I Twitter'd - A Poem

Twitter went the little bird
but no one heard it's call
it music'd there upon the branch
no thoughts that it might fall

it's song was joy the tweets so prim
her happiness was shared
for what could make a small bird blue
when all the sky is dared

twitter went the little bird
Twitter went my phone
I watched the bird in gorgeousness
while I was so alone

I watched and heard the little bird
but nothing she could sing
could clear the sadness, tears and pain
nor could my Twitter do the same.

--

Friar Greg

friar.gregarious@gmail.com

Twitter: FriarGregarious

Poor little ducklings

Six little ducks

That I once knew

Fat ones, 

skinny ones,

Fair ones, too

But the one little duck

With the feather on his back

He led the others

down a steel grate crack

Top 5 reasons I need to get rid of Garbage

I don't mean just take out the garbage, though that's a good thing to do anyway. I mean to clean up my belongings... I don't need those notes from highschool if I've already graduated. I don't need the t-ball jersey I wore as a kid unless it was a winning year and I had it signed and framed or my kids wear it now. I mean all that shit I packed up and carried around with me from apartment to apartment, from town to town and maybe you even opened that box once in 5 years. I don't need it anymore. I should take a DIGITAL picture of it (easier to transport), and get rid of that junk, and here are my TOP 5 REASONS why I should.

#5 - If it doesn't fit anymore it better be an heirloom. Clothing tends to be peoples biggest hangup, and I don't just mean women... though more so women than men, we just don't want to let go of cloths. The truth is, we spend 80% of our lives wearing 20% of the wardrobe we collect over the years. That's just plain inefficient use of our bodily coverings, because that's all they are. If I can work off the weight, get rid of the clothes for now, buy or make something new when I can fit them. If they're wearable but need mending, I should fix them now, put them back into circulation. That and take better care of my clothes. It's cheaper in the long run.

#4 - If it has no bearing on the present or the future, it's garbage. We all want to keep those wobbly coffee mugs we made in art class, or the rusty trumpet our parents gave us as kids... but the fact is, if we are never going to use them in any useful manner, they are only extra weight and will bog down our future. They will dictate to us how and where we can live. I can't afford to store my life away when I'm living my life every day.

#3 - Old pictures of girlfriends, love letters we passed in school and Valentines from previous lovers do bring back fond memories, but chances are, you're married now (I am, currently) and the chances of your spouse finding them are pretty good. The chances their reactions will be pleasant, not so good. If you have to keep some kind of momento, don't keep the corsage, digitize it. Sometimes our favored memories will get us into hot water. It's usually a good thing to vault the memories, burn the evidence and, password protect the archives.

#2 - I have books I haven't read in years, I have more books I've never read and even more books people keep offering me because I like to talk about those subjects. Truth is, I'm never going to learn Linux. I like to think that I'll be able to escape from the Microsoft Monster, but I probly never will. The ammount of learning I'd have to do to be able to replicate my MS skills in another OS, will waste too much valuable time. I'll keep the Biggest references to few tech's I do use once in awhile, sell the rest. If I read a fantasy series, pass it on when it's completed. I will only need a few dozen books all the time, not the hundreds I store away for a rainy day. In the case of cookbooks, I would either convert each recipe to cardstock or put them all in a database, the books take too much space, but I'd keep no more than a couple.

#1 - Cohabitation. The #1 reason couples break up after moving in together is STUFF. Guys don't like moving into the girls place because there's stuff there. Where to put HIS stuff? Storage. Girls don't like guys stuff, period. They clean it up for them, then it's gone. Gone is the guys stuff that he's treasured and in it's place is the resentment that his stuff is gone because of her. Her stuff is perfectly fine, usually presentable when showing off the house, but it's not his. She can't touch his stuff and he's not allowed to touch hers... where does it end? I need to clean up my stuff. I have lots, less than some, more than others. Truth is, the other 4 reasons all touch on the same thing: Too much stuff, is not good. I'm down sizing my living arrangements temporarily, but it's the perfect time for me to sort through every box and container, and get rid of the stuff that's holding me down. Soon, I'll have to share my personal space again, and it won't work if we've got too much personal stuff.

---

Friar Greg

Jay's Tiny House

Home for 2 in less than 100 square feet!?!?!?! I found this video via the WikiHow feeds I get everyday in my inbox. I figured this would be an interesting topic to see what others do when they get squished. Nothing too much on the information side; research homes, cut down own what you own, get more multi-purpose items and fewer space hogs. Blah Blah Blah. Then there was this video.

So... where does he put the 3 kids on the weekends when they visit? Let's not forget the 2 cats and 3 fish? Where's his library, kitchen island, workshop, office, deep freezer, 60" flatscreen, jaccuzi and swimming pool? Where's the ceder patio complete with picnic tables and Aderondac chairs for 8? I still am not able to find the mudroom, the basement, the laudry facilities or walk-in closet.

Am I crazy? Are these rooms and furnitures missing? Did I really need all that stuff to have a home? Other than the children, no (well, maybe 1 cat and/or fish). Truth be told, with another 50 square feet, he could probly include the children as well, I'd try it. It doesn't even have to be on a trailer as he has done. What's the cost of a 10'x10' poured basement? How many of these could you fit on a 5 acre lot complete with walking paths, creek bridges & a parking lot?

1 acre is 43,560 square feet. If I were to template a home in (let's be a little extravigant) 250 square feet footprints, inside another 250 square foot enclosure (the yard) that's 500 square feet per home, we'll assume 1 acre is for covered parking and walk paths between homes and another acre for parkland, we're looking at 3 acres (130,680 Sqf) divided by 500 Sqf per house is roughly 261.36 homes. So that makes 260 homes large enough for 2-5 individuals each on 3 acres of land. That's a range from 260 greedy people to 1,300 easy going people with few needs and a great sense of community. You could break that down to 250 homes, and put in a small grocery store, small department store, bicycle repair shop, hair dresser, etc, etc, etc. You could really make a go of it and build like a multi-level market place complete with restaurants and boutiques, an out door stone patio and eating area, balcony's and roof-top pools. You know, even with Ontario winters, this is really starting to sound like a nice place to live.

I would build it near a flooded rock quary for water treatment, water supply, beach front and water front homes. Maybe get 20 acres, build 8 such villages, put a wall around the whole place and ban road vehicles all together. Each village can be designed to produce certain materials and products for the other 7 villages. 1 village could have a large Hydroponics vegitable farm. Another could produce local-brand clothing, another could be set to produce furniture (tiny furniture of course) while yet another village is populated by services and tradespeople, ready to fix, install, modify or build anything you need. All would be available to every resident within the wall via the 2 acre business sector in the center of town, with the park in the middle and the city hall at the head of town square. The furthest you could possibly live from the center of town would be always be less than 1 km. We should all walk at least a few km every day, even in the winter! Without any car traffic, we'd all feel much safer than crossing a normal city street (not considering the electric wheel chairs). If we need something large delivered, or don't want to carry the groceries, there would be a shuttle service for pedestrians (no tax dollars spent on asphalt and speed signs) or a delivery service... though, no one would likely be purchasing large items anyway, but it would be there anyway.

So my original idea of the village, could be adapted far more easily to an experimental community of tiny homes. I'm liking it.

Who's in it with me?

--

Friar Greg

** Related Links **

Jay's Tumbleweed website http://www.tumbleweedhouses.com/

More from Jay & Tumbleweed on TV

One of Jay's happy customers

How to Build a Village - Claude Lewenz

More about village life (Lewenze related)

YouTube - Life in Sausalito, California

YouTube - Fernandina, a small town in paradise

Songs of my Heart

I've been feeling some very strong feelings around these two songs as of late and I just wanted to share the lyrics, because not everyone memorizes songs as I do, and they couldn't understand for their own sakes what I was talking about it. So here, with proper credit, are the songs that i'm listening to.

Bare Naked Ladies - Call & Answer

Words & Music by Stephen Duffy & Steven Page

I think it's getting to the point

where I can be myself again, I think

it's getting to the point

where we have almost made amends

I think it's the getting to the point

that is the hardest part.

If you call, I will answer

and if you fall, I'll pick you up

and if you court this disaster

I'll point you home

I'll point you home

You think I only think about you

when we're both in the same room, you think

I'm only here to witness

the remains of love exhumed

You think were here to play

the game of who loves more than whom

If you call, I will answer

and if you fall, I'll pick you up

and if you court this disaster...

You think it's only fair to do what's

best for you and you alone, you think

it's only fair to do the same

to me when you're not home

I think it's time to make this something that is

more than only fair

So if you call, I will answer

and if you fall, I'll pick you up

and if you court this disaster

I'll point you home

But I'm warning you, don't ever do

Those crazy, messed-up things that you do

If you ever do I promise you

I'll be the first to crucify you

Now it's time to prove that you've come back

Here to rebuild.

The other song that is on my mind, is a little harder to sing, remember and understand. However it also fits the bill to a "T" and I work hard on it every day. Following here are the lyrics to this timeless classic.

Words & Music: Stephen Stills

Suite: Judy Blue Eyes

Performed by Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young @ Woodstock

It's getting to the point where I'm no fun any more

I am sorry

Sometimes it hurts so badly I must cry out loud

I am lonely

I am yours, you are mine, you are what you are

You make it hard

Remember what we've said and done and felt about each other

Oh, babe, have mercy

Don't let the past remind us of what we are not now

I am not dreaming

I am yours, you are mine, you are what you are

You make it hard

Tearing yourself away from me now, you are free

And I am crying

This does not mean I don't love you, I do, that's forever

Yes, and for always

I am yours, you are mine, you are what you are

You make it hard

Something inside is telling me that I've got your secret

Are you still listening

Fear is the lock, and laughter the key to your heart

And I love you

I am yours, you are mine, you are what you are

You make it hard... hard

And you make it hard

And you make it hard

Friday evening

Sunday in the afternoon

What have you got to lose

Tuesday morning

Please be gone, I'm tired of you

What have you got to lose

Can I tell it like it is

Help me I'm suffering

But listen to me baby

It's my heart that's suffering

Help me, I'm dying...

It's dyin' and that's what I have to lose

... to lose

I've got an answer

I'm going to fly away

What have I got to lose?

Will you come see me

Thursdays and Saturdays

What have you got to lose

Chestnut brown canary

Ruby throated sparrow

Sing a song, don't be long

Thrill me to the marrow

Lacy lilting lyric

Ring around the moonlight

Asking me, said she so free

How can you catch the sparrow

Lacy lilting lyric

Losing love lamenting

Change my life, make it right

Be my lady

Que linda me la traiga Cuba

La reina de la Mar Caribe

Quiero solo visitarla alli

Y que triste que no puedo vaya

O va, va

{How beautiful it would be to bring me to Cuba

The queen of the Caribbean

I only want to visit you there

And how sad that I can't go

Oh go, go!}

I want to personally thank Stephen Stills, Stephen Duffy & Steven Page for writing these songs that say exactly how I feel and allow me to express my sadness, my frustration and my new will to carry on with a medium I love to use. I sing them to myself wherever I am. They are not only deeply meaningful songs but also catchy and will drive themselves into your brain. I want to share my sympathy with the three Steve's. You guys must all have had some nasty breakups to have been able to write these songs.

On a different note, now that I have these lyrics posted, I'm going to post my own analysis of these lyrics based on my new understanding of Taoism, The 4 Agreements and personal experience.

Look for these songs, get them, and really listen to them hard. You'll know where I am when you do.

--

Friar Greg

Fathers Day 2009

Once again it's fathers day, it comes every year on the same day. I was almost lucky enough to have my son born on fathers day, but he was a little early and arrived on the 18th instead of the 21st. Would have been cool. Anyway, this year's is looking good so far. My youngest, Saben, has made me a gift with his own two feet. Yep, his bare feet were painted and stamped onto a page with a poem printed on it and he had it framed. I love it. Here's a scan:

I hope fathers everywhere are reading!

---

Friar Greg

Crazy Axeman #2

Crazy Axeman #1: Country Music Sux

So this is my first ever web comic and I'm really proud of it... though I did take the cut & paste a little too far. Future episodes should look a little better; though I make no promises when it comes to timeliness or propriety. Axeman is generally inapropriate for all ages. This first episode doesn't cross too many lines, but he will...

he will

sigh.

Greg

DFF 001 - My Sword

This is another little comic that I started almost a year ago but never did anything with it. So here you go. Life sux when you're the idiot in the gaming group.

Megan's & Scotty's Birthday!

This day actually did not turn out anything like what I thought it would. Today was actually TWO birthdays! My Sister Megan and my Son Scotty both celebrated another year today. I didn't get to see Megan, but I found her on MSN (when would I NOT find her there?) and wished her a happy birthday. I did get to see Scotty (amazing considering the day I had) and had a great time and loved ALL his presents. It was a pirate themed small little gathering but he was adorable. I forgot to take my camera so I'll have to wait till Jen gets back to me with her photos. As you can probly see, I posted a bunch of stuff today, and it lead to some crazy results... some of which I may share with you later. But for now I just want to make sure everyone knows about Scotty's & Megan's Birthday.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY SON!!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY SIS!!!

I love you!!!

---

Friar Greg

Terminator Series

hehehe... this seems a little more realistic than what you actually see in the movies.

and the alt of Arni...

More videos like these can be found at http://www.youtube.com/user/barelypolitical

---

Friar Greg

Silicon Butt-Pirates?

Another stab from barelypolitical.com 

this is a quicky re-edit where Steve Jobs & Bill Gates talk about their gay marriage.

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH!!!!!! ROBOTS!!!!

---

ahem..

Friar Greg

Blackberry Endorsement

As a 5 year vet of the Blackberry, I have found a few tools that you may be interested in using for your own BB especially if you are a googlite like myself.  I've included the intro video's google has posted on YouTube for your own enjoyment.

First is the gmail sync.  it allows you to send & receive mail directly to or from your BB device and the Gmail servers.  and it doesn't require registering your email at the BB site like you used to.  You can send the link for download strait to your device from this site. Just enter your devices phone number and the link is automatically sent. Gmail Sync

Another great tool is the BB Mobile Sync.  This tool will keep multiple google calendars updated on your BB as well as your contact list.  2 way updating will make sure that changes you make on your device will appear on your pc/laptop when you log into it later.  I really hate trying to sync my BB with non MS software.  It's bothersome, but this way I don't have to sync, it does it for me.  And of course with the correct Thunderbird add-on's, you can sync everything from google (calendar, gmail, contacts) without opening a browser.  

Here's the Mobile Sync site, same deal as before.  Enter in your mobile phone number and an install link will be sent to your device.  Mobile Sync

I hope you get the chance to enjoy these tools as much as I have.

---

Friar Greg

Political Games... hehehe

This is cute.  I'm starting to like these video's.  Where did YouTube come from anyway?

Keep up the good work!

--- 

Friar Greg

No Diving

Funny Enough.

Bugs and Lights and Stuff

I got this one way back in the day... I think from Carl.

The way out

Uh, George? I don't like the looks of this.

The Worst Job Ever

I can't argue with this.

If I had 1/40th of $1,000,000

The following question was posed on FuelMyBlog:

If I were loaned $25,000 today by social lending network, such as, pertuitydirect.com/, what type of online or offline business would I launch?

I'm thinking, an offline business for sure. I don't have the head anymore to keep up with techno junkie business programmers. I'm happy just being an above average, highly educated, power user. $25,000 is not exactly enough to open the dream business I have been planning, it wouldn't even be a good start. So I won't even go there. Instead, let's start from my current situation.

The money would be enough to fill my tool boxes, get me a cheap truck/cube van and a little bit of advertising. The core of the business would be custom welding and constuction but in reality it would encompass all aspects of renovation (indoor and out), and specialty custom construction. Everything from computer automated greenhouses to off-grid subterrain automated irrigation systems for hobby farms or permaculture gardens. I'd love to install windmills and stuff. But that business isn't really a niche in the Hastings/Prince Edward region. Sure I might get a couple jobs, but then the interest would peter out. There are too many people offering some of what I do, who are either smiths or jacks. I couldn't compete with the larger millionaire home builders who could throw in pretty much most of what I could offer with every house they build and sell.

Another idea would be to start my own farm. My own VERTICAL FARM that is. http://www.verticalfarm.com/ is an awesome project that currently is focused on humongous 80 story buildings providing fresh produce, green electricity and clean water for 40,000 residents of metropolis sized cities. I'd do something a little smaller scale, like a local business. Maybe an eight story hydroponic greenhouse providing fresh, naturally ripened fruits and vegetables that can not normally be found within a thousand miles or more of Eastern Ontario. Can you imagine picking bananas or dragon fruit from a tree that couldn't possibly survive our harsh Ontario winters and at prices even the discount grocer's couldn't come near matching. No fears about ripening produce on trucks for weeks on end, or what gasses they use to force ripen some fruits; and available all year round!!!

The first option is more viable, 25 Grand would set me up nice as a jack of all, but I'd have far too many competitors with stronger reputations than mine. It would also only be a pittance if I started my own mini vertical farm. However, it could make me a major shareholder if I brought in investors. I can't imagine intelligent local investors NOT wanting to be associated with such a heroic venture.

Anyway, my thoughts.
--
Friar Greg
Belleville Ontario
friar.gregarious@gmail.com
http://friargreg.blogspot.com