On:

There’s an old saying, "Those who can, do–those who can’t, teach." As an ex-teacher, I’ve always resented this statement, but after coming from a recent conference where Whitley and I were the only non-academics, I’m beginning to see the truth in it. This conference was held at one of the world’s most wonderful places: Esalen in Big Sur, a place by which its very nature (or BECAUSE of the beauty of nature surrounding it on every side), invites contemplation and as much wisdom as one can muster up. There’s gold to be found there–sometimes shining through the grass like a gold coin, just waiting to be noticed and picked up.
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On:

Congress just passed the extension of the Patriot Act with hardly a murmur and it was signed into law on May 27. Now Senator Ron Wyden (D Oregon) says that what the public has been led to believe the act allows and how the government secretly interprets it are two different things. The reason is that the government’s interpretations of the act are classified, so there is no way to know how it is being used–or abused–by the FBI, the CIA and other enforcement and investigative agencies.
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