tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-53032992012-01-15T16:51:18.294-08:00Simplicity, Freedom, Loving-Kindness, Self-Reliance, Creativity!Skaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12898306140740247566noreply@blogger.comBlogger6391100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5303299.post-12070869713830509382008-08-12T09:57:00.001-07:002008-08-28T10:55:38.649-07:00

I started this blog 5 year ago-- when I was living in my van in Gainesville, Georgia, USA.What an amazing 5 years it has been! Wow! A scan of the archives reveals quite a journey from then to now.And of course, the journey continues.However, I think its time for a little change here at Hobopoet.Now that I'm once again gearing up for an extremely active hobopoet lifestyle, and now that I have

Skaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12898306140740247566noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5303299.post-6108019932597973132008-08-12T00:21:00.000-07:002008-08-12T00:38:39.538-07:00

Well, we've arrived at last! Two years of work, with some play thrown in... and now we're ramping up our mobile lifestyle!Just recently got back from a trip to Mexico with Tomoe-- this is a picture from the Baja coast. I was surprised to find that the water is still cold all the way down there! I was expecting balmy tropical waters-- but the ocean felt quite similar to San

Skaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12898306140740247566noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5303299.post-74876416461653914542008-07-27T11:50:00.000-07:002008-07-27T12:13:55.607-07:00

Another year is gone -A travel hat on my head,Straw sandals on my feet--BashoComplacency is the enemy of the Hobopoet. We try to be present and mindful in the moment... but we never want to be complacent.Freedom is a road, not a point that is reached. There are always new challenges to face, new chains to throw off.There are always new fears. Fear is our good friend. It points the way. It

Skaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12898306140740247566noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5303299.post-48514011298945373582008-06-04T11:32:00.000-07:002008-06-04T11:35:27.520-07:00

Today is Jessica's birthday. I hope you'll take a little time to visit her memorial website and think about her:http://www.memoriam.atfreeweb.com/jessica.htmShe was truly a special, one of a kind person and I've never met another person remotely like her. Ill always remember her boundless energy, joy for life, and unmatched kindness.Happy Birthday Jessica

Skaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12898306140740247566noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5303299.post-11222641207493338812008-05-03T23:46:00.000-07:002008-05-04T00:03:20.152-07:00

OK, now its time for one of those words I hate: "marketing". In big business, "marketing" basically means-- "lying and spewing total bullshit to coerce people into giving you money".Yuck. For micro-biz, I prefer the more direct phrase "Reaching People". Hobopoet methods are somewhat different than the mainstream approach, as follows:1. Only try to reach people who you can genuinely help.

Skaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12898306140740247566noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5303299.post-64346618111702047892008-05-03T23:33:00.000-07:002008-05-03T23:46:26.736-07:00

I still have trouble using the words "business" and "marketing". For me, they are tainted by the countless evils done by big business-- the exploitation of workers, the union busting, the lying, the environmental destruction, the political bribery, the manipulation of "consumers".In fact, the single greatest obstacle to reaching financial independence, for me, was finding a way to do it that

Skaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12898306140740247566noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5303299.post-20191927060485784002008-04-18T22:57:00.000-07:002008-04-18T23:13:56.296-07:00

Simplicity isnt only a key value for your personal life-- its also key to success as a micro-entrepreneur.For many years, I hoped to start my own business. I dreamt of leaving my wage slave jobs and becoming financially independent. At these times, I'd run out and buy business books and magazines. I even went to the Small Business Development Center, talked to an advisor, and took classes.BIG

Skaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12898306140740247566noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5303299.post-64941087983606101072008-04-13T19:06:00.000-07:002009-08-28T17:08:23.513-07:00

OK, so enough of the depressing reality of the TV programmed "good citizens". You want to know how to free yourself from that hell.Let's get practical. Here are Skald's easy steps to mental freedom:1. Unplug the TVCancel your cable service. Destroy the satellite dish. Never-- NEVER -- watch TV again.2. Don't read or watch the "news" in any formDon't read the newspaper. Don't read news

Skaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12898306140740247566noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5303299.post-15456867074376251852008-04-13T18:52:00.000-07:002008-04-13T19:06:24.080-07:00

In "the West", we are mostly enslaved mentally (as opposed to the naked physical oppression employed by China, Burma, etc..). Most people in the West will forcefully and confidently tell you that they are "free".But here's their idea of freedom:Spend 40+ hours a week at a job where their schedule is strictly regimented. They must show up at 8:30 every weekday, must take the prescribed lunch

Skaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12898306140740247566noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5303299.post-56527663922259154022008-04-08T01:36:00.000-07:002008-04-08T01:49:21.502-07:00

When you follow my advice, and live off of half your income.... what happens?One of the most amazing benefits is psychological-- fear begins to evaporate. As your "needs" decrease and your savings increase, a huge psychological weight is lifted. Every month that passes brings more relief.Sooner or later, you find yourself feeling more confident.... no longer intimidated by your boss, or the

Skaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12898306140740247566noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5303299.post-34877869569287698532008-04-08T01:29:00.000-07:002008-04-08T01:36:40.154-07:00

Simplicity is Hobopoet Principle number 1. What does it mean?Well, it means: Live well below your means. And what does that mean, exactly?My rough rule is this: Live off half of your income (and save the other half to fund long bouts of blissful unemployment).If you make 200,000 dollars a year, congratulations! You live of 100,000 with a very abundant lifestyle and rapidly build savings (and

Skaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12898306140740247566noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5303299.post-66315639149426742332008-04-08T01:20:00.000-07:002008-04-08T01:29:07.275-07:00

I must admit I find the whole slacker/hipster "scene" annoying and pathetic. I'm a full-fledged convert to inspired laziness-- and my hatred of wage slavery is well documented.But I still despise the Cult of Cool. In essence, The Cult of Cool is a belief system (aggressively marketed by big business, by the way) that values cynicism, criticism, and shallow posturing. As any hipster knows, to

Skaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12898306140740247566noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5303299.post-39202752848623237022008-04-08T00:52:00.000-07:002008-04-08T01:11:07.805-07:00

Its been a while, as usual. Quite a while since I invested energy in Hobopoet.Where have I been? What have I been doing? Mostly I've been fully immersed in my latest project for economic, temporal, and physical freedom: the development of my own internet micro-business.As loyal readers know, a year and a half ago I'd finally had enough of bosses and wage slavery and decided to try to be rid

Skaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12898306140740247566noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5303299.post-39566257851048756752008-01-04T11:43:00.000-08:002008-01-04T12:05:05.978-08:00

Most of my writing has concerned actions that INDIVIDUALS can take to liberate themselves. But now that I have attained a degree of (physical, financial, temporal, emotional..) liberation, I find that my attention is turning towards helping others do the same thing. At one level, that involves sharing my ideas on this blog.But Im taking other steps too-- which are more personal. I have

Skaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12898306140740247566noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5303299.post-33771817916503859512007-12-30T12:42:00.000-08:002007-12-30T13:10:38.723-08:00

"While the materialist is mainly interested in goods, the Buddhist is mainly interested in liberation. Buddhism is the Middle Way and therefore in no way antagonistic to physical well-being. It is not wealth that stands in the way of liberation but the attachment to wealth; not the enjoyment of pleasurable things but the craving for them. The keynote of Buddhist economics, therefore, is

Skaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12898306140740247566noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5303299.post-51696259542501683662007-12-13T11:00:00.000-08:002007-12-13T11:28:32.798-08:00

"Follow Your Bliss"--Joseph CampbellLet's be honest.Most of us love quotes like the one above. We've all read great words about "following our bliss" or "following our genius" (Thoreau).... and we've nodded our heads. We love the words of Emerson, Alan Watts, Jack Kerouac, and other free spirits. We love the IDEA that following our bliss will bring happiness, prosperity, freedom, fun, etc...

Skaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12898306140740247566noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5303299.post-20080272542202233342007-11-16T17:59:00.000-08:002007-11-16T18:24:35.530-08:00

After several months of transition, I have finally settled into my new freedom. I know it sounds strange. It sounds strange to me. Who would have thought that when I finally achieved liberation from wage slavery, I would need an adjustment period. I imagined myself immediately jetting off on exciting adventures. Instead, I continued to go about my daily routine in SF. Truth be told, I was

Skaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12898306140740247566noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5303299.post-26794512135983673612007-11-16T17:50:00.000-08:002007-11-16T17:51:43.717-08:00

Hello from Guatemala. Its been a while since I updated this blog, so here's a quick summary.After a few months of independence the reality of my new situation is finally sinking in,.... and Im finally starting to take advantage of it. Currently Im in Quetzaltenango, Guatemala-- studying Spanish. Ive been doing an intensive Spanish course for the last two weeks. Of course, two weeks isnt that

Skaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12898306140740247566noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5303299.post-68266573835999378082007-08-06T15:45:00.000-07:002007-08-06T19:51:24.016-07:00

One thing I love about this blog is that it offers an honest view of the process of moving towards one's vision. A big problem with "self-help" books and programs is that they often seem unbelievable. Why? Because the authors write them AFTER they have achieved their own vision of success. No matter how many times they say "sometimes it was tough", you get the feeling that they always felt

Skaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12898306140740247566noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5303299.post-390393401832371162007-08-01T20:43:00.000-07:002007-08-01T20:57:52.784-07:00

You often hear the advice "do what you love" when starting your own micro-business. Im not sure this is the best advice. My advice would be-- do something you enjoy AND are good at. That's probably not going to be your favorite passion or hobby. In fact, I think its generally a bad idea to create a business that involves something you truly and fanatically love doing. For example, I love

Skaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12898306140740247566noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5303299.post-10420312380159449062007-07-23T18:59:00.000-07:002007-07-23T19:23:06.962-07:00

Im currently in Oaxaca, site of an ongoing people´s struggle against big business, big money, and big government. The downtown Zocolo is filled with revolutionary banners and graffiti. Meanwhile, armed stormtroopers with machine guns circle around the downtown area.. 6-8 sitting in the back of pickup trucks.Last Friday, two demonstrators were killed by police. More are in jail, being tortured

Skaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12898306140740247566noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5303299.post-63207667596779270732007-07-12T13:29:00.000-07:002007-07-12T13:59:00.864-07:00

Today is my Independence Day. Today was my last day of work. We can never predict the future, of course, but with luck this is the last job I will ever work. Today is the culmination of a 23 year struggle for freedom from wage slavery. It began with my very first wage-slave job at Arby's (fast food) and has continued until this day. In that time, I worked many horrible jobs, a few tolerable

Skaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12898306140740247566noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5303299.post-77494091680336100442007-06-24T19:44:00.001-07:002007-06-24T19:56:21.007-07:00

The time has arrived.Tonight I write my resignation letter. With luck, it will be the last such letter I ever write... for the last job I ever have. My final day of employment will be July 12th-- The next day, I board a plane to Mexico City to celebrate my Independence Day. It has been a very long struggle. A long long struggle for financial independence-- for freedom from wage slavery.

Skaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12898306140740247566noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5303299.post-69949283910695704252007-06-04T22:01:00.001-07:002007-06-04T22:09:13.700-07:00

Today is Jessica's birthday. I still think of her often-- but especially on her birthday. I remember her unrivaled enthusiasm for life. Its a trait that all who knew her remember. She was unique in the best and brightest sense of that word.I hope that today, we can remember that brightness. Of course, I still feel sad when I think about her death. But as time passes, I try to focus more

Skaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12898306140740247566noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5303299.post-5210720782679557332007-05-29T16:07:00.001-07:002007-05-29T16:37:16.204-07:00

Tim Ferriss has written an amazing book-- basically a how-to guide to living an abundant Hobopoet life. Its called "The 4-Hour Workweek" and its great.You can get it on Amazon at:The 4-Hour WorkweekHere's a nice quote from the book:"Life doesn't have to be so damn hard. It really doesn't. Most people, my past self included, have spent too much time convincing themselves that life has to be

Skaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12898306140740247566noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5303299.post-5136722316556052162007-05-23T23:12:00.000-07:002007-05-23T23:35:09.688-07:00

by SkaldI got my first job at age 16. Arby's Fast Food Restaurant. After the first day, I knew. Work sucks. I knew. I knew that employment was inherently demeaning. The past 23 years have only confirmed and strengthened that insight. I've had crap jobs, I've had "decent" jobs. I've had one cool boss. I've had loads of shitty ones. But always the institution itself was a prison. Always

Skaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12898306140740247566noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5303299.post-80177577189259414542007-04-25T16:07:00.000-07:002007-04-25T16:20:35.311-07:00

Perhaps the most compelling reason for working for yourself is that it pays better. As a wage slave, a significant portion of what you "earn" is taken by your employer. That's why they employ you, after all. They make money by doing nothing. In the beginning, independent income is risky and difficult. The allure of the paycheck is its (illusory) dependability. Every two weeks, you get

Skaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12898306140740247566noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5303299.post-40499403851031046322007-04-22T10:21:00.000-07:002007-04-22T10:41:23.809-07:00

The website continues to grow, allowing me to save money. That's important- because I'm eager to get on the road again. My goal is to hit the road before the end of this year. By that time, I'm hoping my website will be making enough money to cover my day to day travel and living expenses. One thing you should know about doing your own micro-business-- there will be a lot of competition.

Skaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12898306140740247566noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5303299.post-68036510287687575592007-03-25T21:22:00.000-07:002007-03-25T21:40:19.638-07:00

by SkaldBusiness has been co-opting and subverting noble causes for decades (well, centuries). This is their preferred method for destroying any movement that challenges them. The environmental movement is a perfect example-- big business simply runs countless "green" ads and creates scores of fake "environmental groups" (which are actually fronts for polluting industries) in order to confuse

Skaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12898306140740247566noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5303299.post-22460939815136430442007-03-22T23:19:00.000-07:002007-03-22T23:47:30.163-07:00

by SkaldIf you are a programmer, you can make your own site quite easily. Another option is to spend a good chunk of money for a professional to create one for you. However, that's an expensive option. For aspiring micro-preneurs, I recommend a simpler and cheaper route-- go with a pre-packaged template service-- these include Godaddy.com, Yahoo Stores, Ebay Stores, etc. No, your site won't

Skaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12898306140740247566noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5303299.post-4814423134748609822007-03-12T22:09:00.000-07:002007-03-12T22:43:24.905-07:00

by SkaldSo, how do you get started as a cyber-bedouin? What are the first steps to starting your own web micro-business?I recommend a slow, easy, and super-cheap start. In fact, the first steps aren't really about "business" at all.The very first step is to identify your passions. Not interests. Not skills. PASSIONS. What are you crazy about. What do you love to do, learn, and teach? You

Skaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12898306140740247566noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5303299.post-66483497854661514212007-03-12T22:02:00.000-07:002007-03-12T22:09:28.558-07:00

by SkaldIf there are any longtime Hobopoet readers left out there.. they know that this little blog has been on semi-vacation for quite a while. The reason is simple, I didn't know what to write. For over a year now, I've been in transition from Hobopoet living in Thailand to Cyber-Bedouin living in San Francisco. The Bedouin part only started last October, when I finally launched my English

Skaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12898306140740247566noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5303299.post-22434046173805682402007-03-12T21:35:00.000-07:002007-03-12T21:59:18.291-07:00

by SkaldOn the front page of the San Francisco Chronicle today was this headline:"Where Neo-Nomads Ideas Percolate"The story was about the growing number of neo-nomads or "bedouins" in San Francisco. Bedouin doesn't describe just any Hobopoet... it specifically refers to what I often call cyber-hobos. These are people who run their own web based businesses using a laptop, a cell phone, and an

Skaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12898306140740247566noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5303299.post-69868283944503085502007-03-05T20:01:00.000-08:002007-03-05T20:14:11.748-08:00

Financial independence is coming along, ever so slowly. I'm now happy to report that my website is making enough for me to live, job free, in an inexpensive country (such as Thailand, Cambodia, India, Ecuador, etc.). However, I've decided to wait a while longer to build the site and be sure it will be a consistent source of independent income. It would be nice if it eventually generated

Skaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12898306140740247566noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5303299.post-1171189023496725452007-02-11T02:17:00.000-08:002007-02-11T02:17:03.623-08:00

If you've got a bit of talent for music... you might be able to get a few free meals and beer for your efforts.That's what these boys in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia did....They don't get paid.. but they work for beer... and a free meal.. It's nothing new but a damn good way to spend a Saturday night and get something in return for your efforts. Check out their music at:www.myspace.com/

matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10432779454016113164noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5303299.post-1166387550777062122006-12-17T12:12:00.000-08:002006-12-17T12:32:30.830-08:00

by SkaldWell, the stint here in San Francisco has been interesting. There have been good points and bad points. The initial months were EXTREMELY stressful-- mostly because of money. But lately, I've settled into a comfortable routine. My teaching job is fine. Money is all right, not abundant, but enough to get by. My friends are here. And I'm enjoying the city. Certainly, this is the

Skaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12898306140740247566noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5303299.post-1166386310142221572006-12-17T12:03:00.000-08:002006-12-17T12:11:50.173-08:00

by Skald I haven't checked in in quite a while, mostly because my life has been dominated by a pretty boring daily routine. That is set to change sometime next year.. but more on that later. First, an update on the micropreneur project. Its going slowly, but well. My English teaching website now has 40 paying members. The site is now producing an income of about $100 a month. That's not

Skaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12898306140740247566noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5303299.post-1161505889997959182006-10-22T01:11:00.000-07:002006-10-22T01:31:30.026-07:00

by SkaldThe micropreneur (or "hobopreneur ;) project is going decently. I've launched my website and am developing and improving it week by week. When I launched the site almost a month ago, I opened it for free one month trial memberships. I ended up getting about 50 trial members. Soon they will be deciding whether to stick around or leave. At the moment, I have 7 paying members in addition

Skaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12898306140740247566noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5303299.post-1158442992582962522006-09-16T14:08:00.000-07:002006-09-16T14:43:12.730-07:00

by SkaldThe Corporate system that currently dominates the world is set up to make most of us wage slaves. This form of authority and control is usually far worse than the political repression we compain so much about. With the exception of the "Drug War", most of us are repressed far more at our jobs than anywhere else. Employment (and prior to that, school) is what degrades us, what

Skaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12898306140740247566noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5303299.post-1156574485507527362006-08-25T23:02:00.000-07:002006-08-25T23:41:29.340-07:00

by SkaldIts been a long time, and so, and update:My quest for economic self-reliance is going quite well. My freelance teaching program is suddenly taking off. I'm having a great time with my students, I'm teaching in the relaxed environment of my own apartment, and I'm making good money. But I've hit a very difficult transition period. I'm doing so well that I'm now stressed out and

Skaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12898306140740247566noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5303299.post-1153294450774160312006-07-19T00:22:00.000-07:002006-07-19T00:34:10.796-07:00

by SkaldOne thing I've thought of writing about is my current experiment with building a freelance income. At the moment, I'm engaged in an effort to create my own freelance teaching income. My goal is to totally free myself from bosses, schools, and administrators. Part of this strategy is to build both a face-to-face clientele and an online one. A solid base of online students would give

Skaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12898306140740247566noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5303299.post-1152690776899020642006-07-12T00:40:00.000-07:002006-07-12T00:52:56.933-07:00

by SkaldAs many readers have noticed, I've been taking an extended break from Hobopoet. My life is generally going well, and I've got a few interesting projects going on. Mostly these relate to my efforts to learn a language (Spanish) and teach one (English). These activities may (or may not) be interesting-- but I feel they don't really relate to the purpose and spirit of Hobopoet. Likewise

Skaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12898306140740247566noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5303299.post-1152594647391259622006-07-10T22:10:00.000-07:002006-07-12T18:15:19.640-07:00

One of the beautiful things about being a teacher is all the time off you get... heres an essay I recently wrote while visiting MT, USA...As much as I LOVE my job... and dont consider teaching kids work at all....I never have moments of inspirtation like this while inside the confines of the four walls of a classroom.... thus, the value of slacker time, time off, time outdoors, 'unproductive'

matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10432779454016113164noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5303299.post-1151137924128971582006-06-24T01:31:00.000-07:002006-06-24T01:32:04.160-07:00

(homage to Motorcycle Nomad Gypsies legacy) A teenage kid pumping gas at his dad's independent shop on outskirts of a little town looked up as sound of a motorcycle zapped him,and a lone rider on a big black Harley chopper bent into wind ''''rain, left an impression on him that would haunt him even when he'd got his own bike and chopped it in expressioin of his own individuality, as he'd do in

Skaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12898306140740247566noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5303299.post-1150435685254015202006-06-15T22:07:00.000-07:002006-06-15T22:28:05.270-07:00

by SkaldA few folks have asked for more information about teaching English on the internet. So here goes: First of all, realize that this takes time. Its a very slow building process to get students, do a good job with them, build word of mouth, etc. At the moment, Im nowhere near making a living at doing only this. On the other hand, teaching on the internet is a very pleasant, relatively

Skaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12898306140740247566noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5303299.post-1150248113364437502006-06-13T18:21:00.000-07:002006-06-13T18:38:00.643-07:00

The Greatest LossJuly 26, 2005Kuala Lumpur, MalaysiaThere is no shortage of news detailing the loss and destruction of our natural world. Clear cutting this, ozone depletion that, global warming here and there. No doubt it is happening right before our eyes and no doubt Homo sapiens {wise humans) are in large part, if not totally, responsible. There is also no doubt that we could do a better

matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10432779454016113164noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5303299.post-1150000519902765612006-06-10T21:23:00.000-07:002006-06-10T21:35:19.916-07:00

by SkaldRecently Ive begun to teach English over the internet, using Skype. I've talked to students in Japan, Taiwan, Canada, the US, Germany, Sweden, and England. I find it very gratifying to chat with folks from all over the world, and to have a student clientele that is scattered all over the globe. Even more gratifying is being able to work from home. What decadent luxury! I open the

Skaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12898306140740247566noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5303299.post-1149469907945184682006-06-04T18:07:00.000-07:002006-06-04T18:15:16.473-07:00

Today is Jessica's Birthday. For those of you who knew her, I encourage you to take some time to think of her, and perhaps visit her memorial website :)Jessica's Memorial WebsiteI will always feel grateful to have known & loved her.

Skaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12898306140740247566noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5303299.post-1149206118546666902006-06-01T16:42:00.000-07:002006-06-01T16:55:18.570-07:00

by SkaldYou know, this simple housing issue has ramifications that go far beyond our individual lives. The truth is, my father's massive McMansion is not just a personal choice. That house, and the entire suburban lifestyle it represents, comes with tremendous costs... costs that all of society must pay, not just my father. In truth, the suburban nightmare is subsidized by all of us... by

Skaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12898306140740247566noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5303299.post-1149204995335896842006-06-01T16:34:00.000-07:002006-06-01T16:36:35.346-07:00

Rat Bikes Are No-Nonsense. Motorcycles? Sure - they use less fuel than cars, and motorcycles are easier to maneuver, park etc. But, deep down, the True Secret is: Motorcycles Are Fun. That's it! That's why we ride them, all the rest is just so much rationalizing. And Ratbikes are the ultimate distilled evolution of motorcycling: No Bullsh*t involved. Just do the minimum to keep them healthy and

Skaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12898306140740247566noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5303299.post-1148600145416383012006-05-25T16:33:00.000-07:002006-05-25T16:36:23.913-07:00

by SkaldJust found a very interesting blog called Homeless In Vegas.The writer is doing a Masters thesis and, as research, has decided to fly to Las Vegas and live as a homeless person. He will chronicle his experiences on his blog. His homeless stint begins this Saturday, May 27th. Check in and see how he's doing!

Skaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12898306140740247566noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5303299.post-1148521278687692492006-05-24T18:23:00.000-07:002006-05-24T18:41:19.820-07:00

by SkaldWhen deciding where to live, I think its important to ask some very basic questions. The most basic of all is.. what, exactly, is the purpose of a house or apartment? As Thoreau noted, we seem to have forgotten. The most practical answer is that an apartment provides shelter from harsh elements. It keeps us warm and dry. Another purpose is to provide safety and security. Locked

Skaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12898306140740247566noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5303299.post-1148149814484288692006-05-20T11:14:00.000-07:002006-05-20T11:30:14.500-07:00

by SkaldNow that Ive recovered from the worst of return culture shock I can think more rationally about what was going on. Many people have asked me.. "what was so difficult about returning to the United States?"There are many answers, but the simplest one echoes a statement recently made by one of my English students: "I was shocked by how materialistic Americans are". This girl went on to

Skaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12898306140740247566noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5303299.post-1148014490944185042006-05-18T21:48:00.000-07:002006-05-18T21:54:50.963-07:00

by SkaldThis week I finally got hooked up to teach English over the internet. Ive got one student. She lives in Korea. At the moment, of course, Im still very much dependent on my regular job. But Im hopeful that slowly, over time, I can build the number of online students I have. Eventually, I hope to completely replace my standard job at the school with a private tutoring practice (

Skaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12898306140740247566noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5303299.post-1147638387571773552006-05-14T13:16:00.000-07:002006-05-14T13:26:27.593-07:00

by Skald"San Francisco is a great place but its so expensive, I could never live there". I cant count how many times people have said that to me. In terms of rent/housing, its absolutely true. And yet, it is possible to live here and pay reasonable rent. By reasonable I mean 400-500 dollars a month (utilities included). With the minimum wage at $8/hour... thats doable. The problem is

Skaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12898306140740247566noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5303299.post-1147543552518416262006-05-13T11:05:00.000-07:002006-05-13T11:06:06.933-07:00

Check out this blog.. titled Happily Homeless. What a great name!

Skaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12898306140740247566noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5303299.post-1147540440174199692006-05-13T10:09:00.000-07:002006-05-13T10:14:00.193-07:00

By Melissa Holbrook PiersonAll things considered there are only two kinds of men in the world: those that stay at home and those that do not. —Rudyard Kipling There are only two kinds of bikers: those that have been down and those that are going to go down.—Biker saying At precisely this moment someone, somewhere, is getting ready to ride. The motorcycle stands in the cool, dark garage, its air

Skaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12898306140740247566noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5303299.post-1147401251552141672006-05-11T19:25:00.000-07:002006-05-11T19:34:11.563-07:00

by SkaldI have failed, thus far, to discuss one popular Hobopoet living strategy: government welfare. In truth, some hobopoets consider this to be a fantastic strategy. Ive got one friend who has all his basic expenses covered by government checks. While right-wing Republicans and various other good citizens might condemn him,... I dont. These folks should be much more concerned about the

Skaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12898306140740247566noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5303299.post-1147142105877226592006-05-08T19:30:00.000-07:002006-05-08T19:35:05.886-07:00

by SkaldHyper reality. Every form seems carved from the same plasticine substance. Each blade of grass. Each crystal water bottle encased in sunlight. The vibrating weave of my blue jeans.... the dust that drifts on the air.

Skaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12898306140740247566noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5303299.post-1146602859079397522006-05-02T13:41:00.001-07:002006-05-02T13:47:39.093-07:00

by SkaldOurs is an age of acquisition. GETTING is the religion of our time... ever grasping, ever clutching for more more more. Its a sickness. A rotting mental disease. A disease that infects in a thousand ways, with a millions symptoms. By contrast, loss is abhored in our culture. We deny not only death, but aging. We are terrified of losing our money, our property. More to the point,

Skaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12898306140740247566noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5303299.post-1146602506695573602006-05-02T13:41:00.000-07:002006-05-04T23:45:27.663-07:00

by SkaldTribe. Clan. The building blocks of ancient human social structures. Today,... all but gone. We live in an atomized world. Today, in fact, even the 1950s "nuclear family" is a relic. And community? Forget it. What community? The average American is an isolated soul. But it doesnt have to be that way. Its possible to reconstruct the archaic social forms.. in new and novel

Skaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12898306140740247566noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5303299.post-1146250627503701512006-04-28T11:46:00.000-07:002006-04-28T11:57:07.513-07:00

by SkaldAs many no doubt noticed, I was recently hit by a powerful wave of reverse culture shock. The transition back to San Francisco has generally been easier than past returns to the States (to Georgia). San Francisco is an international city with a very large Asian population, so in many respects I didnt feel like I was completely in America. However, all sorts of American cultural

Skaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12898306140740247566noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5303299.post-1145733110728203972006-04-22T12:07:00.000-07:002006-04-22T12:11:50.740-07:00

by StefanWatch the movie "The Words Fastest Indian". It's a fantastic movie about travelon a shoe-string budget, and motorcycles. It's based on the true story of a manfrom New Zealand who travels half-way around the world to race his home-made bike on the Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah. At some point in the movie, an old Indian asks our hero: "What you wanna ride that contraption for?"He answers,

Skaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12898306140740247566noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5303299.post-1145647012689475352006-04-21T12:00:00.000-07:002006-04-21T12:16:52.700-07:00

by Skald"Trust yourself to react appropriately when catastrophe happens. Failure of nerve is really failure to trust yourself."--Alan WattsI didnt go abroad for the first time until I was 27. Id often thought about it, but never did it. Finally, I met a guy whod traveled to India. He filled me with tales of crowded markets, wandering sadhus, spices, chaos, colors. India seemed to me the

Skaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12898306140740247566noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5303299.post-1145540302931040602006-04-20T06:28:00.000-07:002006-04-20T15:10:44.216-07:00

FREEDOM Freedom rained down on my headIt mustve been about 3 amThats what theyre callin it … freedomUnless youre on the receiving end FreedomFreedom. Where are they when you need em?FreedomFreedom. Youre human rights? You dont need em! He went to war for the governmentHe came back with disfigurementNow he needs some kind of treatmentThey cut the VA check and his

matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10432779454016113164noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5303299.post-1145502009603401052006-04-19T19:50:00.000-07:002006-04-19T20:00:09.616-07:00

by SkaldSome of the freest people Ive met are the street vendors and micro-entrepreneurs of Thailand. What wonderful people. What a wonderful lifestyle. These are folks who "work for themselves" in the very best sense of that phrase. People without a boss. Without timesheets. Who work when they want to; and dont when they dont. These are people who are not in a rush.... who are generally

Skaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12898306140740247566noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5303299.post-1145306049826084342006-04-17T13:33:00.000-07:002006-04-17T13:34:09.830-07:00

by StefanMan, over the last couple hundred of thousand of years, has been conditioned by evolution to require certain outside parameters to experience a happy life: access to fresh air, beautiful nature (why do you think simply looking at it lifts the spirit), close and nourishing relationships with other people, a fair measure of physical exercise, etc. The modern world, however, forces people

Skaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12898306140740247566noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5303299.post-1145305954441976982006-04-17T13:31:00.000-07:002006-04-17T13:32:34.453-07:00

by StefanIn Germany, there is an ancient figure of speech: "Angst ist ein schlechter Ratgeber". "Fear is a bad advisor".There is a great truth to this, hence it appals me to see most of todays world completely run by fear. Fear of terrorist attacks. Fear of evil drugs. Fear of real or imagined enemies. In America, the irrational fear of an unseen outside world most never even bothered to explore.

Skaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12898306140740247566noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5303299.post-1144962066337732862006-04-13T13:58:00.000-07:002006-04-13T14:01:06.356-07:00

More insanity from the "War on Drugs" (TM)Just before dawn one August morning last year, a Sunrise, Florida, SWAT team moved into position outside its target. At a commander's signal, the team kicked down the front door and began its assault with paramilitary precision. Within seconds shots rang out, and within moments it was clear that the team had secured its objective and killed its target.Was

Skaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12898306140740247566noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5303299.post-1143691810051248072006-03-29T19:59:00.000-08:002006-03-29T20:10:10.066-08:00

by SkaldBlogging, Im afraid, has made my writing worse. As I review the writing Ive done during the last year, I see a steady decline in quality. After much reflection, I attribute much of the decline to increased blogging. The more I blog, the worse I seem to write. Its not a conclusion I wanted to make... I enjoy blogging. Blogging has many benefits. I like its interactivity... the quick

Skaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12898306140740247566noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5303299.post-1143334630122160042006-03-25T16:56:00.000-08:002006-03-25T17:18:55.426-08:00

by SkaldWoke up this morning, threw on jeans, and headed to breakfast with my friend Sky. Clouds covered the city, and as we walked, a light rain fell. We loped along slowly... heading to a small diner. As we did, irritation popped forth.. like a ripe seed sending out shoots. Throughout breakfast, I snarled, pouted, and ate silently. Once finished, I headed back to the apartment. I

Skaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12898306140740247566noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5303299.post-1142900387517031702006-03-20T16:00:00.000-08:002006-03-20T16:19:47.533-08:00

by Skald"Perhaps to just sit quiet and take deep breathing exercises would be better than popping one another off with slugs of dynamite. Because the strange thing is that just doing nothing, just taking it easy, loafing, meditating, things tend to right themselves. "--Henry MillerWhat a wonderfully Taoist statement by Henry Miller. And how very true. Ours is a society driven by action. For

Skaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12898306140740247566noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5303299.post-1142806691835270232006-03-19T14:03:00.000-08:002006-03-19T14:18:11.850-08:00

by Skald"Worries about one's love life, health, investments, family, and job are always hovering at the periphery of attention, waiting until there is nothing pressing that demands concentration. As soon as the mind is ready to relax, ZAP!, the potential problems that were waiting in the wings take over. It is for this reason that television proves such a boon to so many people. Although

Skaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12898306140740247566noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5303299.post-1142718596054505262006-03-18T13:27:00.000-08:002006-03-18T13:49:56.070-08:00

by Skald"People have enough to live, but nothing to live for; they have the means but no meaning."--Robert FogelThere's America in a nutshell. Weve got enough. 99% of us. Weve got enough food. Weve got enough clothes. Weve got adequate shelter. Our physical & economic needs are met. What drives the capitalist system is not need... its obsessive desires. Almost every mystical-religious

Skaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12898306140740247566noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5303299.post-1142287945549175272006-03-13T13:54:00.000-08:002006-03-13T14:12:25.566-08:00

by SkaldInvoluntary homelessness is a complex problem. As some have noted, a central factor for many of these people is addiction. Its not that they lack a hobopoets insight or intelligence. The problem,... what keeps them in such a mean and horrid state... is their addiction to alcohol (or, sometimes, opiates/amphetamines,...). The drug addiction takes over and becomes the overriding force

Skaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12898306140740247566noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5303299.post-1141853088880528112006-03-08T13:15:00.000-08:002006-03-08T13:24:48.883-08:00

by Skald"When you are content to be simply yourself and don't compare or compete, everybody will respect you."--The Tao Te ChingThe above line provides a clue to my recent "success" at work. In fact, since becoming a hobopoet... Ive noticed I get much more respect from bosses and co-workers.. when I must work. I also seem to "get" more freedom and autonomy on the job. More independence.

Skaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12898306140740247566noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5303299.post-1141783992065623852006-03-07T17:55:00.000-08:002006-03-07T18:13:12.080-08:00

by SkaldPrior to choosing a hobopoet life, I thought "more money" was the key to freedom. Stuck in the mainstream mindset, I thought if I could just make & save enough.. Id be able to "retire early" and finally escape wage slavery. Time and again I tried to find schemes for making more money. I kept hoping for a "good job". I imagined starting my own business in order to "be free and get

Skaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12898306140740247566noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5303299.post-1141598637371942122006-03-05T14:21:00.000-08:002006-03-05T14:43:57.390-08:00

by Skald"What if small were fashionable? Is it just me, or have we hit some sort of consumer zenith? Our meals, houses and automobiles are supersized, but the sheer number of things we own, or are told we must own, has also grown exponentially in the past few years. All this stuff cannot help but add to the high stress levels Americans report in their lives. What if small were to become

Skaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12898306140740247566noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5303299.post-1141435826714796402006-03-03T17:22:00.000-08:002006-03-03T17:30:26.726-08:00

by SkaldSoba is one of my staples. Soba are Japanese buckwheat noodles. Cheap. SUPER easy to make. They are even simpler than spaghetti... no need to heat up a big batch of sauce. The best complement to soba noodles is dashi.. a kind of mild soy sauce. In the past, I shunned cooking because it seemed too complicated, messy, and time consuming. But Im finding that food can be simplified

Skaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12898306140740247566noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5303299.post-1141344167370334612006-03-02T15:45:00.000-08:002006-03-02T16:02:47.386-08:00

by SkaldGood citizens in the US spend outrageous amounts of money on insurance. This is particularly true as one moves up the income ladder. Once folks acquire a bunch of shit... they become increasingly terrified of losing it. We've got renters insurance, fire insurance, house insurance, car insurance, life insurance, health insurance, unemployment insurance...... Thus, our possessions

Skaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12898306140740247566noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5303299.post-1141274895289672432006-03-01T20:07:00.000-08:002006-03-01T20:48:15.313-08:00

by SkaldSF's homeless problem weighs on my mind. There are so many people on the streets here.. and this week has been cold, windy, and rainy. Miserable weather for them. Two questions cross my mind. First, how might this problem be "solved"? Second, if I were in their shoes, how could I lessen the misery? I addressed the first question in a previous post (build MadHouser huts!). Now for

Skaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12898306140740247566noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5303299.post-1141180868452566342006-02-28T18:17:00.000-08:002006-02-28T18:41:08.466-08:00

by Skald"Direct your eye right inward, and you'll find a thousand regions in your mind yet undiscovered. Travel them, and be expert in home-cosmography". --ThoreauIm habitually stunned. Shocked. I find it very hard to understand-- just how little most people know themselves. Most, in fact, seem to go to great lengths to AVOID self knowledge. They avoid silence. They avoid solitude. Given a

Skaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12898306140740247566noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5303299.post-1141094344215403962006-02-27T18:24:00.000-08:002006-02-27T18:39:04.230-08:00

by Skald"Consider first how slight a shelter is absolutely necessary. I have seen Penobscot Indians, in this town, living in tents of thin cotton cloth, while the snow was nearly a foot deep around them, and I thought that they would be glad to have it deeper to keep out the wind. I used to see a large box by the railroad, six feet long by three feet wide, in which the laborers locked up their

Skaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12898306140740247566noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5303299.post-1140992202843373312006-02-26T13:43:00.000-08:002006-02-26T14:16:42.863-08:00

by SkaldUp to now Ive tended to focus on the financial benefits of simplicity.... and the benefit of increased "free time". Related to these are many mental benefits."Our life is frittered away by detail... In the midst of this chopping sea of civilized life, such are the clouds and storms and quicksands and thousand-and-one items to be allowed for, that a man has to live by dead reckoning, and

Skaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12898306140740247566noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5303299.post-1140817955125216572006-02-24T13:34:00.000-08:002006-02-24T13:52:35.146-08:00

by SkaldA simpler lifestyle does not only benefit those with a small income. While I choose to live lean... on a very modest income... I by no means believe everyone must do this. In fact, a big income multiplies the benefits of the hobopoet lifestyle. The key.. the basic principle.. is to live BELOW your means... Preferably well below. Got a big income? Bringing in $200,000 a year? Great!

Skaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12898306140740247566noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5303299.post-1140665284823432212006-02-22T19:11:00.000-08:002006-02-22T19:28:04.840-08:00

by SkaldThere are many benefits to living a simpler life... but perhaps, in our modern society, time is the biggest. I remember what it used to be like for me, back in my full time wage slave days. I never felt I had enough time. What a shock it was, going from university life (tons of "free" time) to working. My first summer at IBM, I was severely depressed. I woke at 6:30 am. Commuted

Skaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12898306140740247566noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5303299.post-1140460741211395922006-02-20T10:07:00.000-08:002006-02-20T10:39:01.226-08:00

by SkaldWe dont need much. Its easy to "make a living" if we will only live simply.... it was Thoreau's message.. and mine as well. Thoreau was absolutely right, most of us are needlessly enslaved all our lives. Not by force. Not by necessity. By choice... Because of the lifestyle choices we make. We are taught that we need more more more more more more more more more. The media

Skaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12898306140740247566noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5303299.post-1140406929603766162006-02-19T19:36:00.000-08:002006-02-19T19:42:09.606-08:00

by Skald"Documenting the complex relationship between humans and psychoactives"Thats the tag line for Erowid, the most extensive web site (I know of) about psychoactive substances. The site is a rich storehouse of information... scientific, experiential, and legal. For accurate information about drugs and their effects, including shamanistic uses, check out this website. Erowid presents

Skaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12898306140740247566noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5303299.post-1140406480317087642006-02-19T19:30:00.000-08:002006-02-19T19:34:40.316-08:00

by SkaldI just realized that another of my posts has disappeared. It was there yesterday, gone today. What the hell is going on? Is blogger censoring me, or just screwing up my blog out of incompetence? If its censorship, couldnt they at least do me the courtesy of INFORMING me? Anyway, here's the other missing post: I highly recommend an anarchist blog/site called the Anthropik Tribe. The

Skaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12898306140740247566noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5303299.post-1140396998338779402006-02-19T16:45:00.000-08:002006-02-19T16:56:38.353-08:00

by SkaldLooks like I need to find a different host for my blog.. as I cant tolerate the suits at Blogger/Google deciding what is "acceptable" and what is not. Google has clearly crossed over to the dark side.. enthusiastically teaming up with the Chinese government to censor web content. Do a search on Google's China site and you will find no mention of the Tiananmen Square massacre... just

Skaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12898306140740247566noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5303299.post-1140395924196124692006-02-19T16:30:00.000-08:002006-02-19T16:38:44.210-08:00

by SkaldApparently Google (parent company of Blogger) does not confine its censorship activities to China. My last post, titled "The Grey Economy", has mysteriously disappeared. Here one minute, gone the next. I got no notice from anyone as to why it was removed. Creepy. This is the very definition of a "thought crime".... suppress the expression of certain thoughts, and the writing of

Skaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12898306140740247566noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5303299.post-1140394790746777472006-02-19T16:06:00.000-08:002006-02-19T16:19:50.766-08:00

by Skald"In the eyes of the Bush administration, however, Iran’s worst transgression has less to do with nuclear ambitions or anti-Semitism than with the petro-euro oil bourse Tehran is slated to open in March 2006. Iran’s plan to allow oil trading in euros threatens to break the dollar’s monopoly as the global reserve currency, and since the greenback is severely overvalued due to huge trade

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by SkaldIs it possible to be a hobopoet AND have a spouse/children? I have neither, and so the lifestyle is fairly easy for me. But recently Ive been thinking about family and babies. My sister is having a baby. A good friend and his wife recently had one. In fact, I suspect Im in the very tiny minority as someone who is not interested in having kids. Must every would-be hobopoet live as I

Skaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12898306140740247566noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5303299.post-1139970908906325712006-02-14T18:24:00.000-08:002006-02-14T18:35:08.920-08:00

by SkaldFasting is an ancient means of purifying and healing the body. When an animal is sick, it usually stops eating and rests. When people fast, their body's focuses on eliminating toxins. A four day fast (water only) will eliminate almost any non-chronic disease. Its also great for the mind... clearing it as powerfully as meditation. Check out Paul Bragg's books on fasting for more

Skaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12898306140740247566noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5303299.post-1139780637441925822006-02-12T13:38:00.000-08:002006-02-12T14:20:24.686-08:00

by Hakim BeyNeedless to say that I consider the Drug War an abomination, and that I would demand immediate unconditional amnesty for all "prisoners of consciousness"—assuming that I had any power to make demands! But in a world where all reform can be instantaneously turned into new means of control, it makes no sense to go on demanding legalization simply because it seems rational and

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by SkaldWent to the annual Chinese New Year parade last night.... Id been told it was the biggest Chinese New Year parade in the world, outside of Taiwan/China. Id seen one in Bangkok's Chinatown last year, so I was looking forward to dragon dances, firecrackers, Chinese music & dance, etc. These things were present, but they were overwhelmed by a massive assault of corporate marketing. I

Skaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12898306140740247566noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5303299.post-1139690166853736022006-02-11T11:58:00.000-08:002006-02-11T12:36:06.870-08:00

by Skald"In our own post-Spectacular Society of Simulation many forces are working--largely invisibly--to phase out the nuclear family and bring back the band. Breakdowns in the structure of Work resonate in the shattered "stability" of the unit-home and unit-family. One's "band" nowadays includes friends, ex-spouses and lovers, people met at different jobs and pow-wows, affinity groups, special

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by Skald"In short, I am convinced, both by faith and experience, that to maintain one's self on this earth is not a hardship but a pastime, if we will live simply and wisely; It is not necessary that a man should earn his living by the sweat of his brow, unless he sweats easier than I do." --ThoreauThat is, perhaps, my favorite quote from Thoreau (which is why its on the Hobopoet banner, of

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By SkaldOne of the best benefits of living abroad was that I did not understand the language. In particular, I could not read Japanese or Thai. I love travel and Im a passionate language teacher. And yet, I have never been able to muster the motivation to learn a foreign language. In both Japan and Thailand, I learned just enough to get around. Once I could navigate markets, taxis, and

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by SkaldOur German Hobopoet's scooter trip got me to thinking, again, about conditioned expectations. So much is possible that we never consider or imagine. We are brainwashed to seek luxury and comfort always. The conditioning is so pervasive, so relentless, and so powerful that most Westerners can no longer distinguish between discomfort/inconvenience and deprivation. The scooter trip is a

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