Why Help Never Arrived

I had to share this. It explains so much!

Quote of the Day

“Widening roads to overcome congestion is like loosening our belt to solve obesity.” John Norquist, former mayor of the U.S.city of Milwaukee and president of the Congress for New Urbanism. (Green Future, May/June 2005)

Click Here to read more quotes of the day, and other good stuff I like to keep track of.

Coming Home

Well here I am. The tour in Iraq is finally over. Finished the last mission. The next and last time I go out the wire will be on a airplane. Then on to Kuwait for a couple days, then to Baltimore. RON in Baltimore, with lots and lots of booze. Strippers!!! Or probably only two or three beers before I'm wasted. After Baltimore on to Boise. Finally home. Its been a long journey, one that started in the chilly winter month of Febuary and is ending in the chilly(at least in the states, its still hot as hell over here) month of October. From Camp Bullis, Texas to Tikrit, Iraq. Finally over. No more getting having to carry a weapon and ammo every where you go. No more wearing this damn helmet. No more tan, khaki and brown. No more sand. No more constantly being on edge. No more getting shot at. No more scanning for IEDs, no more getting blown up!!! No more Chow Hall!!! YEEEAAAH. As far as I'm concerned Iraq can kiss my ass. For a area that was supposed to be the birthplace of civilization these people sure are backwards. Where the United States was standards of living, sanitation, economically, cultural ect. back in the 1800s this place is today. It truely is Just Another Third World Arabian Shit Hole. It will be a little wierd coming home. Especially for the first couple days. Driving is going to be crazy. Be driving down the middle of the road, trying to run vehicles off the road, cussing at pedestrians, blaring the horn at everything, freaking out when someone puts on a turn signal. Yelling at the passenger to "Call that stuff on the side of the road in!!" "Hey get that guy". Scanning for IEDs or looking at bystanders suspiciously. Call the cops over some "suspicious looking roadkill". Might be a little intense for a while, a little wild eyed. I'll calm down after a while though. Just need some fresh mountain air and to see my friends and family again and I'll be as right as rain. A couple good brews wouldn't hurt either. I look forward to seeing every one in a couple days.
Ben



OUT

I am ALIVE

I am alive. I am the bringer of light against the darkness of evil. I am the sword wielder. I am the eyes of the eagle that sees the evil that is hidden from us. I am the master and at the same time the student. I am the healer, but not the injured. I am the navigator who takes the right path. I stay cool where others grow heated. I see through all the bullshit to see that it really is all bullshit, even calling it bullshit is bullshit. Most importantly I am alive.

New Orleans: What you didn’t see...

The images we often see, The images we rarely see, and The difference.

Much of the United States and the world has been focused on the tragedy and sorrow of Louisiana and the Gulf Coast as of late. The unimaginable damage and destruction is overwhelming. It goes to show that nothing is forever, and no matter how much you protect yourself and your nation, no matter how many steps you take to combat terror, there is always the chance for loss and death. Nature can be just as destructive as anything in this world. However, Nature is something we can't avoid or predict. Anger and violence is. It is unfortunate that so much attention is being put towards the unfortunate, and non-avoidable event in the Gulf Coast, and there isn't as much fuss over the man made, and completely avoidable DISASTER caused by the very nation struck by hurricane Katrina. Click on the link below to read a wonderful article by Jurrian Kamp of Ode Magazine on this topic.

Click Here for the Entire article

Am I just whining?

What is it about life that just seems to not be right? Every day we wake up (against our desire), go to work (usually against our desire), and work for a “living”. At the end of a usually long day, we get in our cars, drive home, and try to integrate back in to normal life. After about 4 hours of this normality, its time to go to sleep, wake up (against our desire), and do it all over again. All the while dreading that next day, and never really (and fully) enjoying our time off. Fifty percent of our waking lives are spent working for the elusive buck, just so we can spend the other 50% spending and using the money we just made, and sleeping. Does anyone else think it should be easier? Does anyone else think life should be a bit more fulfilling than just working the nine to five? Were we put here on earth just to be stressed out and tired all the time?

I for one don’t want to take it any more. I want to find that burning desire that I know is in there. Find the thing that drives me to step outside the boundaries of every day monotony, and break free! There has got to be something that would let me be the person I know I want to be. Maybe a Natural Doctor, maybe a backcountry guide, or a Nature Photographer. Perhaps a journalist for a new age magazine or newspaper. I don’t know! The possibilities are endless. There really are so many things that I’ve wanted to do (and still want to do).

Perhaps I’m just so overwhelmed with the possibilities. Perhaps having so many choices and so many roads to go down is really my main problem. Maybe I’m just so paralyzed in my decision making process that it is impairing me from actually getting off my ass and really going for it! Yes, I think that is it. I just can’t make a decision.

Okay Bryan, as any AA attendee would tell you, “First step is admitting you have a problem. Now, what are you going to do about it?”

I know the problem, but don’t have that extra push to simply detach from outcome and make it happen.

I’m working on it though, and slowly, one step at a time, I think I can break this destructive habit, and really start going for the things that matter most (to me) in life.

The Man Who Could Fly

I for one would not be the type you would find jumping off of a tall building or bridge. I’m more of a land loving, go on a hike or hop on a bike kind of a guy. But, just because I don’t partake of some of the worlds more “iffy” type sports, doesn’t mean others can’t. Miles Daisher proved this statement just last Friday. And, not only did he BASE jump off of the Perrine Bridge once to prove it, he did it a record breaking 50 times in one day! That’s right. Yesterday, in Twin Falls Idaho, Miles Daisher obliterated the standing world BASE jumping record of 22 times in a 24 hour period. Miles more than doubled the record with 50 jumps!

Click Here to read the entire article

Idaho's Centennial Trail

I have all sorts of Idaho Maps, and I've always seen the Centennial Trail sitting there, waiting to be looked at. Although, through all of my backpacking adventures, and trips in to the Idaho Backcountry, not once have I actually hiked the trail itself. Not even a portion (I don't think). Aside from having so many choices, and so little time, I really have no other excuse as to why I haven't given it a try. Maybe, just maybe, I'm waiting for the day that I can do the whole thing from start to finish. Based on what this article says, I may be the first person to do it.

Read the Article Here

Dalai Lama meets Idaho’s religious leaders

The 14th Dalai Lama met with Idaho’s religious leaders Wednesday morning at the Beaver Springs home of his local sponsor, Kiril Sokoloff.

The event drew more than 100 spiritual and religious ministers from around the state representing a spectrum of faiths including Muslim, Hindu, Native American, Christian, Buddhist and others.

The talk was billed as a means of bridging the gaps that divide religious groups and the Dalai Lama gave several views on such remedies.

Click Here to read the entire article

Willie Nelson, The Dali Lama, and Hotsprings!

While this weekend was a blast, no pictures were taken. Not because I didn’t want to take them, no… But both major events we attended had a strict “no camera” policy.

To be honest, I wasn’t even planning on having a big weekend. In fact, last weekend was supposed to be the one weekend that Amie and I stayed home and actually got something done at our house. If you know us, we are always SAYING we need to get stuff done at home, but when something, actually ANYTHING more fun is presented to us, we almost always go with it. So, yet again, our weekend of productiveness and accomplishment was replaced with a weekend of partying, being with friends, and chilling with the Dali Lama.

Yes, you heard it correct. The Dali Lama. Why would the Dali Lama come to Hailey Idaho? Good question. We are a small, somewhat remote area of the United States, and centrally located in probably one of the most republican concentrated states in the country. But, Sun Valley being an Island in a sea of republicans must make it attractive. Kind of like Hawaii or Fiji. Although both of those islands are surrounded by water.

Back to the point, we sat with the Dali Lama (and about 15,000 other people) on Sunday afternoon, September 11th, 2005. His message was that of bringing more compassion to the world. The person who brought him here, is supposedly world renowned for predicting when big shifts in society are going to happen. This same person believes the shift from hatred and fear is happen, and compassion and love is the only logical alternative. I sure hope he is right. If I hear any more negativity and fear, I think my head might explode.

His Holiness’s speech wasn’t exactly what I expected it was going to be. Don’t get me wrong, it wasn’t bad or anything like that. I guess I was just expecting some ground moving, consciousness changing address. Instead, he spoke like a normal human. Fancy that! He didn’t have any fancy speech prepared, no lights or gimmicks. Simply a discussion on his views, and an offer of hope and compassion. Nothing more. The way he spoke wasn’t like that of a politician; rehearsed and fake. It was more like sitting down with a wise old man. He simply wanted to share his wisdom, answer a few questions, and nothing more. It was perfect.

Of course the night before the Dali Lama was someone a bit more…. Let’s say… Moving. And not in the spiritual “moving” sense. I mean, he made you move. It was none other than Willie Nelson. He had a great show, and there were a ton of people there. Probably as much as the Dali Lama. However, the spiritual sense I got at the concert was probably more due to the copious amounts of beer as opposed the feeling of interconnectedness among all humans.

That night, all 14 or so of us went up to the Pace family cabin in Frenchman’s Bend, Idaho. A nice evening with friends is always nice. The private hotsprings sitting on the edge of the river put the finishing touch on the night.

Idaho Rocks Email

We have secured a new domain name & email host. If you want a FREE idrocks.com email address, please let me know. Mine is bryan@idrocks.com .

The email is/has:
- Web accessible
- Virus Protection
- Spam Protection (if wanted)
- POP3 Enabled (you can use it with Outlook)

Kind of cool. If you want one, let me know what you want (i.e.: bigdork@idrocks.com) I'll set it up for you and send you instructions on how to access it, etc...

Eastern Idaho

Wow. I thought Island Park was going to be cool. I didn't know it was THAT cool though. We had a great time. I wanted to write some big article on the trip, and give some history on the area, but honestly.... I just haven't had time. Plus, trying to get this stuff posted while at work isn't working. I'm hoping my internet is back up and working at home soon. Our trip covered MANY different cool aspects of Idaho. We went (in order) to Island Park, West Yellowstone, Yellowstone National Park, Hebgen Lake, Earthquake Lake, Upper & Lower Mesa Falls, St. Anthony Sand Dunes, and Craters of the Moon National Park. In 4 days. Below are some pictures we took (as promised).

This is a picture of me at Craters of the Moon. Sexy, I know....

Amie & Della having fun at the largest beach in Idaho. Too bad there isn't any water for miles.

Don't forget. DO NOT FEAD THE BEARS at Yellowstone!!

Amie overlooking Earthquake Lake. This lake was created after an earthquake. Clever name eh??

This one below, you can see that Amie was pretty impressed with Mesa Falls...

Over and out....

Island Park - The Place to be

I've been to Island Park once before, and I definitely was not dissapointed. The last time was a "drive through" on my way to the better known Yellowstone National Park. This weekend is a Hanks family reunion, and I'm looking forward to meeting up with some family, and especially enjoying the beauty of the area. Here is a nice picture of the area I found online. I should have some pictures of my own to post when I get back on Monday. 4 day weekend!! Woohooo!!!