Heresy of the counting house

Is the counting house our new church or our dominant heresy?

This ought to be absolutely universal, not just in lip service, but in daily guidance of most of our exercise of whatever wealth we control. It would, of course, destroy the economy we know and replace it with one that does not gobble up the world in four generations. Wouldn't you welcome the moment when the last ad was aired and the doors of the asylum slammed shut on the last copy writer driven mad by universal laughter and cat calls at his efforts to foster useless desires in us?

The counting and touting of our possessions, loudly or in private, is damning evidence that we are possessed, that purchasing is the only response we have to a void no purchase can fill.

In his sick genius of death worship, Bin Laden's choice of targets perceives us more clearly than we perceive ourselves...our counting houses are so much more magnificent than our churches. As we stumble into Bin Laden's trap, dealing death ourselves, it may be a good time to revisit our old bumper sticker:

He who dies with the most toys dies.

No doubt, I lose many arguments this way!

When you would become small minded, the first thing you will find you no longer have room for is doubt.

It is a mistake to think yourself the victim of doubt. Embrace doubt and ask it for further insight.

Rather than list my favorite music

Which would get personal and long winded, let me describe how things would get on that list.

No matter how artfully played, how clever or advanced its composition, music which does not stir the emotions has failed.

Viewing Car Ads

...is a lot like visiting or partying with friends and observing their marriages and relationships: the effort and cost are hidden. And advertisers know their greatest ally is your imagination, projecting from your dissatisfactions.

From the outside, the experience of other people's relationships can be one of vivid though perhaps contrived beauty. But you should suspect illusion. If it were your car, could you get in without banging your head, would your feet reach the pedals, would the turn signal be where you instinctively reach for it, will the car work with you to stay upright at an unexpected bend in the road, and could you afford to keep it running?

For the life of a car, it is adjustable to fit some people. While falling in love, humans can adjust to a partner who may not or who may later grow to not fit that well. The balance of the relationship will run on patience, commitment and tolerance, if at all, which is both more explainable and more admirable.

For a lucky few, "while" is a long long time.

There will only be one show

If you were expecting a comedy, you better laugh. If you need it to be a tragedy, then cry. Just never mind all the crazies in the audiance!

I know this is not always the case

...but I think it is sad that it is often the case:

Loneliness is a self imposed imprisonment, tolerated because it passes for protective custody.

Never mind my bumper sticker,

Read my mirror:

CAUTION: OBJECT IN MIRROR IS UGLIER AND
DUMBER THAN IT APPEARS