Ed Coletti's P3

(P1) Poetical

Beckman On Vietnam and David Beckman

VIETNAM AND ME

The draft board needed me to
wanted me to fill,
to fill a slot.

Smell of charcoal
and burning meat
from the family grill and all the fun
all the frolicking summer cookouts
that fun summer.

They didn’t care
didn’t care if I
sat out the war as long as
as long as I didn’t, you know, embarrass anyone.

How I refused,
refused to fake some infirmity
and take the easy way.

How I applied for --
it’s an interesting couple of words, all right --
conscientious (that’s heavy, that has implications)
conscientious objector.

How the draft board,
my father’s friends,
(How are you, Herb? How’re the kids)
asked me to define
please define for us what the hell that is

and then said yes,
you are a
we know you
know you to be
yes, we know that you’re a sincere young man.

How ten years later I awoke in a sweat
wondering who
died
who exactly died
in
my
instead of, you know,
in
my
stead.

-- David Beckman

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(P2) Philosophical
from David Bromige





life is brief


it says here








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(P3) Political

THE TRASH CAN SCHOOL OF POLITICS

Holds there is no truth greater than the stink
of the compost beneath your sink. No greater
titanic ruse to the drowning of your senses.
Or the senselessness of a dead mouse
at the doorstep of former V.P. Dick Cheney.

Sells a silly fiction that anything goes
and everything soars like the gilded eagle
perched beside the original Articles of Confederation
signed by Adams and Hancock but not read
by all the people or former V.P. Dick Cheney.

Swears by the tarot cards of the fortune teller
of all Roma festivals and raw excitement
of jaw breakers and castanets and the quick steps
of the flamenco that string us along in a milkyway
of conceit just like former V. P. Dick Cheney.

Possesses the fatalism of the dead sea of the Plastic
Killing Fields of the Pacific. The wide smile
of unilateralism is the guise of good intentions
martinis and the kiss of the sloth, muskrat
blue monkey, and mother of former V. P. Dick Cheney.

Slips a knot around each word and high fives
the graffiti of Guantanamo drop by drop by precious drop.

~Nancy Cavers Dougherty
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(P1) Political

Legalize It!


In California, as in Illinois and other states, the time has arrived for serious consideration of legalizing marijuana sales and use. California especially needs to pass recently introduced legislation mirroring the public interest in moving forward with legalization.

Currently, in a state facing bankruptcy, California not only doesn't look to one of its top cash crops as a tax "cash cow" but actually goes out of its way (moreso the Feds) to prosecute its growth, sales and usage. It has been estimated by state officials that over $1.3 billion can be raised by taxation alone. Then there would be the revenues earned by legitimate retail stores and the growers, and the resulting overall boon to the economomy.

Decriminalizing marijuana sales would drive away the criminals who would realize virtually no economic benefit as the price is driven down by legalization.

And, considering legal alcohol, gambling, and tobacco, can any starving government possibly continue to posit some type of "moral" argument? Let us also consider that prominent conservatives and libertarians have long argued in favor of legalization. These include, among many others, George Schulz, Milton Friedman, and William F. Buckely.

Let's get on the reality bandwagon and start soon!

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(P2) Philosophical

Einstein On Belief

"Actually, my first religious training of any kind was in the Catholic catechism. A fluke, of course, only because the primary school that I first went to was a Catholic one. I was, as a matter of fact, the only Jewish child in the school. This actually worked to my advantage, since it made it easier for me to isolate myself from the rest of the class and find the comfort in solitude that I so cherished."

"I believe in mystery and, frankly, I sometimes face this mystery with great fear. In other words, I think that there are many things in the universe that we cannot perceive or penetrate, and that also we experience some of the most beautiful things in life only in a very primitive form. Only in relation to these mysteries do I consider myself to be a religious man. But I sense these things deeply. I cannot conceive of a God who rewards and punishes his creatures, or has a will of the kind that we experience in ourselves."

"During the youthful period of mankind's spiritual evolution, human fantasy created gods in man's own image, who, by the operations of their will were supposed to determine, or at any rate to influence, the phenomenal world....The idea of God in the religions taught at present is a sublimation of that old conception of the gods. Its anthropomorphic character is shown, for instance, by the fact that men appeal to the Divine Being in prayers and plead for the fulfillment of their wishes...."

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(P3) Poetical

San Francisco Haiku #7

Wind grips the wet coast.
Seven hills teach us about

gull sorrow and air.

Jack Crimmins

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(P1) Poetic

(below) Yellow Cat With Polka Dots & Saw Blade
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(P2) Philosophical


Eckert Tolle

"...it is likely you won't feel any emotion when you are told that someone's car has been stolen,

but when it is your car, you will probably feel upset. It is amazing how much emotion a little mental concept like 'my' can generate."


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(P3) Political

Heard On NPR's Wait Wait Don't Tell Me

A member of the Washington, DC council has proposed an ordinance outlawing pizza-by-the-slice joints. Wouldn't this mean that it is now legal to carry concealed hand guns in DC but not hold a piece of pizza in public?

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(P1) Philosophical

Help! Tell Me Why I Need Facebook!

There was a brief period in time when I belonged to the Facebook phenomenon. There were a few areas of value to me. I could look at photos posted by family and friends. I even found a few high school and college friends. Beyond that, Facebook, to me at least felt like one big redundant nuisance. Now, I'm told regularly that I need Facebook, that I'm out of touch. But I just don't understand. Why do I need Facebook when email is so very efficient? I realize that, to some extent, this is a generational thing. That many folks younger than 30 were practically "born" to My Space and Facebook and seldom check their email. Why? What's so wrong with email? What's so difficult about email? Why do I need to resume something which was fraught with so many cutesy little applications, privacy-denying walls, pokes and prods, iconic "gifts" and a mass of other confusing routes for sending websites, links, photos, and anything else I can send by email. What of privacy? What about the apparently facistic founder of FB who will keep anything you've given him and keep it forever, in spite of your telling him you want out?

I found these comforting passages from a student at St. Ambrose University in Iowa named Arielle Wilson ( in The Buzz)

...When I break the news to people that I do not have a Facebook account, many appear dumbfounded. 'How can you not have Facebook?" they ask with confused looks on their faces. Until I hear a convincing argument as to why I should have Facebook, I plan to remain one of the two people on the planet (Ed: "three") without it. I would rather not damage my future career because of things that could be found on a Facebook account...Since I am stuck in the dark ages, I usually rely on e-mail...The biggest thing that worries me about Facebook is a lack of privacy...I don't want to sound anti-Facebook. It is a great way to stay in touch with high school classmates and friends that are far away. For the people that use it correctly, Facebook is a great resource to meet new people and join new and unusual groups. But after hearing stories of how Facebook accounts can be hacked by thieves and lead to identity theft, I think I will stick to e-mail.

I'll simply add my "Amen," and ask you for your comments. Do I need Facebook? Why? And I'm open-minded, so, if you convince me, I will rejoin, but for now it will be a hard sell.

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(P2) Political

Dalai Lama Sightings

"Therefore, this crisis is good," he added with a laugh, "because it reminds people who only want to see money grow and grow that there are limitations."

I also heard the Dalai Lama at a visit to a soup kitchen where he said wonderfully, "You know, I'm homeless too!"

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(P2) Poetical

Two From the Lilliput Review

Broken On The Wing

A bluebird flies one cage
to claim another

I punch out then
feather home to drink

it's a migratory curse
hollowed in the bones

to bend your neck & peck
before you sing.

-Bart Solarcyzk-

another friend has slipped
into the long and crowded
history of us -
the fish market's
thousands of open eyes

- George Swede -

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(P1) Poetical

"Neither Fish Nor..." (Watercolor & Acrylic by Ed Coletti - 4-1-09)

(P2) Political

Dancing With the Stars

Nothing earth-shaking here. I just couldn't resist! Sarah and Barack!

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(P3)Philosophical (below)

William Edelen is a long-time friend. He's a minister, WWII Marine pilot, friend of the earth, and the most sensible person I know. He married Joyce and me.

VIRUSES OF THE MIND

by William Edelen
April 26, 2009

A child comes into the world, born an atheist as all babies are, and then is quickly indoctrinated with the religious virus of his or her parents and culture. A child through enculturation absorbs the culture of his, or her people. Enculturation is the process by which an individual learns the patterns of the family;

Children, through innocence, believe everything the parents tell them. They believe in the "tooth fairy"..."Santa Claus"..."The Easter bunny"..."witches changing princes into frogs"..."a man being born of a virgin"..."a man who could rise up from the dead"..."walk on water" and so forth. Children, being gullible, are easy prey for mental infections. It is easy for a child's consciousness to be exploited by a mind virus that is identical in nature to a computer virus or a biological virus.

The helpless young are easy victims of an insidious propaganda regardless of how ignorant or bigoted.

RELIGION IS A CULTURAL ACCIDENT. Children believe what their parents tell them and so follow the religious belief of their parents, or culture. The diety of ones worship is a product of ones culture. Catholic nuns do not have visions of the Buddha...nor do Buddhist nuns have visions of Christ.

Religions come with built in guilt mechanisms if the host starts to question. It is like a computer's warning statements if you try to delete a file needed for its operating system. Fear will usually remain even if guilt is overcome. A woman in my Congregational church in Tacoma, WA had grown up as a Roman Catholic and left to become a Congregationalist. She told me that she often awakened in the night in a cold sweat afraid she was going to be punished for that after death.

(Press here to read the full essay)


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P1 Political

Only One Paycheck Away

These photos of tent cities or shanty towns in Sacramento and elsewhere in America appeared March 11th in the British publication Mail Online. It wasn't only the pathetic reality of what our economy has come to during the past years of deregulation, but rather that America is now being studied by other countries in this way. It's like when we Americans see photos of camps in Darfur. Notice that the black and white shanty photo was taken during the Great Depression. As I watch and listen to Sacramento's mayor Kevin Johnson discuss the plight of so many of his constituents, I call to mind the old saw that goes something like, "The great bulk of Americans are only one paycheck away from homelessness." These people in the camps are car salesmen and construction workers. Unemployment rises daily.

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P2 Philosophical

Nothing Of Value

Throw away a jar of pennies,
This is very good advice.
Then nickels, dimes and quarters
Worth little more than lice.
In the soul’s progression
Such ridiculous device
As a coin, a dollar or a million,
Clocks and clothes and mice,
Nothing lasts forever,
And ever’s worth the price.

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P3 Poetic

Vowel Poem X

a note at night
ignore the gnats! the bats!
watch the net of beauty
from your boat
fireworks!
I bet you can't beat it
not with a bit of cheese
some nuts
(but don't eat the bait?)
it's neat to nit-pick
which of these stars stir you?
& about the darkness
how it stares from behind


© 2008 Bill Vartnaw




Vowel Poem XIII


tick tock
the white cat at the window
takes a toke of air
it's kite season

tick tock
I took the kite kit & cut
it's low tech
yet I still can't duplicate
the parakeet
I have tacked on the wall

tick tock
I stroke the cat's coat for solace
a cute tyke somewhere
sits on a cot w/ a teak toy
it will tuck between its blankets


© 2008 Bill Vartnaw


U.S. Poet Laureate Kay Ryan is scheduled to read at the free MARIN POETRY FESTIVAL, Sunday, April 26 in Dunphy Park located off Bridgeway at Napa Street in Sausalito, Calif.

This year's festival starts at 1 p.m. and features.four hours of music, spoken word and sunshine.

Other invited poets include Jack Hirschman, Aggie Falk, Sharon Doubiago, Clive Matson and the street corner stylings of poetry al fresco, & music by Avtocja, Owen Wilson as well as open readings.

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(P1) Philosophical
The Flying Spaghetti Monster (FSM) is an invented deity designed as a satirical protest to the decision by the Kansas State Board of Education to require the teaching of intelligent design as an alternative to biological evolution...And, according to the Pastafarian belief system, pirates are “absolute divine beings” and the original Pastafarians. (Wikipedia)

artwork by Vincent


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(P3) Political

25 Random Things About Me: Meg Whitman

by Chris Kelly at Huffington Post

1) I'm running for governor of California.

2) I have a billion dollars.

3) I'm 58 years old. I've been a proud member of the Republican Party for two years.

4) My campaign website is called Megwhitman.com. Its background is the color of money.

5) I have an MBA from Harvard, just like George W. Bush. What could go wrong?

6) I'm running for governor because I strongly believe that California should be friendlier to business and, uh, I guess that's about it.

7) Did I mention the billion dollars?

8) People say I use too much business jargon when I frame strategy fundamentals trend paradigm.

9) I have two beautiful sons and their names are Prioritize and Skill Set.

10) Last week, the LA Times asked me my position on school vouchers and my answer was "I don't know how to answer that question."

11) Last week, the LA Times asked me if schools should report the children of illegal immigrants. My answer was "I want to think about that a little bit."

12) Last week, the San Francisco Chronicle asked me my position on offshore drilling and my answer was "That is an issue I would like to study further."

13) Wait, someone just handed me a card. I do have a position on an issue besides statewide business-friendliness. I also want to cut taxes and spend more money on education.

14) Which won't be easy, since 55% of the state general fund budget is spent on education.

15) I've just been handed another card.

16) "This is an issue I would like to study further."

17) I believe gay and lesbian couples should be allowed to adopt children.

18) I supported Proposition 8 because I don't believe gay and lesbian couples should be allowed to marry.

19) And I think their bastard children deserve a wonderful education that I'll pay for by cutting taxes.

20) On second thought, this is an issue that I would like to study further.

21) When the San Francisco Chronicle asked me about my plans to reduce the size of government I said, "I can't be that specific on it."

22) I believe we "have a moral responsibility to be good stewards of the environment" but I don't believe we should be raising emissions standards on automobiles or "doing things that damage the car companies."

23) The American Lung Association rates Los Angeles the worst city in America for year-round particle pollution. 3rd worst is Bakersfield. 5th worst is Visalia. 8th is Fresno. 9th is Hanford.

24) A few years ago, when I was running eBay, I was asked about our expansion into China:

Q: Can you give us your thoughts on doing business in China given the civil rights issues there?

A: We do not have the issue that many of the portals have doing business in China because in China, we are not serving news, we're not serving really anything that has to do with commentary.

My position on civil rights in China isn't even "I'd like to study it further." It's "Who gives a shit."

25) California's unemployment rate is 9.3%. There's gotta be someone else who wants this job.

from Chris Kelly at Huffington Post 2-16-09

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(P3) Poetical

Something in the slight spring
of the branch
as the bird
alights —

Donald Wentworth

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