That's a great thing, Americ. I'll look forward to these philosophical meanderings and try to meander a bit myself.

Philosophy is a wide open kind of thing for me. When I studied it at San Francisco State University and at University of California, Irine -- I was greatly disappointed by the fact that people had walled philosophy into a "discipline". I see philosophy as something that everyone does. Children and young people do philosophy all the time. They take the great ideas seriously enough, so that they are willing to play with them. By the time most people become "educated" they have lost the capacity for philosophy and perfer dogma.

Rain here in Northern California these past two days. Feeling like Fall, now. Feeling like my body is part of all this --- nature. Often....due to my techno-life, I forget that I am nature, too.

Today is the first and last day of my life. So I might as well make the best of today.

A wonderful thought, thank you.

I think that people are very afraid of depression. It is the most fearsome emotion (or lack of emotion). We use a lot of drugs to overcome it. Yet, I believe, that depressions are periods of great internal integration. Things are happening within us that the mental/emotion system cannot "see". Often, after a depression, there is great creativity and insight. So it is good to work with depression as if it were some kind of friend.

Depression is only fearsome when you don't know what is going on. If you know you are down and if you can figure out why, everything is still okay and predictable. When your emotions are out of control and you don't understand what is hapening -- that is (for good reason) frightening. Periods of situational depression have been good for me but only after I have assessed the situation and begun on a path to investigate why I am in the state I am in. Once I know the why, I can begin to resolve the situations, feelings in my life that have overshadowed my happiness. Wallowing in a depression is dangerous -- the thoughts are less constructive and occassionally dangerous.

Well put Stacey! A long time ago a friend gave me one of my best suggestions about life during a depression: "Never, ever make a decision while you are depressed." That has kept from from doing more stupid things than I would normally do anyway.

good advice, I should heed it more often. Unfortunately, I have made a couple major decisions while situationally depressed. In a short time, I discovered they were not the most well thought out moves.

So the best thing...is to do those things that keep us out of depression or help depression go away. Sunshine, fresh air, singing, playing flut...etc. Good friends,....etc.

If you heard me play the flute... there's a deep depression for you! I find too that, if I'm upset about something, letting myself vent (scream, cry, yell or writing it all down) allows me to wallow for a bit, get it out and return to a more balanced state more quickly. All this opposed to holding it in and avoiding the issue.

That sounds so healthy! I tend to hold it in.

And in case no one could tell, so do I.

*smile*

Good morning, stacey.

Good Morning!

Good afternoon. I decided to not be on the net for almost 2.5 days. Like an addict withdrawing from his favorite addiction. I resisted it. Found myself thinking and feeling things that I would not feel, if I had spent so much time in front of the computer screen. Like any drug, this Interent and World Wide Web thing can be used but should not be abused....

Absolutely, you've got to see, feel, hear, and taste real folks. And go on those long walks. I take time for these things.

Americ, nick and I thought we had run you off with our idle banter!

Americ, are we going to meet some of your students and coterie of followers here sometime?

Yes... in fact am sending one of my research associates into The Spring. Expect a posting from Bett Lujan Martinez soon.

Great!

Also we are just ending the semester. It's the new group in January that I can point to The Spring. I will just make it part of their homework. :)

If you want to use your own public or private conference to conduct your class, feel free. I'll be happy to open any new areas you need. And if your students come up with some suggestions, beware, we'll probably use 'em.

Thank you. This is great!

I am seeing that this philosophy conference is like a garden. Terry gave me a plot of cyber-land I planted a few seeds Now the garden is starting to grow It warms my heart to see new friends and old friends and relatives coming here to make contributions I see the spirit of dialogue and mutual respect growing here I love the way things are growing

I love it too. Recently a friend has given me a place to grow and I know how you feel. I am going through some transformations of my own. I'm glad things are expanding and growing for you.

"I believe you rarely achieve more than you expect." -- Carol Grosse A crazy turn of events for me... I have a new teaching position!!! I am the self-contained ED (Emotionally Disturbed) teacher at Knight Academy as of Monday.

Congrats!...

thank you. I'm glad to be in one place all day and the challenge is definitely positive!

good going, stacey!

Congrat! Stacey.

I was reading the following on this rainy Sunday morning: "...And God is truth...Only our very being is more fundamental to us than truth. We must have truth; only then can we begin to live, only then can we rest in beauty's contemplation..." (My Way of Life)

The quote I had my students read and copy today: "Don't let yesterday take up too much of today." Roy Rogers

"Be here now!" Live life fully, now. Good remember... ...again and again.

"People are just about as happy as they make up their minds to be." -- Abraham Lincoln.

"only that day dawns to which we are awake."-henry thoreau

life is short, live it now.

rock on, beavis...

"Love is always fun, love is never sappy And Mr. Troll is crying 'cause he's happy." Shoulders

that's cool, wer...

Gee, thanks, I was going to put in a quote from "Offerings" but those lyrics jumped out at me instead.

*smile* I like it too.

I think it is important to remember again and again that philosophy is not an answer or set of answer. It is a path toward wisdom. Philosophy means of the "love of wisdom." I, of course, find that most of what passes as "philosophy" in universities and book stores is bad philosophy. Just a lot of words. What I want is a kind of attention that brings the heart and mind up to a new level of awareness; that makes us question our lives enough so that we actually make a little progress.

Question for thought: Why have most Holy days turned into Holidays, and can the trend be reversed?

It's my understanding that the etymology of the word was fairly innocent but as the church lost 'control' of the people the celebrations became more 'fun' than reverent. Being rather 'un-fond' of any of the organized religion I have been exposed to, I really don't mind the commercialization on a spiritual level.

I think that one of the biggest problems with "organizied religion" is that it becomes ritual without spirit. Nothing as odd as being in a group trying to have fun and celebration of the birth and/or resurrection of the Savior. You know, you just can't feel good on que. Every year, at Easter, I go with my oldest daughter to Grace Cathedial in San Francisco. It is a wonderful and beautiful place. The Bishop for Nothern California presides. He brings in a jazz band and trys to get people to swing. Well, I tell you, most people still just want to be stiff in the pews. To shout and swing and dance at the end -- because the Savior has been resurrected seems to be alien to a group that is more interested in looking good than feeling good. But it is still at lot of fun!

For me, heart felt fun is always closer to god than reverence, ritual, or any of the old paradigms. Seems to me, religion of the suffering kind has been a study in contrast/seperation.

amen.

religion is too deeply a personal matter to be "organized"... a kind of communion is the very best one can hope for, but even that is a crap shoot... to invest one's spiritual well-being into the collective behaviors of human beings is to invite disillusion (at the least)...

amen.

unless, of course, one is presbytarian (like me)

just kidding

*chuckle*

I love you all. This is the sweatest group I have ever met. And, to think this is *only* a meeting of spirits in cyberspace. In a way, this cyberspace, soul to soul connection is a great proof of the spiritual nature of human life. (could the animals and trees also chime in here too?)

The trees could if I spent more time with them...

what about the animals wer? you spend plenty o time with them! Shall we dare to fathom a tree's phiolosophy on life, growth, death and (ahem) god?

Not talking to them I don't. No fathoming, I coulda just asked one a long time ago now, it seems.

Oh man... the animals part gots all kinds a strange pics going! I had a favorite tree when I was about seven or eight. It was in the far back reaches of the school playground and it gave pecans every year. I talked to it now and again. As I recall it just listened. Maybe because I never asked it anything substantial except, "how are you feeling today, Nutty?"

Could be...sometimes our questions are more important than our responses...

yes

I think a tree would scoff at the questions, for the tree is part of the answer, part of the cyclic nature to life, as we are to ask another. Perhaps if we just looked and wondered at the trees life there would be its answer? Or perhaps my studies on post modernism is clouding the issue?

Could be, but what if the tree spoke while you stood still, looking and wondering? Could you accept that answer, as well?

No I would go and get some pyschological help, (smile) or perhaps get off the LSD. Could you?

Could and have, Sinfear. It's hard to describe because it's in the range of empathy. Can't say I haven't (or sometimes don't need) needed the pro help, though...

Interesting, empathy, do mean with out verbal words though? So a feeling rather then intellectual knowing?

Depends on your definitions I guess...

I think I am asking for your definition...

Speaking of Americ, I read this by him today: the CyberCampus ( http://cybercampus.ggu.edu ) is the kind of thing you are talking about. We will have over 40 online courses during the Fall with 1000 to 1500 students. Many of these are part of complete cerificate programs and we expect full degees beyond the Master's in Public Administration soon. Check out the site. I have staff, faculty, the whole thing. It took over three years of alpha/beta testing to develop a very simple model that takes hardly any support. Please feel free to write me at mailto:americ@well.com or call me at (510)465-6088 for a direct conversation. Writing is not always my best mode of communication.

To Wer intellectual knowing is many, many different things. To Wer feelings are what matters.

I'll get back to this...can't think at the moment...

See? That's exactly what I mean . . .

explain please (and this time, with feeling)

Okay, my sweety-honey-baby-muffin-pretty-pie(let). But how can I possibly explain the phenomenon of a man who prefers to put sweetness and feeling before cold, cruel intellect? It is beyond me. Must I carry on? (that's what I meant by it)

my philosophy includes the idea of eternal return. I am back! It is nice to see things as they are.

Americ!!!!! What a wonderful surprise!!! Where have you been, what have you been up to?!?!?!?! And I never even got to know you properly. WELCOME BACK.

Glad to see you back, Americ!

Wer, it's a good thing you call yourself that, and not Satan's own Goddess.

You did good, Americ by starting this conference. See what you've wrought?

Hi, Terry! How's the tool?

And: HA-HA!!!!

Terry....he brought me back. I have been very pre-occuppied putting together the CyberCampus http://cybercampus.ggu.edu Looks like we make hit as hight as 1500 students online this Fall! This will be the beginning of our second fall. Last fall we began with about 150 students. It has been a growing experience. We have even been getting major media coverage.

What software are you using to pull all this together, Americ?

Wow!!! That's quite incredible.

We are using a fabulous group of people. One great we page designer (Mark) did the font door. Two course designers One help desk person -- not too much support. Three people to administor registration, proctored exams, and marketing. The software for the discussions is WELL Engaged (www.wellengaged.com). We are working on creating a ColdFusion database in the background to provide the instructors with templates for writing their own syllabus and moduls.

above it is http://www.wellengaged.com

So, you're a scientist then, like Ray?

i think americ is a philosopher, no?

What is the potential for doing this at a State University, like the University of Texas. Should we approach them with the idea of doing this locally in Austin?

I tend of myself as a philosopher-scientist-businessperson. Life is a series of experiments. You try things. You are always getting feedback. Sometimes it is what we expected; sometimes it is not what we expected. But, always, there is feedback. I believe that the University of Texas had bought a "virtual campus" system from UOL Publishing (http://www.uol.com). They are somewhat expensive. But well designed web interfaces. What I focus on is dialogue. That is why the CyberCampus has been moving so fast. I am beginning to get schools that are interested in using the CyberCampus itself to put up the courses -- a major part of which is getting the faculty to understand tha value of doing online dialogue. I ported The WELL discussion culture into online education. Folks, here, at The Spring are part of this same tradition. Terry -- you should check out the people at UofT, Austin and see what is up there. There may be a way for all of us to work together.

Fix on UOL Publishing: http://www.uol.com

I'll put the feelers out.

Hi Americ! Great to see you again! Congrats on all the success!

Thank you! all for the warm reception. Terry -- I have never stopped in Texas. Did pass through on AmTrack many years ago. I remember, that it seemed very big..... the train went on forever.

I don't see much need to get out past the Austin area very much, it's a pretty complete cultural scene here in Austin. Occasional trips to my dads in East Texas and to Houston and Dallas, but not very often. It is a *long* ways across Texas.

you need to come visit us here in san antonio, terry. a mere hour drive away!

Is San Antonio also in Texas then? And you're a mexican texican, Ray??? May I (maybe with my sister) come and visit you next year when I go to the spring party?

but of course! SA and Austin are neighbors and it would be a shame for you to not see beautiful san antonio if you are so close!

i like visiting san antonio. in fact, i'll be there in january sometime for a month long class. when is the big spring party?

Big Spring Party. Please explain. Is this like the monthly WELL parties?