MISC

LOVELIGHT

magazine

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June 2005***Vol. 2, no.6

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General managing editors: Adamaria Francis and Richard Shining Thunder Francis

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A very special “thank you” to the contributors to this issue: Jim Dwyer, Christine Finer, Mark Franzen, Mick Gallagher, Gene Janning, Linda Jung, Organic Consumer’s Association, Teresa Ramsey, Ty Scharrer, Karleen, Sell, Susan Smith (Mooncat), Geoffrey Stoermer

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OUR FASCINATING WORLD: SOME ODD GLIMPSES INTO IT, sent in by Susan Smith (Mooncat)

Many years ago in Scotland, a new game was invented. It was ruled

"Gentlemen Only, Ladies Forbidden,” and thus, the word “GOLF.”***The first couple to be shown in bed together on prime time TV were Fred and Wilma Flintstone.***Coca-Cola was originally green.***It is impossible to lick your elbow.***The percentage of Africa that is wilderness: 28%; the percentage of North America that is wilderness: 38%.***The cost of raising a medium-size dog to the age of eleven: $6,400.***The average number of people airborne over the US at any given hour: 61,000.***Intelligent people have more zinc and copper in their hair.***The first novel ever written on a typewriter was Tom Sawyer.***The Each king in a deck of playing cards represents a great king from history: Spades-- David; hearts—Charlemagne; clubs—Alexander; diamonds-- Julius Caesar.***111,111,111 x 111,111,111 = 12,345,678,987,654,321.***If a statue in the park of a person on a horse has both front legs in the air, the person died in battle. If the horse has one front leg in the air the person died as a result of wounds received in battle. If the horse has all four legs on the ground, the person died of natural causes.***Only two people signed the Declaration of Independence on July 4-- John Hancock and CharlesThomson. Most of the rest

signed on August 2, but the last signature wasn't added until 5 years later.***Q: Most boat owners name their boats. What is the most popular name? A: Obsession.***Q: If you were to spell out numbers, how far would you have to go until you would find the letter "A"? A: One thousand.***Q: What do bulletproof vests, fire escapes, windshield wipers, and laser printers all have in common? A: All were invented by women.***Q: What is the only food that doesn't spoil? A: Honey.***In Shakespeare's time, mattresses were secured on bed frames by ropes. When you pulled on the ropes, it made the bed firmer. Hence, the phrase, "sleep tight.”***In Babylon 4,000 years ago, for a month, after the wedding, the bride's father supplied his son-in-law with all the mead he could drink. Mead is a honey-beer, and because their calendar was lunarbased, this period was called the “honey month,” which became “honeymoon.”***In old English pubs, ale is ordered by pints and quarts. So, when customers got unruly, the bartender would yell, "Mind your pints and quarts!” Thus, the phrase, "Mind your P's and Q's!”***In England, pub frequenters had a whistle baked into the handles of their ceramic cups. They used the whistle to get service. Hence, "Wet your

whistle."

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FOOD FOR THOUGHT:

JUNK FOOD DIETS PROMOTE YOUTH VIOLENCE AND AGGRESSION

The American Journal of Psychiatry has published a new study connecting nutrient deficiencies to aggressive behavior in children. Children who suffered deficiencies of zinc, iron, B vitamins, and protein demonstrated a surprising 41% increase in aggression at age eight, and by age 17, they demonstrated a 51% increase in violent and antisocial behaviors. The study noted that 80% of the U.S. population now has deficiencies in one or more of these nutrients, due in major part to increasing consumption of junk foods and beverages. http://www.organicconsumers.org/school/aggression040405.cfm

WIDELY USED PESTICIDE KILLING FROGS--WHAT'S IT DOING TO US?

Monsanto's Roundup, sprayed on millions of acres of crops and weeds across the U.S., has been found to be "extremely toxic" to amphibians. A new study in the journal Ecological Applications reveals that applying the recommended manufacturer's dose of Roundup unexpectedly caused an 86% decline in tadpoles. Researchers initially conducted the experiment to test the effectiveness of Roundup, an herbicide, on algae; but they discovered that the chemical actually promoted the algae growth by killing off the frogs. According to Rick Relyea, the study's lead biologist, "The most shocking insight coming out of this was that Roundup, something designed to kill plants, was extremely lethal to amphibians."

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MORE ORGANIC CONSUMER ASSOCIATION INFO

Please forward this publication to family and friends, place it on websites, print it, duplicate it and post it freely. Knowledge is power!

Help others learn about food safety, organics, and related topics. Place a link on YOUR website to http://OrganicConsumers.org Banners for your use - http://OrganicConsumers.org/logos.htm

Organic Bytes is a great tool for keeping your staff and customers up to date on the latest issues. Feel free to forward this email to your staff and print for posting on bulletin boards and staff break tables. You are also welcome to use this material for your newsletters. Within 24 hours of the release of each email version of Organic Bytes, an attractive print-friendly PDF version is posted and available for free download at http://www.organicconsumers.org/organicbytes.htm

ORGANIC BYTES is a publication of:
ORGANIC CONSUMERS ASSOCIATION
6101 Cliff Estate Road
Little Marais, MN 55614
Phone: (218) 226-4164 Fax: (218) 353-7652

DONATE TO THE OCA:

http://www.organicconsumers.org/donations.htm

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"You may have habits that weaken you. The secret of change is to focus all your energy, not on fighting the old, but on building the new." --Socrates, sent in by Mick Gallagher

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“IT TAKES GUTS TO SAY JESUS” WARNING! sent in by Karleen Sell

If, on your inboxscreen, you see, in the subjectline of any email, the words, “It takes guts to say ‘Jesus,’” delete immediately! This message contains a dangerous virus!

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A BETTER LIFE-DESIGN, sent in by Geoffrey Stoermer

Take a good look at your life today. Accept it just as it is. Know that today is a brand new day. Don't waste any energy on denial or regrets. If there is anything that you would like to make different, begin it now. Put all your energy into making a new beginning. Here are some affirmations: I am developing new and positive habits today. I am putting all my energy into moving forward and building a healthy, happy life.

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            THE SLOW POISONING OF AMERICA & CANADA

Could there be an actual chemical causing the massive obesity epidemic? A friend, John Erb, was a research assistant at the University of Waterloo, and spent years working for the government.
     He made an amazing discovery while going through scientific journals. In hundreds of studies around the world, scientists were creating obese mice and rats.
     No strain is naturally obese, so they had to create them. They make these morbidly obese creatures by injecting them with MSG. The MSG triples the amount of insulin that the pancreas produces, causing rats (and humans?) to become obese.

     I went to my kitchen, checking the cupboards and the fridge. MSG was in everything! The Campbell's soups, the Hostess Doritos, the Lays flavored potato chips, Top Ramen, Betty Crocker Hamburger Helper, Heinz canned gravy, Swanson frozen prepared meals, Kraft salad dressings, especially the “healthy” lowfat ones. The items that did not appear to have MSG had something called “hydrolyzed vegetable protein,” which is just another name for monosodium glutamate. It was shocking to see just how many of the foods that we feed our children everyday are filled with this stuff. They hide MSG under many different names in order to fool those who don’t catch on.
     But it didn't stop there. When our family went out to eat, we started asking at the restaurants what menu-items had MSG. Many employees, even the managers, swore that they did not use MSG. But when we ask for the ingredient list, which they grudgingly provided, sure enough, MSG and Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein were everywhere! Burger King, McDonalds, Wendy's, Taco Bell, every restaurant, even TGIF, Chilis', Applebee’s, and Denny's, use MSG in abundance. Kentucky Fried Chicken seemed to be the WORST offender: MSG was in every chicken dish, salad dressing and gravy. No wonder I loved to eat that coating on the skin. Their “secret spice” was MSG!
     So, why is MSG in so many of the foods that we eat? Is it a preservative or a
vitamin? Not according to John Erb. In the book that he wrote, an expose of the food-additive industry called The Slow Poisoning of America, www.spofamerica.com,
he said that MSG is added to food for the addictive effect it has on the human body. Even the propaganda website sponsored by the food manufacturers
lobby group supporting MSG at: http://www.msgfacts.com/facts/msgfact12.htmll explains that the reason that they add it to food is to make people eat more.
     A study of elderly people showed that people eat more of the foods that contain it. It is a “pharmacoid” or drug-like agent, and affects the body in a way similar to addictive drugs.

The MSG manufacturers themselves admit that it addicts people to their
products. It makes people choose their products over their competitors. And it makes people eat more of it than they would if MSG was not added. Not only is MSG
scientifically proven to cause obesity. But it is also an addictive substance!
Since its introduction into the American food supply fifty years ago, MSG
has been added in larger and larger doses to the prepackaged meals, soups,
snacks, and fast foods that we are tempted to eat everyday.

The FDA has set no limits on how much of it can be added to food. They claim
it's safe to eat in any amount. How can they claim it is safe when there
are hundreds of scientific studies that prove them wrong? These studies have titles such as these:

The monosodium glutamate (MSG)obese rat as a model for the study of exercise
in obesity. Gobatto CA, Mello MA, Souza CT, Ribeiro IA. Res Commun Mol
Pathol. Pharmacol. 2002

Adrenalectomy abolishes the food-induced hypothalamic serotonin release in
both normal and monosodium glutamate-obese rats. Guimaraes RB, Telles MM,
Coelho
VB, Mori RC, Nascimento CM, Ribeiro Brain Res Bull. August 2002

Obesity induced by neonatal monosodium glutamate treatment in spontaneously
hypertensive rats: an animal model of multiple risk factors. Yamamoto M,
Iino K, Ichikawa K, Shinohara N, Yoshinari Fujishima Hypertens Res. March 1998

Hypothalamic lesion induced by injection of monosodium glutamate in suckling
period and subsequent development of obesity. Tanaka K, Shimada M, Nakao K,
Kusunoki Exp Neurol. October 1978

No, that last study was not a typo. It WAS written in 1978.

Both the medical research community and food "manufacturers" have known
MSG's side effects for decades!
Many more studies mentioned in John Erb's book link MSG to Diabetes,
Migraines and headaches, Autism, ADHD and even Alzheimer's. But what can we
do to stop the food manufactures from dumping fattening and addictive MSG into our food supply, and causing the obesity epidemic that we now see?

Even as you read this, George W. Bush and his corporate cronies are
pushing a Bill through Congress. It is called the "Personal Responsibility in Food Consumption Act." It is also known as the "Cheeseburger Bill." This sweeping law bans anyone from suing food manufacturers, sellers, or distributors-- even if it turns out that they purposely added a dangerous addictive chemical to their foods. This is greed in action: For mere money, these greed-mongers are willing to poison you, your children, and millions of others!
Read about it for yourself at:
http://www.realcities.com/mld/krwashington/8458081.htmm

     Last month, the House of Representatives passed the "Personal Responsibility
in Food Consumption Act" to protect the food and beverage industry from
civil lawsuits. Under the measure, people who buy food or drinks could not sue the companies that made them, the stores that sold them, or the restaurants that served them, if they got fat from the products. This corporate law, protecting billionaires and killing people, would apply so long as the products met existing laws. The Senate is expected to take up a similar bill later this year.
     The Bill has already been rushed through the House of Representatives, and
is due for the same rubber stamp at Senate level. When it comes to money, politicians have proved, they stop caring for people! It is important that Bush and his corporate criminalsupporters get it through before the media lets everyone know about MSG. For it is the “intentional nicotine” for food.

Several months ago, John Erb visited one of the highest government health officials in Canada. The official said, "Sure, I know how bad MSG is! I would not touch the stuff!"

But this top-level government official refused to tell the public what he knew. The big media also do not want to tell the public. For they fear legal issues with their advertisers. The fallout on the fast food industry might hurt their profit margin.

     What can we do to stop the poisoning of our children, while guys like bush are insuring financial protection for the industry that is poisoning us.
     I, for one, am doing something about it: I am sending this email out to everyone I know in an attempt to show you the truth. It is this: The corporate-owned politicians and media will not tell you. The best way that you can help save yourself and your children from this drug-induced epidemic, is to forward this email to everyone. With any luck, it will circle the globe before bush can pass the Bill protecting those who poisoned us. The food industry learned a lot from the tobacco industry. Imagine if big tobacco had a bill like this in place before someone blew the whistle on Nicotine! Blow the whistle on MSG! If you are one of the few who can still believe that MSG is good for us, and you don't believe what so many scientists have to say, see for yourself. Go to the National Library of Medicine, at http://www.pubmed.com. Type in the words, "MSG Obese," and read a few of the articles for yourself.
     We do not want to be rats in one giant experiment, and we do not approve of
food that makes us into a nation of obese, lethargic, addicted sheep, waiting for the slaughter.
     With your help, we can put an end to this, and stop the Slow Poisoning of
America.
     Let's save our children!

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SNORTS, CHUCKLES, AND MILK OUT THE NOSE: MORE HUMORTHERAPY

A STUDY IN CONFUSION, sent in by Gene Janning

A lady died, but Citibank billed her for their annual service-charges on her credit card, and then added late fees and interest.
The balance had been zero. Now it was $60.
A family member placed a call:
Family Member: "She died in January."
Citibank: "The account was never closed, and the late fees and charges still apply."
Family Member, sarcastically: "Maybe, you should turn it over to collections."
Citibank: "It already has been."
Family Member: “What will they do when they find out she is dead?"
Citibank: "Either report her account to the frauds division or report her to the credit bureau, maybe both!"
Family Member: "Did you just get what I was telling you - the part about her being dead?"
Citibank: "Sir, you'll have to speak to my supervisor."
Supervisor gets on the phone:
Family Member: "She died."
Citibank: "The account was never closed, and the late fees and charges still apply."
Family Member: "You want to collect from her estate?"
Citibank: (Stammer) "Are you her lawyer?"
Family Member: "No, I'm her great nephew."
Citibank: "Could you fax us a certificate of death?"
Family Member: "Sure."

Fax number is given.
After they get the fax:
Citibank: "Our system just isn't setup for death. I don't know what more I can do."
Family Member: "You could just keep billing her. I don't think she will care."
Citibank: "Well, the late fees and charges do still apply."
Family Member: "Would you like her new billing address?"
Citibank: "That might help."
Family Member: "Odessa Memorial Cemetery, Highway 129, Plot Number 69."
Citibank: "Sir, that's a cemetery!"
Family Member: "What do you do with dead people on your planet?"

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THE HORSE AND THE BLOND, sent in by Gene Janning

A young blonde woman decides to try horseback riding, even though she has had no lessons or prior experience. She mounts the horse, unassisted, and the horse immediately springs into action. As it gallops along at a steady and rhythmic pace, the blonde begins
to slip from the saddle. In terror, she grabs for the horse's mane, but cannot get a firm grip. She tries to throw her arms around the horse's neck, but she slides down the side of the horse anyway!
The horse gallops along, seemingly impervious to its' slipping rider. Finally, losing her frail grip, the blonde attempts to leap away from the horse and throw herself to safety. Unfortunately, her foot becomes
entangled in the stirrup, and she is now at the mercy of the horse's pounding hooves as her head is struck against the ground over and over and over. As her head is battered against the ground and she is
mere moments away from unconsciousness, to her great fortune, Frank, the Walmart greeter, sees her and unplugs the horse.

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DOC AND MECHANIC, sent in by Gene Janning

A mechanic was removing a cylinder head from the motor of a Harley Motorcycle when the owner-- a well-known heart surgeon-- came by. The surgeon walked over to the mechanic, and checked on his progress. The mechanic straightened up, wiped his hands on a rag and said, "So Doc, look at this engine. I open its heart, take the valves out, repair any damage, and then put them back in. And when I finish, it works just like new. So, how come I get such a small salary and you get the really big bucks, when you and I are doing basically the same work?"
The surgeon paused, smiled and whispered, "Try doing it with the engine running."

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POPE DUMB DUBYA THE FIRST, sent in by Ty Scharrer

The black smoke which emerged from the Vatican chimney yesterday signaled that the 115 Cardinals from around the world, gathered to elect a new pope, had not reached a decision on their first ballot.

Now that the election has concluded, reports are circulating that the Conclave attempted to use electronic voting machines on the first ballot. The results showed that George W. Bush had been overwhelmingly elected Pope.

This story has been bolstered by a statement issued by bush yesterday. Eleven minutes later, the statement was retracted by the White House Press Office, which confiscated and burned all copies of the statement. One copy was apparently missed in this effort, and bush is reported to have announced: "I am honored to be elected as the first War Pope. Vice President Cheney will assume the presidency tomorrow, as I leave for Rome to take up my new office. I promise Evangelical Catholics and Prostates alike that I will save everyone who is qualified to be admitted to Heaven.

"Heaven is a very select place, as everybody knows. It is even more exclusive than the best country clubs, because it is run on a strictly members-only basis and has very secure borders. I will work hard to ensure that Americans, along with anybody who is devout and wealthy enough, even if they happen to live in other countries, are ready for the Rapture and the coming reunion with our beloved deceased family members and our dear departed purebred pets.

"As Pope, I will perform miracles in a fair and balanced manner. God is on record as having destroyed entire races of people without warning, burned whole towns full of perverts, and drowned everybody who did not have a proper ticket to get on the boat. Now that I can fight Satan directly, all the Missions of the Church, all over the world, will soon be marked ‘Accomplished.’

"I will not allow those awful Liberal Sissy Homosapiens to marry each other, and I will no longer allow Priests to marry choirboys. I will lead a Holy Crusade against all the heathens who wear towels on their heads, worship fake, made-up gods, and refuse to accept Our Lord as the Heaven-sent light of Democracy. I will see to it that they all go straight to Hell, without passing Go or collecting two hundred dollars, because Me and God don't take no prisoners."

The White House has refused comment on this report. A reporter who queried the Vatican was excommunicated.

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NAKED NUT BREAKS COCONUTS, sent in by Ty Scharrer

A “Holy man” broke coconuts on a naked woman's head:

Police in India have arrested a 'holy man' who allegedly forced a woman to strip naked and broke coconuts on her head. Senthil Kumar, 27, promised to treat the woman, 30-year-old Selvi Dhanalakshmi, after her parents brought her to his hermitage at Velliraveli, near Erode.

Kumar claimed she was possessed and offered to exorcise her of the evil spirit, reports the Deccan Chronicle newspaper.

He locked himself up with the woman in a room before stripping her of her clothes and lighting camphor on her palms and breasts.

The woman began yelling in pain when the holy man, chanting prayers, started breaking coconuts on her head.

Her parents, alarmed by the screams, forced open the door with the help of the locals and found her naked and bleeding from head injuries.

It is reported villagers gave the holy man a good thrashing before handing him over to the police who have since charged him with attempted murder and fraud.

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JUST AND EQUAL PAYMENT, sent in by Linda Jung

Enclosed is my 2005 Form 1040, together with payment. Please take note

of the attached article from "USA Today." You will note that the Pentagon paid $171.50 each for hammers and NASA paid $600.00 each for toilet seats. Please find enclosed in this package four toilet seats (value $2,400.00) and six hammers (value $1,029.00). This is payment for my total tax due of $3,429.00. Out of a sense of patriotic duty, and to assist in the political purification of our government, I am also enclosing a 15 inch Phillips head screw driver, for which HUD duly recorded and approved a purchase value of $2200, as my contribution to fulfill the presidential election fund option on Form 1040. It has been a pleasure to pay my taxes this year; and I look forward to paying them again next year in accordance with officially established government values.

Sincerely, Another satisfied American taxpayer

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WOMEN OVER FORTY from “Sixty Minutes,” sent in by Chris Finer

As I grow in age, I value women who are over 40 most of all. Here are just a few reasons why: A woman over 40 will not lie next to you in bed and ask, "What are you thinking?"***If a woman over 40 doesn't want to watch the game, she doesn't sit
around whining about it. She does something she wants to do.***A woman over 40 knows herself well enough to be assured in who she is, what she is, and what she wants, and from whom.***Women over forty are dignified. They seldom have a screaming match with you in the middle of an expensive restaurant.***Older women are generous with praise, even undeserved praise. They know what it's like to be unappreciated.***A woman over forty has the self-assurance to introduce you to her women friends. A younger woman with a man will often ignore even her best friend because she doesn't trust the guy with other women.***Women over forty couldn't care less if you are attracted to her friends because she knows her friends won't betray her.***Women get psychic as they age.***Once you get past a wrinkle or two, a woman over forty is far sexier than her younger counterparts.***Older women are forthright and honest.***Yes, we praise women over forty for a multitude of reasons. And each is richly deserved. They are real people, and they have earned every nanogram of praise. Their blood, sweat, and tears have soothed and healed innumerable people!

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If you think you are too small to be effective, you have never been in bed with a mosquito.

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THE OLD WALLPHONE, sent in by Teresa Ramsey

When I was young, we had one of the first telephones in our
neighborhood. I remember the polished, old case fastened to the wall.
The shiny receiver hung on the side of the box. I was too little to
reach the telephone. Then I discovered that somewhere inside the wonderful device lived an amazing person. Her name was "Information Please," and there was nothing that she did not know.

My personal experience with the genie-in-a-bottle came one day. Amusing myself at the tool bench in the basement, I whacked my finger with a hammer. The pain was terrible! I sucked my throbbing finger. Suddenly, it occurred to me: The telephone! Quickly, I ran for the footstool, and dragged it to the landing. Climbing up, I unhooked the receiver. "Information, please," I said.

A small clear voice spoke: "Information.”

"I hurt my finger!" I wailed.

"Isn't your mother home?”

"Nobody's home but me," I blubbered.

"Are you bleeding?”

"No, I hit my finger with the hammer and it hurts.”

"Can you open the icebox?”

I said yes.

" Then chip off a little bit of ice and hold it to your finger.”

After that, I called "Information Please" for everything. I asked her
for help with my geography. She helped me with my math. She told me my pet chipmunk would eat fruit and nuts.

Then, there was the time that Petey, our pet canary, died. I told her the sad story. I asked, "Why is it that birds should sing so beautifully and bring joy to all, only to end up as a heap of feathers on the bottom
of a cage?”

She said quietly, "Wayne, always remember that there are other worlds to sing in."

This took place in a small town in the Pacific Northwest. When I was
nine, we moved to Boston. I missed my friend. Memories of those childhood conversations never really left me. Often, in moments of doubt and perplexity, I would recall the serene sense of security I had then.

     A few years later, my plane landed in Seattle. Then I dialed my hometown operator and said, "Information Please."
     Miraculously, I heard the small, clear voice I knew so well.
"Information."
     I heard myself saying, "Could you please tell me how to spell ‘fix’?" It was one of my childhood inquiries.
     After a long pause came the soft spoken answer, "I guess your finger must have healed by now."
     I laughed, "So it's really you," I said. "I wonder if you have any idea
how much you meant to me during that time."
     “I wonder," she said, "if you know how much your call meant to me. I
never had any children and I used to look forward to your calls."
     I told her how often I had thought of her over the years, and I asked whether I could call her again.
     "Please do", she said earnestly. "Just ask for Sally."
     Three months later, I was back in Seattle. A different voice answered,
"Information." I asked for Sally.
     "Are you a friend?" she said.
     "Yes, a very old friend," I answered.
     "I'm sorry," she said. "Sally died five weeks ago." Before I could hang up she said, "Wait a minute, did you say your name was Wayne?"

"Yes," I answered.
"Well, Sally left a message for you. She wrote it down in case you
called. Let me read it to you."

The note said, "Tell him there are other worlds to sing in. He'll know
what I mean."

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Never underestimate the impression you might make on others. Whose life have you touched today? Lifting you on eagle's wings. May you find the joy and peace for which you long. Life is a journey . It is not a guided tour.

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THOUGHTS ON LIFE, sent in by Mark Franzen

To laugh often and much; to win the respect of intelligent people and the
affection of children; to earn the appreciation of honest critics and endure
the betrayal of false friends; to appreciate beauty, to find the best in
others; to leave the world a bit better, whether by a healthy child, a
garden patch or a redeemed social condition; to know even one life has
breathed easier because you have lived. This is to have succeeded.

Remember that what you possess in the world
Will be found on the day of your death
To belong to someone else.
What you are, will be yours forever!
The purpose of life is not to be happy.
It is to be useful,
To be honorable; to be compassionate,
To have it make some difference
That you have lived and lived well

-- ascribed, incorrectly, to Ralph Waldo Emerson.

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PLEASE HELP, sent in by Susan Smith (“Mooncat”)

As an adult who is trying to recover from childhood

abuse, I urge you to please consider this charity.

http://www.mystuffbags.org/

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COMPASSION IN RULING

Our old people, young people, veterans, schools, libraries, museums, fire-departments, and police, among many others, are suffering from underfunding because the gov has decided to spend literally thousands of millions to kill well over a hundred thousand innocent civilians, defenseless in a third-world country. This is so that the wealthy can become even more obscenely wealthy.

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GOD IN A BIRD, sent in by Geoffrey Stoermer

After a forest fire in Yellowstone National Park, the forest rangers began their trek up a mountain to assess the inferno's damage. One ranger found a bird literally petrified in ashes,
perched statuesquely on the ground at the base of a tree.

Saddened by the eerie sight, he knocked over the bird with a stick. When he gently struck it, three tiny chicks scurried from under their dead mother's wings.

The loving mother, keenly aware of impending disaster, had carried her offspring to the base of the tree, and had gathered them under her wings, instinctively knowing that the toxic smoke would rise. She could have flown to safety, but had refused to abandon her babies.

Then the blaze had arrived and the heat had scorched her small body. The mother had remained steadfast. She had been willing to die, so those under the cover of her wings would live.

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This is how Love takes care of us, even when it is not clear to us. Being loved this much should make a difference in your life. Remember the Ones who love you, and then be different because of it.

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U.L.T. R.A.: NEWS FROM THE PNEUMARIUMFAMILY

This past month, the Pneumariumfamily took our traditional yearly trip to see the butterflies at the Krohn Conservatory. In the humid, semitropical environment simulated for the little flying “flowers,” the energy of their sweetness, and the glories of their special beauties, was palpable. We felt blessed to have been “bathed” in a sea of brilliant, vivid colors, and they reminded us once again of the unsurpassed and exquisite beauty of the Goddess Nature.

Also, this month, the Pneumariumfamily enjoyed its first gathering in a pine-forest park, at a shelter. There was a cool and refreshing breeze blowing on that clear, warm day. But the real refreshment came to our souls as we shared together the message and Way of Love.

We have received a new shipment of our novel, Luminous Ecstasies and Passions: Journeys into Afterlife. WARNING: This is a very sensual and warm narrative about life, death, and the great Mystery. It is not written for children. But, especially if you have lost a friend in death, it can be very healing.

It is all about the Afterlife-world, called the “Homeworld,” and describes it in some detail. It is a real “feel good” book because it shows how, despite the horrors and terrors of earthlife, we all do end up “happily ever after.”

This is a thick, detailed story, and it costs us $9 per copy to publish it—which is also your cost. Order now, from: rmfrancis@juno.com

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QUESTIONS OF “REALITY,” sent in by Ty Scharrer

Basic realities create the foundation of any subject. Unless the foundation is correct, everything that is built upon it will be corrupted by incompletion. Yet the basics are usually skipped over. But the superficialities are argued.

THE DEFINITION OF “REALITY.” One of the most basic realities is the definition of reality. All philosophy depends upon it. Therefore, philosophy has not gotten to the starting gate until reality is defined properly. Of course, it never is defined fully or completely (for It is infinite).

The definition of reality has some highly demanding conditions to meet. It must include

1. that which can be perceived,

2. that which can be communicated and

3. that which makes up thoughts.

To make sense of this, we must understand surrounding concepts. Therefore, we first consider what existence is.

WHAT “EXISTENCE” IS. Existence must be made up of substance [something made of something (even Mind) must exist] and configurations (it must possess a certain order in structure). In other words, a reality must consist of something, and that something must be arranged in order. One cannot exist without the other. If anything exists, it must both be made of something substantial (even Mind), and must fit into the order of the cosmos in some meaningful way.

First, let us evaluate “substance” without “configurations.” A good abstract example is all air and nothing else. Even air must have particles (configurations) before it can exist.

Next, consider configurations without substance. For this, we imagine a painting. And then, we remove the substance (paint). The configurations disappear without substance. For where there is no substance to be configured (organized in pattern), there can be no configurations. This “reality” then disappears.

Two clay models are compared. One is a car, and one a tree. They have the same substance (clay). But the realities are different (car and tree). The “reality” of an object is not in only its substance.

So, we next compare the configurations. The car has the configuration of a car, which makes it a “car.” And the tree has the configuration of a tree, which makes it a “tree.”

So, reality is the configuration of any substance. But does this definition meet the demanding requirements of reality? Are configurations perceivable? Yes. Are configurations communicable? yes. Are there configurations in thoughts? Yes.

So, defining arrangement and order (configuration) as “reality” meets all three of our criteria. We must next look at thoughts to see what they are. Thoughts are acquired through perception, and stored as memories. Then they are modified by imagination.

PERCEPTION. The key question then is, From where does “configuration originate? does perception create configurations? Is being aware of configurations itself a kind of thought-configuration?

The manner in which reality is acquired by perception is this: The awareness of the Spirit contacts configurations in the outer world. It then makes interior (mental) copies of them. Can I prove that?

There is no such thing as proof of anything; but the evidence is that everything must have configurations. So, thoughts must acquire configurations by contact with external realities.

TYPES OF REALITIES. There are a lot of terms related to reality. These need to be clarified. These words include “subjective,” “objective,” “abstract,” and “basic.”

“Objective reality” is thought to originate outside a person's mind.

“Subjective reality” originates inside a person's mind.

“Abstract reality” is nonperceivable, and largely theoretical.

“Basic realities” are those realities (facts) upon which other realities depend. Since other realities depend upon them, they function as laws. They are more important because of their greater influence. “Basic realities” are scientific laws.

This gets us to “significance.” Significance is defined as the relationships to surrounding realities. It is seeing truth (reality) in proper context.

One of the most critical parts of judgment (evaluation) is the determination of significance. New discoveries have more to do with understanding significance than perceiving something that hasn't been perceived before. The newness of the data lies in its relationships, not before detected or discovered. Of course, straining out gnats and swallowing camels is the opposite of correct significance.

UNIFIED REALITY. We now get to the accumulation of all realities, which is “unified reality.” It's everything!

When realities have relationships, they get connected into a unit. There can only be one unit of any one “size.” Why? There is not more than one alternative for most realities. For example, one and one can only equal two and nothing else.

There is only one truth. Everyone has a somewhat different version of what it might be, but the source does not change.

So what is truth? It is the representation of “unified reality,” communicated to others.

Unified reality is objective. This means that it has origins outside of minds. A large amount of unified reality exists outside of minds.

The material universe is a molecular representation. It is one way of portraying unified reality. “Universe” means “one verse.” So the characteristics of unified reality can be determined. How? By studying the molecular universe.

Only unified reality allows a high degree of ordered complexity to exist.

DEFINING LIFE. Let's compare two types of complexity: ordered complexity and disordered complexity. Life is ordered complexity; and death is disordered complexity.

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This article went on for a couple of more pages. But it was so foggy and unclear that we do not want further to burden our readers with it. In areas, it seems deliberately to have been obfuscated; in other places, it is just plain pretentious. What it says about “truth” is so coldly academic that it has lost all heart, all warmth. It has tried to turn beautiful truth into a dead mathematical equation.

Please compare the ultracomplexity of the above intellectual definitions with those of the mystic:

Mystics say that only Mind is reality. Everything else that exists is created, or literally “dreamed up,” by Mind.

Since only Mind is real, the only part of yourself that is real is “your” Mind. (Your mind creates your body.) In fact, you are mind, not body. Mind is all that is real within you.

Mind is God, and God is Love. So, Mind has no real opposite. All the cosmos exists within Mind, and all that appears to be “outside” of Mind is unreality. Why? Because Mind is Reality. “God,” in mysticism, is defined as “Mind” (cosmic Mind, deep in the collective Unconscious, shared by all). And “God” is also defined as “Reality.” Since God is Love, nothing outside of Love is real. Stated differently, nothing really exists, or can exist, outside of Love.

The cosmos, exactly as it is right now, must be a reflection of Love. Could it be, with all its horror? Yes, if we include the element of karma.

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NOT GIVING UP, sent in by Jim Dwyer

As she stood in front of her fifth-grade class, the teacher told an untruth. Like most teachers, she said that she loved all her students the same. However, that was impossible. For, there in the front row, slumped in his seat, was Teddy.

Mrs. Thompson had watched Teddy the year before. She noticed that he did not play well with the other children. His clothes were messy. And he constantly needed a bath. In addition, Teddy could be unpleasant. It got to the point where Mrs. Thompson would actually take delight in marking his papers with a broad red pen, making bold X's and then putting a big "F" at the top of his papers.

Mrs. Thompson was required to review each child's past records. And she put Teddy's off until last. However, when she reviewed his file, she was in for a surprise. Teddy's first-grade teacher wrote, "Teddy is a bright child with a ready laugh. He does his work neatly, and has good manners. He is a joy to be around."
His second-grade teacher wrote, "Teddy is an excellent student, well liked by his classmates. But he is troubled because his mother has a terminal illness. And life at home must be a struggle."

His third-grade teacher wrote, "His mother's death has been hard on him. He tries to do his best, but his father doesn't show much interest. And his home life will soon affect him if some steps aren't taken."

Teddy's fourth grade teacher wrote, "Teddy is withdrawn. He doesn't show much interest in school. He doesn't have many friends. And he sometimes sleeps in class." By now, Mrs. Thompson realized the problem; and she was ashamed of herself. She felt even worse when her students brought her Christmas presents, wrapped in beautiful ribbons and bright paper, except for Teddy's. His present was clumsily wrapped in the heavy, brown paper that he got from a grocery bag. Mrs. Thompson took pains to open it in the middle of the other presents. Some of the children started to laugh when she found a rhinestone bracelet with some of the stones missing, and a bottle that was one-quarter full of perfume. But she stifled the children's laughter when she exclaimed how pretty the bracelet was, putting it on, and dabbing some of the perfume on her wrist.

Teddy stayed after school that day just long enough to say, "Mrs. Thompson, today you smelled just like my Mom used to.”

After the children left, she cried for an hour. On that very day, she quit teaching reading, writing and arithmetic. Instead, she began to teach children. Mrs. Thompson paid particular attention to Teddy. As she worked with him, his mind seemed to come alive. The more she encouraged him, the faster he responded. By the end of the year, Teddy had become the smartest in the class. And, despite her lie that she would love all the children the same, Teddy became her "teacher's pet.”

A year later, she found a note under her door. It was from Teddy. It said that she was the best teacher that he ever had known in his whole life. Six years went by before she got another note from Teddy. He then wrote that he had finished high school, third in his class. And she was still the best teacher he ever had known in his life. Four years after that, she got another letter. It said that while things had been tough at times, he'd stayed in school. He had stuck with it! And he would soon graduate from college with the highest honors. He assured Mrs.Thompson that she was still the best and favorite teacher he had ever had in his whole life.

Four more years passed and another letter came. This time, he explained that after he had received his bachelor's degree, he had decided to go further. The letter explained that she was still the best and favorite teacher he ever had. But now his name was a little longer. The letter was signed, Theodore F. Stoddard, MD.” True story.

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