraph. The reason is that I write a few words and then I become confused and uncomfortable with the “inorganics” of the computer screen images, key board, words on the page, etc. I then go out in the garden and sit with the plants, look at the clouds in the sky, pet the dog, play "I'm ignoring you right now" with the cat while wandering and wondering around in the “information packet” until the next few words come, and then I go write them down. After I have finished what I am writing I have to let it “rest” for awhile and then re-read it, in increments, and change a word here, a phrase there until, it “feels right”. Sometimes, hours later after I have “finished”—out of the blue—it will “come” to me that this word here or that phrase there is more “accurate” or “truer” in what I have written, and I go back and make changes. My “Readers Digest” Installments usually take me two and sometimes three days, “soup to nuts”.

Reading is much the same process but is more “taxing”. I can do about 3-5 hours of the writing “process” a day, about 3-5 days a week. I can only handle pure reading, with the “on-off” pattern about 1-2 hours a day, 5-6 days a week. I like to listen to audio books and watch video presentations as I can “handle” a little bit more in a day. All this is a huge improvement from 8 or 9 months ago.

My Docs and Therapists have told me that Artists are Left Brain Dominant. Up until 4.5 years ago I was very Right Brain Dominant. I did, however, have a love and appreciation of the Arts and Artists. I was a generous supporter of the Arts and have 1 child that has an MFA from a World Class Art Institute and teaches at a Private University of some note in my region of the US; another child that was a National “Winner” of the Scholastic Arts and Writing Awards Competition in high school, and currently is in the MA, Journalism program at a First Tier University; and another that is a Certified Specialist and teaches the "Helen Keller" deaf and blind children (needless to say, I am a very proud Papa and, when I think of them, I’m like Chief Dan George in “Little Big Man”…my heart soars like a Hawk). I have several long-term good friends that are “Public Exhibition/Performance” level Artists and they, along my children, tell me that I am “seeing” the world as an Artist.

The “kicker” to all this is…I don’t have a choice, it just is how it is. Now I understand why Artists are so “different” and driven…they don’t have a choice, it just is how it is. When I was RBD I “saw”, “felt”, sensed and experienced mostly with my “head” and my “gut”…now that I am LBD I ‘see”, “feel”, sense and experience almost entirely with my “heart” and “soul”. I “get” where RBD’s are coming from and I love 'em…I once was one…but I wouldn’t want to go “back”. I also wouldn’t trade my past and present for anything or with anyone.

So, that’s what’s so good about ESMB, this thread and all yall for me…these “information packets” are being “stimulated”, “agitated” and “resonated”…and I get to go open them up, drift around “inside” them, and then try to “tell about” and “describe” them to others that are very bright, interesting, irreverent, quirky, caring and civil (most of the time) and may find the contents helpful or of interest.

Thanks for the “Dragon” referral…I’ll check it out. I tried using a Dictaphone system awhile back but it “felt weird” and inhibiting for some reason.

Okay, I just had a wonderful 4 hours and 30 minutes writing this post…hope all yall are having as good a day as I’m having!

Face

 

[Mark A. Baker]

It has taken me 20 minutes to write the above paragraph. The reason is that I write a few words and then I become confused and uncomfortable with the “inorganics” of the computer screen images, key board, words on the page, etc. I then go out in the garden and sit with the plants, look at the clouds in the sky, pet the dog, play "I'm ignoring you right now" with the cat while wandering and wondering around in the “information Packet” until the next few words come, and then I go write them down.

Would a laptop/netbook hookup via a wireless router help? That way you could sit in the garden and shift your focus as you felt to be most comfortable.

BTW, I understand what you mean by "information packets". I am verbal to excess and don't usually pay sufficient attention to non-verbal forms of thought but one of my most entrancing & surprising experiences from audting (total blowout) led to my experience of the non-verbal nature of basic thought. Sounds like you are "way ahead of the pack" on that front.


Mark A. Baker

 

[Ted]

[...]

My problems with writing mainly have to do with converting thought “information packets” into symbolic notation and then reading the words to make sure it’s accurate to what I am trying to say and how I “feel” about how it’s said. My “thought” process now has very little language and “structure” to it…it is “energy” of varying “qualities”, “feelings” and “flavors”…wordless, formless but making complete “sense”. When I write something I put my attention on sort of a “Hershey’s Kiss” opener-tag and pull, and that "opens" the energy packet that contains the information I want to convey. I then wander and wonder around in the package, looking to find “the right word”, as opposed to the “the words”, to describe the detail of each “sub-packet” that makes up the whole “packet”.

It has taken me 20 minutes to write the above paragraph. The reason is that I write a few words and then I become confused and uncomfortable with the “inorganics” of the computer screen images, key board, words on the page, etc. I then go out in the garden and sit with the plants, look at the clouds in the sky, pet the dog, play "I'm ignoring you right now" with the cat while wandering and wondering around in the “information packet” until the next few words come, and then I go write them down. After I have finished what I am writing I have to let it “rest” for awhile and then re-read it, in increments, and change a word here, a phrase there until, it “feels right”. Sometimes, hours later after I have “finished”—out of the blue—it will “come” to me that this word here or that phrase there is more “accurate” or “truer” in what I have written, and I go back and make changes. My “Readers Digest” Installments usually take me two and sometimes three days, “soup to nuts”.


[...]

Face

Your process seems to be a lot like mine, only much slower. But I go through all the same gyrations -- except on a short snippet like this. I just like to edit enough to be somewhat certain I have said what I wanted to say and curtail possibilities of misduplications on the other end.

As for the heart and soul thing, I did some chakra clearing a few years back, opened up the heart chakra. Since then my interests are 90% heart and soul, 10% analytical. It brought a nice balance to the overly-analytical, "treasured" aspects of dianetics and scientology that I had immersed self in some years ago.

If scientology suffers from anything it is lack of heart. The best auditors have it, but it is so hard to maintain in the suppressive, dog-eat-dog environment of ethics and admin tech.

 

[lkwdblds]

Mark Baker - just the man I wanted to talk to.

Mark Baker, I was just thinking about getting your take on something. First, however, I wanted to thank Face for his post explaining the kind of effort it takes him to post. I found the section about seeing things like an artist sees them very interesting.

Mark, what is your take on the Governor in Arizona enacting laws similar to what the Federal Government has on the books to keep illegals from entering their state? Basically this is a hat which is supposed to be worn by the Federal Government but the Feds refuse to execute their duties in this area to the degree which is required. Both political parties, Liberals and Conservatives are guilty in not enforcing the borders and the reason probably is that they are both afraid of alienating the Latino vote. The Latinos are such a huge percentage of the population now in the Southwest United States that if the Latinos side almost exclusively with one party more than the other, then that party will completely dominate every election from here on out.

Since the Federal government will not act, the State government of Arizona has in effect assigned the Feds a Danger condition and is doing their hat for them. The State of Arizona government enacted this law legally and about 54% of Arizona citizens approve of it. I am mentioning this because your buddies at the ACLU, the American Civil Liberties Union, have already initiated law suits which say that the laws put into effect by the State of Arizona are unconstitutional. The ACLU does not care for the will of the majority of the people in Arizona but is treating the matter as a violation of the civil rights of people of Latin American background.

The people of Arizona are suffering. There are already Federal laws regarding protecting their borders on the books but the Federal Govenment refuses to enforce them. When the state moves in on a bypass basis and makes very similar state laws so that their State can bypass the Feds and eforce the laws themselves, they are attacked by the ACLU and others mostly on the left for being racist and attempting to enforce unconstitutional state laws..

I would really appreciate hearing your take on this Mark.
Lakey

 

[afaceinthecrowd]

Your process seems to be a lot like mine, only much slower. But I go through all the same gyrations -- except on a short snippet like this. I just like to edit enough to be somewhat certain I have said what I wanted to say and curtail possibilities of misduplications on the other end.

As for the heart and soul thing, I did some chakra clearing a few years back, opened up the heart chakra. Since then my interests are 90% heart and soul, 10% analytical. It brought a nice balance to the overly-analytical, "treasured" aspects of dianetics and scientology that I had immersed self in some years ago.

If scientology suffers from anything it is lack of heart. The best auditors have it, but it is so hard to maintain in the suppressive, dog-eat-dog environment of ethics and admin tech.

Wow, Ted....sounds like you've got some brain damage, too.

Face