Do More (because you can)

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“Always do what is right. It will gratify half of mankind and astound the other.” ~ Mark Twain

And really, aren't we always in the classroom?

(source of illustration)

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desiderata (desired things)

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Go placidly amid the noise and haste, and remember what peace there may be in silence.

As far as possible, without surrender, be on good terms with all persons. Speak your truth quietly and clearly; and listen to others, even to the dull and the ignorant, they too have their story. Avoid loud and aggressive persons, they are vexations to the spirit.

If you compare yourself with others, you may become vain and bitter; for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself. Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans. Keep interested in your own career, however humble; it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time.

Exercise caution in your business affairs, for the world is full of trickery. But let this not blind you to what virtue there is; many persons strive for high ideals, and everywhere life is full of heroism. Be yourself. Especially, do not feign affection. Neither be cynical about love, for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment it is perennial as the grass.

Take kindly to the counsel of the years, gracefully surrendering the things of youth. Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune. But do not distress yourself with imaginings. Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness.

Beyond a wholesome discipline, be gentle with yourself. You are a child of the universe, no less than the trees and the stars; you have a right to be here. And whether or not it is clear to you, no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.

Therefore be at peace with god (universe, everything, nothing), whatever you conceive him (her, it) to be, and whatever your labors and aspirations, in the noisy confusion of life, keep peace in your soul.

With all its sham, drudgery and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world.

Be cheerful. Strive to be happy.

~ Max Ehrmann c.1920

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Keep Still Your Resolve (And Don't Be An Idiot)

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Don't forget what's within you. Do what you need to do in order to collect yourself, To gather your strength, To stoke the fierce fires in your depths. And once you've remembered it, Embrace it And consume it And let yourself be consumed by it.

Then, don't you dare surrender it To the mindless To the selfish To the stone-hearted, ugly fools Who think that strength Resides in brute force, Who think that ferocious intolerance And an aggressive character Constructs a backbone Worth standing upright for...

They mistake kindness for weakness.

So, don't you dare Give way to these sleeping barbarians. Do not misplace Your best Your understanding Your wisdom, Your LOVE, To the vagrants of greed To the keepers of ignorance To the nomadic devolved Stumbling blind in their parched desert.

Keep your bright eyes from your noble boat Piercing that darkness Knowing that while your vessel may not Reach the shore While you're at the helm, It will Eventually make landfall As you keep your bearing. And the rest of the crew will step foot On the good earth And be home...

Because YOU lived.

~ Monsieur Kevin Charnas, November 4th, 2010

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The Attempt

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So the other day, Will and I celebrated 8 years together, which is roughly the equivalent of 56 years in gay years. We didn't actually know that it was the anniversary of our first date until our ever faithful Dor kindly reminded us. She always does... Thank you, Doe! So, without meaning to celebrate it, we celebrated it, by attending a showing at Cleveland's MOCA with some friends. We ate some fine hors d'oeuvres and sipped (gulped) some wine. We chatted with some of the artists who were there featuring their work and stared at all of the women's fantastic shoes and their gussied up toe nails. After all, it IS Summer... and we ARE gay. We pondered some video installations - some funny, some disturbing and most I just didn't "get". I felt like yelling at one of them, "NO MORE BLOOD!! NO MORE SIMULATED SEX WITH DEAD GRANDPA!! NO MORE UNBLINKING EYES!! DON'T MAKE ME HURT A STRANGER!!" But, I didn't... Damn it. Maybe one day I'll yell my honesty from the top of my lungs and hurt a stranger. I hope that they deserve it.

I don't even know what I'm talking about anymore... See? This is what contemporary art does to me.

So afterwards, we headed on over to NightTown for some spirits and dinner. We had a great time, although the waiter could've toned it down a bit. We were there for dinner and he was our server, not our coach. And we weren't looking for a battle plan really. He wasn't horrible, just a little too aggressive for my liking. I felt like relaxing, not getting in a huddle to shout out my entree order, "31! 24! 15!! I'LL HAVE THE HALLOUMI KABOBS AND A FUCKING HOUSE SALAD WITH CRUMBLES OF BLEU CHEESE!! NOW, GO!!"

Anyway, during dinner, the six of us got to talking, as we do, and we quickly began lamenting the oil spill and the developed world's dependence on fossil fuels.

Our very good friend, ... ... let's call her "Yani", and no, not THIS

"Yani" (apparently, this woman's name is "Yani"). So, not THIS one. I have NO IDEA what her bubbies are listening to, but if they'd stop clowning around, they could feed Uganda.

And no, not after the

dramatic Greek guy with all the hair (I know that's redundant).

And NO, not after the

Wamena-YANI-tribesmen (I know that's exactly what you were thinking... HHEEYY, BOYS!! Nice... um... jock straps? What the fuck ARE those things? Cock launchers? Good god, man... those look dangerous. Oh sure, it's all fun and games until someone loses an eye. What are you guys going to do with those? Play the xylophone?)

But, just plain "Yani", because I feel like it. And I have my reasons.

So, we were lamenting the oil spill... And besides conservation of resources, besides using alternative products to petroleum, besides signing petitions and writing to our people in congress, WHAT could we do that is more aggressive?

"Yani", feeling the severity of the situation, really, the immediacy of the disaster, was almost overcome with anguish. Our friend is used to action. And she lives by strict standards of being a vegan because of health AND ethical reasons. She's DEVOTED to progress, to the environment and animals' rights. And over the years, she has marched against war, for women's rights, for gay rights... She has stood up for what she believes in and speaks her mind freely and courageously.

My heart swells with pride for her and her unwavering devotion to her passions, to what she believes and knows is right. If only we could all be more like her...

We talked of making a plan to conserve even more, to go in on a co-op together of purchasing organic food direct from the farmer. So, one person from each of the three households present was to take part in that - and the immense job of canning to follow. That left me and the other two husbands of the group - jobless.

I offered that maybe we could start up and manage a group of exotic male dancers who weigh over 300 lbs to raise awareness of our cause.

Everyone just stared at me.

Sheesh... It wasn't like I said manage a group of,

"Fat midget strippers". What kind of guy do you peeps think I am??

Someone inquired, "A bunch of fat male dancers?"

And I replied, "They don't HAVE to be fat, just over 300 lbs. They could be like... big football players. You know, just big. But, they have to exotic dance. Like... swinging round a pole and stuff."

Yeah. So, no one really took my idea seriously. And so we started talking about forming a church. And maybe a religion. One where we would vehemently denounce corporate greed. One where, our leader and elders would be sharks going after the ones hiding behind their false cloaks of god, who all the while rape humanity and the planet of its beauty... its truth and innocence. The very antithesis of who they say they are... THOSE with greed clouding their judgment would be our focus.

I know, it always starts out with good intentions, but that's a slippery slope.

I mentioned the overweight, male dancers again. And someone said, "And what in the hell is THAT going to do?"

And I replied, "Who cares? I dunno... raise money."

Again, no one was buying it.

By the end of the evening, things were pretty much still left up in the polluted air. But, I'm pretty sure I can tell you one thing. That everyone at the table was deeply concerned, to the point of emotion. And they're deeply devoted to progress... in the most conscientious manner. And we ARE trying.

We're all willing to do our best. And even though that may differ from day-to-day, we're still going to do it. 'Cause that's how we roll. So, I'm hoping you'll join us. 'Cause we could use the company.

And here are some others who are determined... to try and do their best.

Oohh yeah... You like that? Huh? Do you? AND WHAT ABOUT THIS MOVE, HUH, COWBOY?? HHIII-YYAAA!! (That's what happens when Sumos start slappin'.)

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Girlfriend threw girlfriend up in the air. And now she's going to eat one of the judges.

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Boyfriend carried boyfriend out of the fire. While shitting his pants. Or getting ready to sneeze. Whatever the case may be, he was definitely multi-tasking.

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DUDE! You might as well smile while you still can...

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I don't believe you, Homer. I like you, but I don't believe you. At least if we try, it's going to put us a little farther ahead than if we hadn't tried at all.

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