You were right. Filling personality gaps is not the same as not having them. It is only through time spent alone reading, enjoying solitude, comfort or simply thought that we can dispel the traces of depression and incompleteness within us. It's a journey, but true inspiration comes from within. It is the quality of our passion that defines who we can be. And who any one person can be... is not limited by anything or anyone. (Just do it!)
The "in-place" Zen and self-affirmation one gets through belonging is truly something. Through life awareness and sheer determination I find more energy morning to night for the things I need to do and the those I want to pursue. By organizing priorities and time while dropping unnecessary social events, a balance can finally be reached. But it's the plan that keeps me going. A purpose in life, a goal to be achieved, a passion for something in this world... it's what makes college worth the thousands of dollars, our only purpose and privilege these four short years.
Awaken. Find yourself, find your passion. Let Your Life Speak: "Is the life you are living the life that wants to be living in you?"
Happy searching! The destination is well worth the journey.
Alone, sober and happy::
-Eddie
Tuesday, June 17, 2008
Sunday, June 15, 2008
Books That Will Change your Worldview
The great thing about summer is finally having time to read the book list you've been saving up-- at least for me anyways. Ah, the intellectual pursuit of life! All the wisdom that someone else took the time to write down. Here are my top three recommendations:
1. The Omnivore's Dilemma
I read this last fall, and it completely changed the way I look at food (and inspired me to devote a life to improving its production). Michael Pollan is a very clear writer with a good sense of humor and a stunning story of his journey into the mechanics of food production. Especially with food appearing so often in the news, it's important that everyone understand the way the system works and be conscious of what you're choosing to nourish yourself with. I'm now reading his Botany of Desire: a Plants-eye View of the World which tells the story of the apple (sweetness), tulip (beauty), cannabis plant (intoxication), and potato (control) and how they domesticated people to do their bidding. Pick it up, or he actually has a new one too, In Defense of Food.
2. The Marx-Engels Reader
Whether or not you trust the outcome of Marx's theories, reading his original work is essential to a well-rounded understanding of history and thought. Included here the best summary available, from the Communist Manifesto all the way to Volume One of Das Capital. As well as better understanding the world rules and daily conflicts we live in, it got me started in philosophy and has lead to further reading in Nietzsche, Kant, and the man, Che Guevara (his Motorcycle Diaries are fantastic, the actual diary the movie was based on).
3. Blessed Unrest
If you are revolutionary-minded, or believe in a cause, you may be interested to hear about a broad-scale change of public mentality that has led to hundreds of thousands of activist interest groups in recent years. When do radical movements with the same things in common stop being isolated and become a new way to live? This book has inspired me to do something for this unnamed movement for truth in life.
Other self-help books that are valuable and insightful:
-Eddie
1. The Omnivore's Dilemma
I read this last fall, and it completely changed the way I look at food (and inspired me to devote a life to improving its production). Michael Pollan is a very clear writer with a good sense of humor and a stunning story of his journey into the mechanics of food production. Especially with food appearing so often in the news, it's important that everyone understand the way the system works and be conscious of what you're choosing to nourish yourself with. I'm now reading his Botany of Desire: a Plants-eye View of the World which tells the story of the apple (sweetness), tulip (beauty), cannabis plant (intoxication), and potato (control) and how they domesticated people to do their bidding. Pick it up, or he actually has a new one too, In Defense of Food.
2. The Marx-Engels Reader
Whether or not you trust the outcome of Marx's theories, reading his original work is essential to a well-rounded understanding of history and thought. Included here the best summary available, from the Communist Manifesto all the way to Volume One of Das Capital. As well as better understanding the world rules and daily conflicts we live in, it got me started in philosophy and has lead to further reading in Nietzsche, Kant, and the man, Che Guevara (his Motorcycle Diaries are fantastic, the actual diary the movie was based on).
3. Blessed Unrest
If you are revolutionary-minded, or believe in a cause, you may be interested to hear about a broad-scale change of public mentality that has led to hundreds of thousands of activist interest groups in recent years. When do radical movements with the same things in common stop being isolated and become a new way to live? This book has inspired me to do something for this unnamed movement for truth in life.
Other self-help books that are valuable and insightful:
- How to Win at College by Cal Newport. The best college life guidebook, I follow it religiously.
- Let your Life Speak by Parker J. Palmer. Find your own vocation in life, the voice that guides you to where you need to be.
- Arriving at Your Own Door by Jon Cabat Zinn. 128 daily zen lessons that lead to a mindfulness and presence that is a great base for any stresses life throws.
-Eddie
Tuesday, June 3, 2008
Summer in Boston, what!
Given that my lease is still in effect until September, and there's nothing much happening this summer in Oberlin, Ohio, decided to stay in Boston for classes and work this summer. A few weeks in, I'm loving the experience. Definitely much more chill than Boston in the cold and busy school year, and tons of stuff going on too:::
-Summer Classes at BU: it seems like everyone I know is taking classes from the school of management. While cold and foreign for outside students during the school year, summer classes at SMG are actually quite laid-back and really informative. I'm taking a business for non-majors series of three classes (intro Marketing, intro to Business, and intro to Finance next term) that give a general intro to the business vocabulary and mindset. It has confirmed my suspicions that the world is indeed run by the impossibly narrow-minded business agenda... our society is, for better or worse, built on targeted marketing, profit projections, and sales numbers. For me, social entrepreneurship and social business are the most interesting aspects as I look to establish my own venture after school. I encourage anyone to take a business class at some point; while limited in perspective it is a very informative way to look at society and culture, and a very marketable skill after college anywhere you go.
-Work: some students get internships, some are content with summer classes, and others work. I begin this week at the Sunset Grill and Tap in Allston, as host welcoming people to a delicious meal and 114 beers on tap. It's owned by the same guy who runs the Sunset Cantina, a crazy, overweight man who is known to walk in unannounced and begin cleaning behind machines, rearranging tables and chairs, and yelling at anyone who gets in his way. Looking forward to it, but it'll take up evenings in a big way as I work 5-1.
-Activism: there's so much going on in and around Boston!
As Massachusetts Power Shift continues to grow and solidify as an organization, a strong coalition of the youth-based climate movement is established. We are soon going to be offering event awareness, activist networking, resources for hosting events, partner connections, and are considering optioins to begin working on our own campaign. It's an exciting time to be in the organization as we work through to the very foundations of what matters and what we're about. We will soon be recruiting in a big way, starting an e-newsletter (I will be chief compiler and editor!), and reforming our website to include trainings, news, events, and links. We are recruiting in a big way anyone student or otherwise who is interested: email me at if you want to be in on the organizing or newsletter.
Boston Rising Tide: A grassroots protest/direct action group I've been meeting with, they work on social justice issues through marches, protests, and demonstrations.
Sierra Student Coalition SPROG: The Student branch of the Sierra club is hosting environmental leadership training camps all across the country. I'll be going to one in New Hampshire this summer, learning how to organize and lead from the pros. I know I'm looking forward to it, follow the link and you can find one near you!
Carrotmob: These guys are awesome. They all coordinate buying at one store on one day in order to reduce it's climate footprint. Check out their youtube video. There's talk of starting one in Boston...
-Fun: oh man Boston in the summer rocks. With the nicer weather and continuous breeze to cool off, it seems like everyone comes out of hiding to populate the common, esplenade, BU beach or flock to Cape Cod and Martha's Vineyard. Me, I have been taking advantage of the free time and nice weather to get some good reading in. I'm currently finishing up The End of Poverty, read Che Guevara's The Motorcycle Diaries, Quirkology, and The Life of Meaning: Reflections on Faith, Doubt, and Repairing the World. Pretty solid mix that always leaves me satisfied.
That, and HARVEST MOON 64!
Alright well time to go cook some dinner... I am experimenting in responsibility and sustainable living by not spending any money this week. So far so good, towards the end it's getting rough though.
Look for more updates soon, and leave some comment love if you want!
-Eddie
-Summer Classes at BU: it seems like everyone I know is taking classes from the school of management. While cold and foreign for outside students during the school year, summer classes at SMG are actually quite laid-back and really informative. I'm taking a business for non-majors series of three classes (intro Marketing, intro to Business, and intro to Finance next term) that give a general intro to the business vocabulary and mindset. It has confirmed my suspicions that the world is indeed run by the impossibly narrow-minded business agenda... our society is, for better or worse, built on targeted marketing, profit projections, and sales numbers. For me, social entrepreneurship and social business are the most interesting aspects as I look to establish my own venture after school. I encourage anyone to take a business class at some point; while limited in perspective it is a very informative way to look at society and culture, and a very marketable skill after college anywhere you go.
-Work: some students get internships, some are content with summer classes, and others work. I begin this week at the Sunset Grill and Tap in Allston, as host welcoming people to a delicious meal and 114 beers on tap. It's owned by the same guy who runs the Sunset Cantina, a crazy, overweight man who is known to walk in unannounced and begin cleaning behind machines, rearranging tables and chairs, and yelling at anyone who gets in his way. Looking forward to it, but it'll take up evenings in a big way as I work 5-1.
-Activism: there's so much going on in and around Boston!
As Massachusetts Power Shift continues to grow and solidify as an organization, a strong coalition of the youth-based climate movement is established. We are soon going to be offering event awareness, activist networking, resources for hosting events, partner connections, and are considering optioins to begin working on our own campaign. It's an exciting time to be in the organization as we work through to the very foundations of what matters and what we're about. We will soon be recruiting in a big way, starting an e-newsletter (I will be chief compiler and editor!), and reforming our website to include trainings, news, events, and links. We are recruiting in a big way anyone student or otherwise who is interested: email me at
Boston Rising Tide: A grassroots protest/direct action group I've been meeting with, they work on social justice issues through marches, protests, and demonstrations.
Sierra Student Coalition SPROG: The Student branch of the Sierra club is hosting environmental leadership training camps all across the country. I'll be going to one in New Hampshire this summer, learning how to organize and lead from the pros. I know I'm looking forward to it, follow the link and you can find one near you!
Carrotmob: These guys are awesome. They all coordinate buying at one store on one day in order to reduce it's climate footprint. Check out their youtube video. There's talk of starting one in Boston...
-Fun: oh man Boston in the summer rocks. With the nicer weather and continuous breeze to cool off, it seems like everyone comes out of hiding to populate the common, esplenade, BU beach or flock to Cape Cod and Martha's Vineyard. Me, I have been taking advantage of the free time and nice weather to get some good reading in. I'm currently finishing up The End of Poverty, read Che Guevara's The Motorcycle Diaries, Quirkology, and The Life of Meaning: Reflections on Faith, Doubt, and Repairing the World. Pretty solid mix that always leaves me satisfied.
That, and HARVEST MOON 64!
Alright well time to go cook some dinner... I am experimenting in responsibility and sustainable living by not spending any money this week. So far so good, towards the end it's getting rough though.
Look for more updates soon, and leave some comment love if you want!
-Eddie
Thursday, April 24, 2008
Nourish International
So it looks like I will be founding a club at BU next year! With Nourish International, a student organization that works with hunger and international poverty and development. The idea of the organization is that each school year, students from each chapter can hold events on their campus to raise hunger awareness and raise money towards travelling and completing a real development project in a poor area during the summer. They've done some great things in the past, including a library and greenhouse in Guatemala, chicken coops in Tanzania, and other sustainable development projects in Central/South America, Africa, and South Asia, all working with regional organizations and student members to make a lasting impact. With 15 chapters being added next year and a plan to add up to 30 more soon, it's a dynamic organization and should be a great club.
So, check out their website for more information, here: http://www.nourishinternational.org
If you want to be involved in the club, let me know! I'm still looking for anyone interested in being an officer, and am going to need members to help with lunches, poker tournaments, and other cool and innovative fund raising around BU. Also real work with development and travel opportunities for a good cause and rewarding experience? FYB. fuck yeah, boss.
Stay tuned for updates as the group progresses.
-Eddie
So, check out their website for more information, here: http://www.nourishinternational.org
If you want to be involved in the club, let me know! I'm still looking for anyone interested in being an officer, and am going to need members to help with lunches, poker tournaments, and other cool and innovative fund raising around BU. Also real work with development and travel opportunities for a good cause and rewarding experience? FYB. fuck yeah, boss.
Stay tuned for updates as the group progresses.
-Eddie
Wednesday, April 23, 2008
Personality
Personality- “the dynamic character that constitutes and animates the individual person and makes his/her experience of life unique”
American College Dictionary
Professor Hawkins wrote this on the board today, and it's kept me thinking:
We are dynamic, animated, and unique individuals.
Each of us experience life in our own ways, from the material world to all possibility and the subtle nuance that brings it meaning.
Personality is a reflection of who we are and how we interact with our world. So why not keep an upbeat spin on things? Shape and develop your personality and world outlook as you want to be-- self-confidence is reaffirming and contagious.
"No amount of outside support can substitute for a quiet but determined passion for living life, every moment of it, as if it really mattered, knowing how easy it is to miss large swaths of it to unconsciousness and automaticity and to our deep conditioning. Practice mindfulness as if your life depended on it-- it does." Arriving at Your Own Door, 61.
-Eddie
American College Dictionary
Professor Hawkins wrote this on the board today, and it's kept me thinking:
We are dynamic, animated, and unique individuals.
Each of us experience life in our own ways, from the material world to all possibility and the subtle nuance that brings it meaning.
Personality is a reflection of who we are and how we interact with our world. So why not keep an upbeat spin on things? Shape and develop your personality and world outlook as you want to be-- self-confidence is reaffirming and contagious.
"No amount of outside support can substitute for a quiet but determined passion for living life, every moment of it, as if it really mattered, knowing how easy it is to miss large swaths of it to unconsciousness and automaticity and to our deep conditioning. Practice mindfulness as if your life depended on it-- it does." Arriving at Your Own Door, 61.
-Eddie
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
Food and Famine
It's not often that food is mentioned in the news. The production of food is something we as Americans obviously don't think too hard on, which may be how we have ended up marginalizing farming to the poor and uneducated, outsourcing and mechanizing its production whenever possible. As our poor quality food kills millions by heart disease and obesity, we usually just shove it down.
But recently, the market is in turmoil. A dramatic fall in the world supply of grain (corn, wheat, soy), an increase in the cost of fuels required to produce them, and increasing demands from China and other rapidly developing countries means that price has skyrocketed for basic crops, meat and cooking oils. While we see this in the higher price of goldfish crackers (now over $2 a bag...), guess who loses again. “The urban poor, rural landless, and small and marginal farmers stand to lose the most from the upset.” (NYT 1/19/08) While in America an average family only spends 1/10 of its budget on food, in poor countries this fraction can be more than half. While American farmers are doing quite well from the change, rural small farmers can no longer afford the fertilizer or seeds to plant more, and can't get good credit to cover their needs.
When the destitute poor are starving, they riot. What started out as an American biofuel policy blunder has shown all of the current shortcomings of the system. With the heavily distorted trade we've made with tariffs, subsidies, and power imbalances since the Green Revolution, our system is falling apart. Now, food has been mentioned on the front page of the New York Times 4 days in a row, claims the front page of this week's Economist, and is the cause of political upheaval in almost 33 countries... The issue is bringing light to the facts: factory farming is not sustainable, actively destructive to the soil and water, dependent on water and cheap fossil fuel inputs, and requires large technology investments to be viable.
And it's hard to believe there's an alternative system coming that will solve it all...
Issue overview:
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/19/business/worldbusiness/19palmoil.html?_r=2&emc=eta1&oref=slogin&oref=slogin
http://www.economist.com/world/international/displaystory.cfm?story_id=11049284&errm=bf&bredirected=1
And the alternative:
http://www.organic-center.org/science.comment.php
Keep your eyes out for developments.
-Eddie
But recently, the market is in turmoil. A dramatic fall in the world supply of grain (corn, wheat, soy), an increase in the cost of fuels required to produce them, and increasing demands from China and other rapidly developing countries means that price has skyrocketed for basic crops, meat and cooking oils. While we see this in the higher price of goldfish crackers (now over $2 a bag...), guess who loses again. “The urban poor, rural landless, and small and marginal farmers stand to lose the most from the upset.” (NYT 1/19/08) While in America an average family only spends 1/10 of its budget on food, in poor countries this fraction can be more than half. While American farmers are doing quite well from the change, rural small farmers can no longer afford the fertilizer or seeds to plant more, and can't get good credit to cover their needs.
When the destitute poor are starving, they riot. What started out as an American biofuel policy blunder has shown all of the current shortcomings of the system. With the heavily distorted trade we've made with tariffs, subsidies, and power imbalances since the Green Revolution, our system is falling apart. Now, food has been mentioned on the front page of the New York Times 4 days in a row, claims the front page of this week's Economist, and is the cause of political upheaval in almost 33 countries... The issue is bringing light to the facts: factory farming is not sustainable, actively destructive to the soil and water, dependent on water and cheap fossil fuel inputs, and requires large technology investments to be viable.
And it's hard to believe there's an alternative system coming that will solve it all...
Issue overview:
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/19/business/worldbusiness/19palmoil.html?_r=2&emc=eta1&oref=slogin&oref=slogin
http://www.economist.com/world/international/displaystory.cfm?story_id=11049284&errm=bf&bredirected=1
And the alternative:
http://www.organic-center.org/science.comment.php
Keep your eyes out for developments.
-Eddie
Friday, April 18, 2008
The need for another
When words and spontaneous thoughts can't quite express--
I feel like so many students are afraid of a relationship, because there isn't actually the time. With 16 credits of classes, exams and papers to think about, and a plethora of extracurriculars and Boston events demanding time, I often find myself working 7:30-late night. I look back on the blur and just wanting some to take some time off from people (every night from 12-1 is music or Zen or big thinking hour). Last semester, the burnout took time out of classes and friends... it's fucking hard to stay focused and on top of things as it is! Give me some time to think and reassess my priorities, to be alone in the mob around me and I'll stay sane.
But what if, instead of two lives inextricably connected, a college relationship could be two people in sync running parallel? To be self-dependent and involved in your own life, but there's someone there at night to remind you on how fucking awesome the world is! From my experiences with it, I feel like most hopelessness, depression, and defeat are from lack of feedback and lack of perspective. There's always an alternative, let her either enlighten me or hold me close. There's always a relaxed place to be in the mind underneath the turmoil, let her take me there. There's always meaning to it-- but can only be through others.
Some people see getting involved as filling a hole. Find another half-content person and we can make out and hold hands and feel better about ourselves. Overlook the flaws, give up some part of ourselves, and not look at other people any more. Couples are formed, stressed, and broken this way. Is it possible that two complete personalities can complement each other? Is it possible to not have power imbalance and stressful points by being two mutualyl reaffirming adults? I don't know, heh. I like to think so, or would like to try my hand until I see what it's about.
There's something beautiful there, I know it. The bible tells me so (if I have some time later I'll dig out some quotes, some Jesus for your souls). My faith tells me so. Society tells me so. Male, female, family. Give and take, subject/object, learning from one another, to know and accept.
Maybe. Anyway, it's something I've been thinking a lot about recently. Maybe you will now too.
-Eddie
I feel like so many students are afraid of a relationship, because there isn't actually the time. With 16 credits of classes, exams and papers to think about, and a plethora of extracurriculars and Boston events demanding time, I often find myself working 7:30-late night. I look back on the blur and just wanting some to take some time off from people (every night from 12-1 is music or Zen or big thinking hour). Last semester, the burnout took time out of classes and friends... it's fucking hard to stay focused and on top of things as it is! Give me some time to think and reassess my priorities, to be alone in the mob around me and I'll stay sane.
But what if, instead of two lives inextricably connected, a college relationship could be two people in sync running parallel? To be self-dependent and involved in your own life, but there's someone there at night to remind you on how fucking awesome the world is! From my experiences with it, I feel like most hopelessness, depression, and defeat are from lack of feedback and lack of perspective. There's always an alternative, let her either enlighten me or hold me close. There's always a relaxed place to be in the mind underneath the turmoil, let her take me there. There's always meaning to it-- but can only be through others.
Some people see getting involved as filling a hole. Find another half-content person and we can make out and hold hands and feel better about ourselves. Overlook the flaws, give up some part of ourselves, and not look at other people any more. Couples are formed, stressed, and broken this way. Is it possible that two complete personalities can complement each other? Is it possible to not have power imbalance and stressful points by being two mutualyl reaffirming adults? I don't know, heh. I like to think so, or would like to try my hand until I see what it's about.
There's something beautiful there, I know it. The bible tells me so (if I have some time later I'll dig out some quotes, some Jesus for your souls). My faith tells me so. Society tells me so. Male, female, family. Give and take, subject/object, learning from one another, to know and accept.
Maybe. Anyway, it's something I've been thinking a lot about recently. Maybe you will now too.
-Eddie
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