Gendun Drup

If I had to isolate something as close to pure from an emotional standpoint, it would have to be Buddhism. I am cautious in that statement because there are variations of Buddhism as there are variations of almost everything, yet at the root of all Buddhism are certain fundamentals that are as pure as I believe is understandable and that is what ethics should be, pure that is. Untainted by subjective matters, point of view, inference or even influence is a goal of ethical reasoning but next to impossible. A reasonable goal is to be as close as possible.

I have recognized in Buddhism this regurgitation of praise and respect for life and the universe and all that should be awed. I want to view the world from this purist perspective just once. Gendun Drup being the "First" Dalai Lama would be the purest of all of these I suppose. The least regurgitated as well, his appreciation genuine and modest, his humiliation the utmost and would revel in being humbled by someone so utterly humble. What a revelation.

Gendun Drup also wrote extensively on the values of Tara, whose values are the same as those needed to drive critical thinking and ethical reasoning. If you have such respect and admiration of such things as his writings display, you must exude them in your day to day existence.

In all honor an humility, I present my first person of value.
There will be more future posts on Tara and such long in the future.

Next Post: Harriet Tubman

Valued Opinions

So let's just rip into the carcass of this wounded blog I have left out there in my last post with 10 somewhat out there choices for opinions. I mean they all have their merits, but I have had questions from many as to how could I have chosen this one or that one and how could I honestly give credence to their opinions.

Just as I had expected, few could view the subjects entirely without considering how they applied their perspectives or how those perspectives were interpreted by those of you on an individual level rather than how they might have been applicable in a particular scenario or such. How often we fail to make things relative or consider an entire picture before we sit in judgement. Judgement, there is a non-objective term itself. Judgement has its place, but this blog is not it. This is a forum to develop reasoning and perception, embrace possibilities, tolerance and become empowered with spirit to evoke change. Then call to action those skills and change our world.

So, I need you to remember the following basic principles of critical thinking and ethical reasoning before I post 11 more times, one for each individual to give them their dues respectively and then one to bring together how they share principles that make them "great" in MY definition. Because regardless of what I am teaching here, this is MY blog.

* Bear in mind the purpose
* Inferences and Assumptions
* Point of View
* Consequence
* Are there Concepts (laws, theories, etc.?)
* Ensure the following: Clarity, Accuracy, Precision, Relevance, Depth, Breadth, Logic, Significance, Fairness (all of this even has to be applicable by audience)
* Information (Research)
* Beware the human nature of egocentricity (though necessary only in respect to existence itself, completely irrelevant in critical thinking and ethical reasoning)
* Beware and Befriend Language (Communication is Empowerment but only when used respectfully)
* Empathy
* Integrity
* Humility
* Willingness to come to a conclusion

And that is just a brief list to get you started. To think critically and reason ethically, you have to overhaul your natural tendency to think of making the world how you would like for it to be and seeing things from your internal "thumbnail". There isn't a secret decoder ring telling you how to make all the right choices and do everything right that comes in the bottom of the cereal box, the best you can do is get told to "drink your Ovaltine". Besides who is to say what is right nowadays...that is the quandary isn't it.

I will start off in a day or so with the Gendun Drup (the 1st documented (in the most documents I researched) Dalai Lama)). But I am holding off on my first post to get at least a few more comments with your thoughts to the forum, not just to me on why you think I have chosen who I have. Come on now, quit talking just to me and let the community here know what you have to say. I apologize for not allowing anonymous comments, but I find personalization provides for a more intellectual conversation.

10 People Whose Opinion I Would Value

I know I said 5, but I had to make it 10. I just couldn't hold back. These are in no order of value as who I would choose would depend upon the knowledge I was seeking, but all would contribute greatly to any research or decision in my opinion.

Hermes Trismestigus - Ethical Atheist

Franklin Delano Roosevelt - 32nd President of the U.S.

Friedrich Nietzsche - Western (German) Philosopher

Karl Heinrich Marx - Western (Prussian) Philosopher

François-Marie Arouet (Voltaire) - Writer, Deist & Philosopher

Henry Louis (H. L.) Mencken - American Essayist

Gendun Drup - The 1st Dalai Lama

Count Lev Nikolayevich Tolstoy - Russian Essayist & Philosopher

Pope John Paul II (born: Karol Józef Wojtyła)

Harriet Tubman - Humanitarian

Oh and now you know I am going to get into why each one of them would contribute greatly to a conversation on community, role models and environmental respect. I wanted to just post this teaser first because I want you to think about what makes these people similar and why each of them is valuable from both critical thinking and/or ethical reasoning. I think you will be surprised when you put on your objective hat and actually "think" without clouded vision what enlightenment is out there for you and how much your mind is capable of.

I would love for you to post your theories prior to my actual dissertation on these individuals contributions.

Chick-fil-A is Sexy

What a header...is this an ad you might find yourself asking...NO WAY! That is definitely not something I would do and completely not the way I intend this blog to move, but I have to say it. Chick-fil-A is sexy. At least the two I go to are and some of the research I have done thus far on the company just because of the experience are leading me to believe. So for now, I am just leaving a few notes as a teaser until I finish the research and see if they deserve full attention for being a community player and a corporate role model.

Let's talk about sexy and contagious (not a word you normally want to associate with an eating establishment) from the moment I pull in because I know my expectations are going to be not only met, but exceeded to the moment I pull out feeling like I am actually "something on a stick" (pardon the southern). From the sincere welcome, the smiles from morning people (where do they come from?), offers for condiments (you mean I don't have to ask...) and then the clincher "My pleasure" or "We look forward to seeing you at the window". I actually believe they do. This my pleasure thing makes me want to fix my hair before I get up there and bat my eyelashes no matter whether it is a man or a woman who took my order and it makes my morning, midday or evening.

I would love to lambaste them for not offering me this lovely upswing in my mood on Sundays, but obviously they are on to something, because I don't mind the wait.
I am going on a Chick-fil-A research mission to see if this is consistent...and I expect anomalies, but if it proves true and my other background research from a corporate perspective bears well. They may fall into my top 10 corporate images for the future of humanity. I want to feel sorry for the chickens, but it is just too much pleasure to drive-thru in the morning. Be free cows...be free! Mediocre Service surrounds you as of now and poor corporate structure.

Next post: Back to serious and The Top 5 People I Would Like to Ask for Help and Why?

Pliable vs. StoneWall

How does one keep from "growing old inside"? Surely only in community. The only way to make friends with time is to stay friends with people…. Taking community seriously not only gives us the companionship we need, it also relieves us of the notion that we are indispensable. -- Robert McAfee Brown

I have, personally, failed at this miserably. This is what triggered so much of my awareness recently and my drive to change the world. Take a look at all the following current "challenges" and see how easily they correlate to at least one single common factor.

- Taking prayer out of schools is the reason for school violence.
- People not going to Church is the reason for violence and malcontent.
- Famous People don't behave like role models should; there is no sense of responsibility.
- People are having children that don't want them because of moral decay.

A lack of allowing our children to share in a communal spirit, embrace culture and tolerance (it actually goes far deeper than the whole prayer argument). Church is now considered non-trendy, old-school, non-communal, and hypocritical. Famous people aren't supposed to be role models and we made them so, then removed their community, isolated because they have to protect themselves and they have no sense of trust or in some cases even family. People are having children because they lack education (both personal, emotional, empowering and book) which is a communal responsibility.

We have generated an egocentric, wait, 'ego-societal' generation. WE, WE, WE, I, I, I take ownership for the failures of the past and WE, WE, WE, I, I, I must and will take leadership and ownership of the change that will take time and commitment and often leave me disheveled like a politicians email and alone while I infuriate those that fear that which they don't understand. But slowly and surely, it will happen over the course of time where we remedy the crimes purported against our community and ourselves and revive our purpose.

Live in a way that you wouldn't mind if it were viral. Infect people. Take ownership of the whole that you contribute to. In overprotecting a few "dearest" or creating false "idols", we enable segregation on levels far deeper than any visual or perceived label can ever transcend.

In explaining the word pliable to my 9-year old the other day, something sparked in my head. We aren't pliable anymore, the malleability is gone and some stonewall is in its place. Peace and faith (and don't confuse that with any religious overtones, get some vocabulary and remove the judgement) have been replaced with fear and "mines vs. yours".

My Lists

5 things I want to accomplish tomorrow
Teach my children something
Learn something
Remember how I am important
Contribute to my life
Contribute to some one's life
5 things I want to accomplish in the next month
Teach my children something
Learn something
Remember how I am important
Contribute to my life
Contribute to some one's life
5 things I want to accomplish in the next year
Teach my children something
Learn something
Remember how I am important
Contribute to my life
Contribute to some one's life
5 things I want the closest person to me to accomplish in the next year
Teach their children something
Learn something
Remember how they are important
Contribute to their life
Contribute to some one's life
5 things I want my community to accomplish in the next year
Teach children something
Learn something
Remember how everyone is important
Contribute to community life
Contribute to the community's future
5 things I want the global community to accomplish in the next year
Teach everyone something
Learn something
Remember how the world is important
Contribute to all life
Respect all life

Tips to the Cynics that are screaming, "Great! Another vague inference so that no matter what is said or done, everything is applicable. Let me challenge your cynicism with my own evaluation of the list. Some people need lists that are finite and easily visible. To me that is just a checklist (and I am a list maker, just ask my husband or my co-workers) and something that just contributes to order and measures accomplishment for those who need that reinforcement for their own self worth to be validated. When you are dealing with a list that is intangible in physical terms (which in my case...they are directly, by tactile senses, intangible) you have to give yourself liberty because any intelligent person realizes that as we learn more and mature, we adapt (this is also known as wisdom).

My list is emotional and intellectual, not task based. It is about living so that all of the subsequent lists contribute to the vision (that greater good thing which I keep referring to). We all must see our place in the big picture and we must also learn to understand that we are one of a kind within millions. We are just confused about how we find our place mainly because we are looking in all the wrong places for all the easy answers. There are questions for which we are not meant or entitled to an answer.

Remember when you would hear "Because" and respond with the lovely "Because Why?" or the even more plausible "Because I said so". When we are young before we learn (and it is learned behavior) that sometimes it is more valuable to step away without an answer and/or just to accept whatever is as just that, whatever it is. Yet today we find ourselves almost regressing back to immaturity as we are okay with "Because" or "Because I said so", the why is now selectively ignored. I actually challenge you to answer my lists on a daily basis just for good measure (and a small note for those of you with the smart alack in you, necessities for existence do not count unless they are being denied of you (food, water, the thriving that occurs when love is prevalent)).

Teach my children something - This is such an easy one and we walk away from such a brilliant opportunity everyday. I am very fortunate to have children that will need to learn humility and to share their gifts with others. The challenge is that every day I have to teach them to be humble and responsible for their gifts and impart their knowledge, not treat it as territory or a treasure.

Learn something - This one I never take for granted. I adore learning about things most people would consider nonsense even. My latest interest is in Astronomy because it fascinates my 9 year old. So my latest readings have been on quasars, blazars and magnetars and the origins of super novas, etc. Researching things that may not ever have an answer, this I enjoy the most because that is where we can determine the reality that defines humanity. We do need those limits and we have lost sight of them. On a side note, I am also reading about the caves where John was said to have written the book of Revelations. I don't like to write or approach any subject unless I have personally read and researched it myself with the application of appropriate analytical thinking and research skills.

Remember how I am important - This is the most difficult of all of the items on the list amazingly enough, but if you manage to do all the others, honestly this should be a "gimme". It would be human to say I think, therefore I am and inherently important and something probably about erring is in there somewhere too..definitely the erring part. We are the super species only because we do not know what we do not know so we assume we do and plan all that we do everyday and even get to justify it on those same means. With that absolutely nothing being said quite well, I have proven my worth for today.

Contribute to my life - I stay focused on what can be, not what is now or what is supposed. I have eaten well today and kissed and said I love you to all of those that needed to hear it from me.

Contribute to some one's life - I wrote this blog post. I wrote a bajillion thank you emails for existing in my life to everyone (that isn't directly related to me) I could think of today and added the one random person I looked upon the internet that I do every year because I am glad they exist. Great, now my family and husband will know I do this crazy thing every year and have me committed.

What is an amazing affirmation of your existence? Is that even though you think noone knows you are around or would notice if you were gone? I received 1,262 emails this week at just one email account and even though 30% were merely SPAM, the other half were people that I interact with and have the opportunity to affect EVERY single day. Sit back and bask in the glory of your own chance to change the world.

The individual has always had to struggle to keep from being overwhelmed by the tribe. If you try it, you will be lonely often, and sometimes frightened. But no price is too high to pay for the privilege of owning yourself. -- Nietzsche

Insert - Thanksgiving

Do people in general actually understand the concept of being thankful ( I prefer grateful, but I will concede for a moment)? I think that the majority of youth in the last two generations have no real concept of grateful; there is an innate sense of entitlement and expectation that in my youth would have landed me a house shoe upside the head on a good day. On a bad day, I am certain a switch would have been involved.

This is not the fault of youth in itself or any generation, ethnicity or economic condition. The fault lies in the largest part with parents or may be better said as a lack of parents and/or parenting. We teach our boys to be less like boys (wearing pink and playing with dolls) and our girls to be alluring far before they even have hormones to factor in. Let's see...my boys play with dolls occasionally but they call them action figures. I am NEVER putting my sons in pink and if that is an error in my judgement than so be it. There needs to be an edge in being male and that edge is taught when they are young; it correlates with the teaching of respect, admiration and ambition. What happened to the time when being a police officer, a fireman or a soldier was not only admirable but something to be revered.

Nowadays, short of being a TV or music star, you will not gain the image of role model. We are now in a position where our highest held position of president is no longer a position of respect or an image of role model. Granted, we encourage invasion of privacy and judge people on things that our none of our business and if the job is getting done and done well...then on a professional level, that is respect. We hold our presidents to some unrealistic expectation unless they purport some belief that corresponds with our own and then suddenly ignorance and apathy is tolerated and almost encouraged.

I really enjoyed an article (http://www.iht.com/articles/2007/11/22/asia/afghan.php) about how a group of military personnel came together for Thanksgiving. It really had nothing to do with what Thanksgiving is supposedly about (which in itself is hipocrasy) but more about community and appreciation and respect.

I appreciate every individual that contributes to my life directly or indirectly. I can even find something to appreciate in the individuals that have forced a world of security systems and terrorism. Challenge is: How could I say such a thing? Well, I appreciate and respect that a human has capabilities and challenges any walls put up before him. I respect that any individual can stand behind his beliefs so vigorously. I respect that it is only with coercion and a lack of parenting that one can be brought to justify the means to any end. Parents empower the future just as much as they handicap it.

One small note, everyone who has any friends or relates to any person has a role as a parental figure. Live cautiously as what you share empowers the future...give out the good stuff, don't keep it all to yourself.
I am grateful for my choices, for my family, my friends and every one of you.

Next Post: My lists as previously promised.

What Can I Do?

Getting the gist that everything starts with a broad open-ended question/header. If you aren't keep reading and it will eventually settle into your mind.


First of all, what can YOU do needs to be determined by you. Make the following lists.

• 5 things I want to accomplish tomorrow


• 5 things I want to accomplish in the next month


• 5 things I want to accomplish in the next year


• 5 things I want the closest person to me to accomplish in the next year


• 5 things I want my community to accomplish in the next year


• 5 things I want the global community to accomplish in the next year

Bear in mind that in order to properly create the lists above, you need to define certain things; who am I?, what constitutes accomplishment, what constitutes my community, what constitutes the global community, wait...back up a minute, first and foremost, define community. These are challenges and could contribute to the list of things to accomplish tomorrow. Set your goals so that you can succeed, but only with measure of its contributions and inspiration to move forward.

In the next post, I will put my lists up for you to lambaste or praise as you deem appropriate.

What can I see and hear?

What a broad header, huh?

There are the obvious things that come into my sight lines and into my hearing range, but out of all of those things...how many do I actually "see" and "hear"? Not just from the mere function of the sense itself, but with respect to all of whatever is sensed's grandeur and all of its potential. We all too often look at the world as it is, or as it seems to be, but we limit ourselves by not seeing through the layers and seeking out the possibilities and opportunities that ALL of our senses provide us.

I am, even in my thirties, fascinated by almost everything. It is this fascination that drives my passion to change. How can something so intricate and necessary be taken for granted so readily. Just who do we think we are...from the way we treat other people, treat ourselves, our environment and even our future...we emanate apathy and careless destruction in so many ways. We support things that we know aren't positive simply because it saves us a few cents or is a little more convenient. Such disregard of all for the sake of self is denial of our design and the requirement our species has to coexist. We won't acknowledge we need anything, i.e. "I don't care." "It doesn't affect me." "One time doesn't make a difference." I could go on for days without fail of coming up with at least 5 apathetic examples of our lack of desire to do more than we think we have to.

For all the lack of thinking we seem to do on a daily basis, we sure manage to invest a lot of time figuring out how not to think or not to do anything. What a waste of energy, because though kinetics may be the energy of motion...all things are constantly in motion. Even if you stop breathing and hold still, everything inside you is still moving, the earth is still moving, the target is ever moving as well...let us persue it with vehemence.

eth·ics
–plural noun
1. (used with a singular or plural verb) a system of moral principles: the ethics of a culture.
2. the rules of conduct recognized in respect to a particular class of human actions or a particular group, culture, etc.: medical ethics; Christian ethics.
3. moral principles, as of an individual: His ethics forbade betrayal of a confidence.
4. (usually used with a singular verb) that branch of philosophy dealing with values relating to human conduct, with respect to the rightness and wrongness of certain actions and to the goodness and badness of the motives and ends of such actions.
Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
[Origin: 1400–50; late ME ethic + -s3, modeled on Gk tà éthiká, neut. pl.]

Now that is heavy, but I will get into ethics a lot so setting a general understanding is important as I introduce you to the things that will change the foundation and eventually the overall structure of your day to day lives. I could lead into the fact that to understand the above, you need to understand morality, values and principles, but these terms are subjective in and of themselves as is the term ethics. So easily interpreted to suit any side of any argument, this must be a point of definition and goes along with the further efforts I will make to speak to the "Greater Good".

Now, tell me what you think ethics are in any respect. Gimme your best shot!

Let's Get Serious

Before I set off into sections of the book as posts, I am going to outline for you how I expect the flow to go (table of contents if you will), but in this online environment, I plan to mix it up a bit to maintain interest and continue to generate an almost subliminal desire to change.

• What can I see and hear?
• What can I do?
• Community (Greater Good)
• Apathy towards Intelligence
• Staying Trendy or Staying True
• Fast Forward Focus
• No Fear and No Tolerance
• Corporate Rights and Wrongs
• Political Rights and Wrongs
• Effecting Change
• Exemplum Docet

I will title them all with the chapter name then a one word descriptor of the segment. This way if you ever need to search for an entire chapter. It will be readily indexed for you to do so. I also intend to put some open ended questions out there and wish to solicit your feedback on such things. I need to inspire you, not terrify you, so your input is invaluable in the success of my efforts.

Also, if you ever have subjects you want me to research, critically and ethically analyze and present to the forum, just send it to me and I will let you know its viability and a timeline for me to do it for you (free, of course).

To all who have already read and contributed comments, I thank you and I look forward to a future with each of you involved and measuring your change over time.

Dissertation on a Testosterone Based Life Form

Well now, once again we are venturing into the psyche of a Superhero known as Mister Man, Daddy G., Book God, Jediwannabe, and Magical Mentor. Let's break down each character and their respective strengths and weaknesses.

Mister Man is the epitome of all that is stereotypically male. His superpower is the ability to do as little as possible and yet seem like he has done so much. This is an amazing feat because it manages to recharge and happen again and again at will. There is a never-ending supply of "honey-do" evasive techniques at his disposal. In complement to this technique, Mister Man comes with "delusions of grandeur" especially when it comes to the opposite sex. This natural delusion forces him to wonder just what services he could provide every estrogen based life form that comes into range. The depth of this "delusion" is infinite and stories of these services are shared frequently with other Testosterone Teammates. Finally, Mister Man is gifted with "Malady of Measure", this is the one shared trait of all Mister Mankind where somehow their perception of size doesn't quite mesh with standards of measure. The greatest weakness of Mister Man is his need to be desired and admired almost incessantly. Just a simple word or glance can distract him from any of his gifts/superpowers. He handles Moody Mom and Whiny Wife on a daily basis and frequently uses his "Selective Hearing" to ensure he is unscathed by their wrath.

Daddy G. has the best superpowers of all. The "Confidence Instiller" is utilized to ensure the future Mister Men are equipped to handle all the mental stresses of the future. "Requisite Repertoire" ensures the future Daddies are provided with testosterone appropriate reading materials, toys and clothing (usually not coordinating) when the time is right. Daddy G. frequently possesses "Childlike Display" where he emulates the children's jealousy of Mommy time. The "Form meets Function" is a male-only trained technique that makes bodily functions almost competitive. Also, it is well known that proper execution of this technique can cause "Emotional Exit" and "Harrumph Hostility" to happen in estrogen based life forms. This is a frequently used technique and underrated as well. Daddy G.'s weakness is his need to live out his own dreams through his children and the requirement to hide any disappointments where applicable so as not to deter the "Confidence Instiller".

Book God reads all that is science fiction, super heroic, fitness oriented or contains pictures of scantily clad women. Book God runs in a constant state of mental sponge, trying to soak up more and more information in hopes of defining why, how or even can I?. Book God contributes to all the other superpowers in that it can provide psychological stimulation, emotional outlet and even income. His useless trivia recollection technique is amazingly useful for social encounters and developing rapport.

Jediwannabe is the storage of all that is dreamed. A power over one's own world, an all-inclusive club of philosophical fortitude and the ability to evoke change in a positive manner. The key to this is the fact that they really have to do very little to accomplish such a great deal creates a perfect symbiosis with Mister Man. A necessary bit of fantastic faith that there could be such a thing is what keeps this character centered.

Magical Mentor enables testosterone based life forms to find magic in something and actually integrate it into their lives, both professional and personal. One thing that they feel absolute passion and conviction for and that they sacrifice in other areas to preserve. These range from family traditions, nicknames, make-believe, and a commitment to a philosophy of fun. Whereas estrogen will tend to take on burden and have the need occasionally to download, Magical Mentor downloads everyday and eliminates burden by perpetuating magic. If only we could infiltrate this power into EVERY Testosterone Teammate. Passion is contagious and if properly motivated...oh the changes in the world we could make.

All of the above characters are at risk of political emasculation due to our current need to make everything equal. Let's summarize here...things are NOT equal, are NOT MEANT to be equal and if everything ever IS "equal", how sad that we will have set into motion our own annihilation.The natural design of Estrogen based life forms to complement and support Testosterone based life forms is necessary to provide emotional balance and to ensure the future of the human race. Let us not forget "form and function", "cause and effect" and "all things in moderation".

Note: This dissertation was written by the super heroine previously documented, so any similarities to other individuals was graciously accepted in good humor (I hope.).

Next post: Let's Get Serious!

Do what YOU CAN do...

Great spirits have always found violent opposition from mediocrities. The latter cannot understand it when a man does not thoughtlessly submit to hereditary prejudices but honestly and courageously uses his intelligence. - Albert Einstein

This quote just speaks volumes as to my opinion on society and general apathy towards how things reflect poor judgement. Thoughtlessly submit, well that is just apathy at its worst, concession of your faculties and intellectual being for the sake of acceptance. Not certain that I, personally, would find that acceptance worthy of sacrificing the possibilities. Yet, this is where I would say the vast majority find themselves today.

I challenge everyone to say no to status quo and not just in your daily adventures, but in your lifetime pursuits. If you have children, then I challenge you to set the changes the future needs into action with their upbringing. There are injustices out there that have to be corrected, but we cannot correct them by furthering that same injustice. We must stand up, plan, think and execute processes that will balance this mixed up perception we have of what life is. They say the concept of sharing isn't truly understood until at least 4 years of age. Well what is everyone over 4 years of age excuse?

This isn't about money, this isn't about time, this isn't about race, gender or age. This is about change and long overdue change. This is about stepping up to the plate and doing what YOU CAN do. Not asking more of yourself than is reasonable so you will inevitably become disenchanted. This is about setting realistic goals and intending to keep them (not a New Year's Resolution that is basically rhetorical). This is the rocking motion that lulls a child into peaceful slumber, but in the grown-up world, that motion creates more motion, more chatter and will inherently knock off the things that are not credible and not worthy of time...and it will only leave that which has value (not subjective value, but intrinsic value).

Validate now what you think, don't just accept. Challenge what is before you if it proves unethical.

In future posts, I will quote various readings to educate you in critical thinking and ethical reasoning. I will move you to rock until the stones roll. I will do what I CAN do and cannot wait to see what WE accomplish.

Next post: Dissertation on a Testosterone Based Life Form.

Dissertation on an Estrogen Based Life Form

Read slowly and carefully, I am going to take you deep into the psyche of a Super Heroine known as Techie T, Wonder Wife, Mega Mommy, Stellar Student and occasionally Primary Plebian. From each of these roles stems a super power to be reckoned with, but as in all things the balance in her character comes from equally as powerful weaknesses. The challenge of every new day is to determine which role is on stage, disguise the weaknesses, complete the tasks at hand and remain humble.
The primary superpower of Techie T is processing speed; at 117 words per minute she can execute code faster than a speeding bullet and develop hierarchy that would stop a runaway train. This particular heroic character is highly valuable and plays a part in 5 out of 7 days of the week, sometimes more when there is drama lurking in the workplace. Her uncanny ability to dissect problems and formulate solutions that accommodate every systemic need make her quite the sleuth of the Systems department. The fact that she has been battling with the systems nemeses at this particular venue for almost 20 years has only made her processing faster and her will to succeed that much stronger. In that same vain, her speed and zeal occasionally allow careless errors to give her enemies the edge. She is developing a pre-battle checklist and reviewing her past efforts to find simple ways to improve her techniques without losing her competitive edge.
Wonder Wife and Mega Mommy share many of the same powers and are continually in conflict over who will be the player of the day, but they have mastered the art of compromise when it comes to the home front. Wonder Wife powers up the charge on her super-cooking mechanism (a.k.a. Kitchen-Aid Mixer) while Mega Mommy executes a flawless hip bounce with a 40-pound (4 year old) weight while performing the magical Homework Recollection (Third Grader) Technique on cue. With her typical southern flair, Wonder Wife manages to juggle multiple-tasks and not interfere with Mega Mommy’s amazing accident containment abilities and desire to play with Fisher Price toys. Wonder Wife and Mega Mommy are on call 24/7 and are exceptional at multi-tasking by managing financial, environmental and psychological needs of both her youth and adult subordinates (please make note of the husband reference as a subordinate). The tragic flaw within this team dynamic would be their inability to remember their own needs and their constant self-deprecating attitude. This weakness exposes them to unintentional emotional harm and causes them to hear not the real words spoken from their minions, but to become defensive and take on additional burden. They have inordinate stress levels and are apt to self-destruct at anytime before they reach 40 years of age. Recent studies have been done to find alternative environmental controls and identify sacrifices that must be made to gain control over their internal grumblings.
Stellar Student is a new player that intervenes when necessary on a daily basis. This newly acquired role involves the use of ‘Rapid Read’ and ‘Quick Query’ powers. Luckily, her original design engineers designed her with ‘Laudable Learning’; this causes her to accept givens and absorb new things quickly and adapt to change effectively. The way to defeat Stellar is to play upon her over-committed schedule and inability to say no. She will inexplicably offer more than is needed and still not perceive that as good enough. In this stage, she is vulnerable to emotional attack and mental stress. A new design module must be developed that accommodates no in her vocabulary and a better support system to enhance her abilities and ensure her longevity in this role.
Primary Plebeian is only given the opportunity to use her powers en masse on rare occasions and this minimal use design prevents the other roles from rising up in anarchy and destroying the entire balance of this super-heroine. ‘Inane Burden’ gives Primary the ability to handle valueless tasks for the pleasure of others without complaining and sometimes of voluntary intent. She finds humbling and reverence of life in these tasks and disseminates this stress-free wonder amongst all of her counterparts as often as is necessary to retain their sanity. Some of the amazing things this power allows her to do include counting coins , reading words from the dictionary (in order), rearrange Rubbermaid in the cabinets, attics, closets, etc., determine clothing sequencing for closet maximization, etc.
Overall, the major opportunity to overtake this super-heroine is to play upon her competitive nature. If any of them are not pulling their weight or playing a big enough part to feel like the best, they will be ‘kicked to the curb’ and replaced by a new vision. This change of direction often causes malcontent in the balance of the players and induces a chain reaction of dissension and attrition. Her main challenge to date has been maintaining the morale, empowering her team with the tools to be effective and determining the proper balance so that no one is taken for granted. We suggest a system of checks and balances with input from all of the beneficiaries of her powers as to the prioritization of their needs (wants too).
All of these personalities offer a range of powers including; multi-tasking, efficient learning, commitment, technical aptitude and propensity for social interaction. Her competitive nature and inability to manage stress only contribute to her self-deprecation efforts, but do manage to keep her humble (don’t laugh). She will find balance and satisfaction in her accomplishments someday we are certain.

What do I see?

When I look around at nature, science and what has been accomplished in the past, it reminds me of our failure in the present to provide for the future.

Architecture, Space Exploration, Medical Research, and Providing for the Common Defense have all been evolving, progressing but ever failing to address the fundamental issues that will actually destroy the human race. The fact that in our arrogant ego-centric cocoons we don't believe there will ever be an end to civilization (used loosely) as we know it contributes to the lack of concern or commitment to change. Change is scary; Different is scary.

Let's blame everything and everyone, but do nothing ourselves to change anything. Utter ignorant brilliance. Brilliant in that it gets you personally uninvolved and that is what most people want, but ignorant because honestly we all need each other and in our efforts to avoid and detach...the community falls apart and it becomes survival of the fittest individuals rather than the healthiest communities (how funny that the greater good is always played down to a personal level). Greater good isn't actually subjective, but everyone manages to interpret it as such.