My Tattoo!!

Well, I finally did it. I had to stop Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu for a while for an injury I had, and while I was healing I thought... why not? Let's get the tattoo!

If you remember back in April of 2007 I posted the tattoo I knew I was going to get.
Here's the link if you wanna check it out first and read the meaning of it, and where I got the idea and such: http://nathanhildreth.blogspot.com/2007/04/my-tattoo.html

So, I went it all courageous and strong and totally expected to get the tattoo in one sitting. YEAH!!! ha ha ha RIGHT! It was so damn painful, I only made it through the outline and the coloring of the water. In fact, Donielle stopped by while I was getting it and took a little video clip. Check it out:


So, Here's a few photos of it after the first session.


Then, my friend Chaz took a few shots of it when he was in town.



Then, two weeks later after the first part healed, I went back in and got the rest done. I took this myself with my hands behind my back... not the best... but when Chaz is back in Denver sometime in July I want him to take a few more shots of the finished tattoo for me. I'm really happy with how it turned out.

Scottdale, AZ

Headed out to Scottsdale, AZ to stay at our friend Eric's parents place. Was a great time, although I wasn't too impressed with Phoenix (the city). But we only spent one night out... the rest of the week was at the pool, just relaxing!! Here's a few pictures.

What's THEIR religion matter anyways?

I definitely have to say I've come a long ways to be agreeing with Abraham on this subject now, but I whole heartedly agree.

"It doesn’t really matter what religion anybody believes. If their life is working (and there are many different approaches to life that are working very well) then why not let them believe whatever they want to believe? It’s all working in the way that it is supposed to be. There are religions that you wouldn’t want anything to do with, that are perfect mechanisms for the people who are involved in them. And therefore, they are a very good thing." - Abraham

Quote of the Day

The things that we would be asking ourselves is, "What proportion of my day am I in vibrational harmony with my desires, which means, how much of my day am I happy, glad, eager, fulfilled, satisfied, complimentary? And what percentage of my day am I ornery, irritated, frustrated, or blaming?" And you don't have to do 100%, you don't have to do 90%, you don't have to do 80%. If you could even get around 55% feeling better, than not feeling so good -- you'd have significant movement in what begins to happen in your experience.

Sally Kern - Ellen DeGeneres' response

Can't run from your problems...

Something I've learned and had to remind a friend of mine recently who thought he should move away because he isn't happy with things here, is that the only problem with leaving and going someplace else is that you take yourself with you. You take your vibrational habits and patterns with you.

I know this is the case, cause I'm not the most happy about my friendships, and haven't been for a while. But it's not my friends fault. It's something I'm not doing, or something I'm doing that's not working right now and I just need to figure it out. Moving to a new city (an option I thought of last year) is not the fix... didn't take me long to realize I'd be bringing myself with me, and therefore the friendship problems would persist.

New art for my living room!

I had breakfast with my mom and my nephew Jaden this morning at Snooze. We had a great time, that kid has so much personality!! I had an hour to kill between appointments so we went over to Z Gallery on Larimer Square. I found the PERFECT art piece for my wall. Here's two pictures.

I don't think Jaden really cared much for the art...
he was too busy showing some love to our African friends there. :-)

The Translator

I have to thanks Sonny for this one... I about pissed my pants this morning!
Don't you think Nicole Kidman's role in The Interpreter would have been flippin awesome, if she translated like this gal here:

Right Brain / Left Brain

If you see this lady turning clockwise you are using your right-side brain.
If you see her turning the other way, you are using your left-side brain.
Some people can see both ways, but most people see it only one way.

CLICK ON IMAGE FOR MOTION

See if you can make her go one way and then the other by shifting the brain's current.

BOTH DIRECTIONS CAN BE SEEN

Experimentation has shown that the two different sides, or hemispheres, of the brain are responsible for different manners of thinking.

The following table illustrates the differences between left-brain and right-brain thinking:

Left Brain <----------> Right Brain

Logical <----------> Random

Sequential <----------> Intuitive

Rational <----------> Holistic

Analytical <----------> Synthesizing

Objective <----------> Subjective

Looks at parts <----------> Looks at wholes

Most individuals have a distinct preference for one of these styles of thinking. Some, however, are more whole-brained and equally adept at both modes. In general, schools tend to favor left-brain modes of thinking, while downplaying the right-brain ones.

Left-brain scholastic subjects focus on logical thinking, analysis, and accuracy.
Right-brained subjects focus on aesthetics, feeling, and creativity.

Are you a right-brain, left-brain, or whole-brain person?

Stand Still

Well - I've been spinning my own music now for about 6 months. It first started off as something I tinkered with, but now it's really becoming a hobbie I enjoy. I have waited WAY TO LONG before buying the equipment I need because it's so expensive. But after listening to how terrible my latest mix is - I'm getting a mixer this month!

Here's the mixer my friend Emmet and I thought would be good for me. It's the M-Audio TORQ-XPONENT DJ Performance System. Only about $599.99. Ugggh!!!

Anyway, I promise... once I get the right equipment, my stuff will sound a lot better. In the meantime, if you just wanna see how my style is developing... here's my latest production:

CLICK ON CD ARTWORK TO DOWNLOAD FULL CD
Please be patient it takes a minute to prepare the set to download.
It will say "Loading file info. Please wait... " (give it a full minute)

New Technology - Callwave

I simply LOVE LOVE LOVE living during this century. The technology we keep coming up with astounds me. As with all things, I believe understanding if it has a proper place in your life is key. For instance, as I'm sure you've read in blog entries past that towards the end of last year I started pulling away from social networking sites. I essentially stopped using Connexion, and I deleted my account on a number of other sites like Friendster and MySpace. But anytime I come across a new technology that makes my life simpler, or the parts I don't like - more manageable... I'm definitely all eyes and ears!

Introducing Callwave:

I started using Callwave - both for Visual Voicemail and for Text Messaging and thought I'd share this awesome technology with my friends.

• Have you ever wanted to send text messages directly from your sidebar?
• Have you wished you could get your voicemails transcribed to you (voice to text) and sent to you via email or text msg or even listen to them from your sidebar on your desktop?

I donno how you'll react, but when I found Callwave could do all of the above using my current cell phone and service with Verizon, and the basic service is FREE... I about pissed myself. ;-)

I know it might sound crazy, but one of the most annoying things for me (which is shouldn't be) is constantly calling to check my voicemail. In fact, this day in age is someone calls us... we know, right? It's called Caller I.D. - don't leave me a message, unless you know you're likely not to be available later when I will try to call you back OR if you don't want me to call you back and you just wanna leave a quick message.

Here's an example of my desktop (you can see an email I got in outlook where it transcribed the voicemail my roommate Eric left, the two voicemails on the right hand sidebar from Will and Chris, and a text msging box I can send texts to a phone right from my sidebar):

CLICK IMAGE TO ENLARGE

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If you want to learn more, or get the program yourself...
go to www.callwave.com or click on this image here:

Mine the Moment

I love this thought:

"Mining the moment for something that feels good, something to appreciate, something to savor, something to take in, that's what your moments are about. They're not about justifying your existence. It's justified. You exist. It's not about proving your worthiness. It's done. You're worthy. It's not about achieving success. You never get it done. It's about "How much can this moment deliver to me?" And some of you like them fast, some of you like them slow. No one's taking score. You get to choose. The only measurement is between my desire and my allowing. And your emotions tell you everything about that." - Abraham


The only measurement we should assess in life is between our desire and our allowing... I couldn't agree more. It's become so apparent to me that my emotions are the PERFECT guide to understanding how well I'm doing in this area. The image above is from Abraham in the movie "The Secret"... but it beautifully illustrates how our emotions fall into two simple categories. Good Feelings and Bad Feelings.

When I'm feeling bad, it's because I'm allowing myself to feel emotions in the lower half: Boredom, Pessimism, Frustration, Worry, Blame, Anger, Revenge, Hatred, Jealousy, Guilt, Fear, Despair.


In contrast, when I'm feeling Love, Joy, Appreciation, Passion, Happiness, Belief, Optimism, Hope, Contentment... these emotions tell me - that which I am feeling right now is in alignment with what I am wanting.


It's a simple system, but because there are so many emotions to understand/translate we all to often get caught up in them. There's plenty of good all around us, it's just what we choose to focus on that decides what we will are welcoming into our experience.

I've said this many times before and not even sure where I picked it up... A happy life is just a string of happy moments. But most people don't allow the happy moment, because they're so busy trying to get a happy life. It's so important to appreciate every moment, if even only for the desire creating contrast.

Proving my previous point!

Chelsea 'pimped out' remark riles Clinton camp

So this is exactly what I was talking about. The inappropriate comments constantly directed at Hillary and her family. It's insulting and outrageous, and it just shows how pathetic most of these a**holes in our media are!

Clinton spokesman Howard Wolfson today blasted MSNBC for a remark made by talk show host David Shuster about Chelsea Clinton's efforts in campaigning for her mother. Shuster, filling in for talkster Tucker Carlson, said this week that Chelsea was being "pimped out" by the campaign after noting that she had called panelists on "The View."

If you don't feel his use of the word "Pimped" was inappropriate, maybe you should look up the definition.

Here's the full exchange between Shuster and Democratic pundit Bill Press:

DAVID SHUSTER: Bill, there's just something a little bit unseemly to me that Chelsea's out there calling up celebrities, saying support my mom, and she's apparently also calling these super delegates.

BILL PRESS: Hey, she's working for her mom. What's unseemly about that? During the last campaign, the Bush twins were out working for their dad. I think it's great, I think she's grown up in a political family, she's got politics in her blood, she loves her mom, she thinks she'd make a great president --

SHUSTER: But doesn't it seem like Chelsea's sort of being pimped out in some weird sort of way?

Shuster reportedly apologized on air, but Wolfson said today on a conference call with reporters that that wasn't good enough. "I havent received any phone call. I'm not familiar with any apology," Wolfson said. "Look, I think the comment is disgusting. Its beneath contempt. It’s the kind of thing that should never be said on a national news network."

Wolfson suggested that the campaign might retailiate against MSNBC by no longer agreeing to any further debates sponsored by the cable network. He also wondered if perhaps there is something anti-Clinton in the water. Last month, Chris Matthews apologized after suggesting Hillary Clinton benefitted because of how she was treated by her husband.

"I think at some point you have to question whether there is a pattern here at this particular network," he said. "Is this part of a pattern? Is this something folks are encouraged to do or not do?"

Posted by Jim Oliphant on February 8, 2008

Belief = Practiced Thought

Once you understand the Law of Attraction, things just start to make more sense in EVERY facet of your life. I used to have such an issue with religious zealots, and now... not so much. I understand that some of them have beliefs that have been so deeply ingrained in them from the time they were children. They have been practicing the same thoughts for so long that they actually believe there's a GOD in heaven judging us, watching over our every action, that he had a Son who came and did miracles and died on a cross for their sins, they believe there will be an end to the world, that their judgment could send them to heaven or hell, etc...

I don't have issues with religious folks, I just feel sorry for them. But the good news is that those who truly wish to challenge their beliefs can. It took me years, but then again, I was raised Jehovah's Witness and the thoughts I practiced I started very early and quite fervently all my years until the age of 19.

Here's a quote from Abraham about those thoughts that we all practice.
Let's just make them healthy thoughts!!

"The thought that you think, you think, which attracts to it; so you think it some more, which attracts to it; so you think it some more. In other words, when you have an expectation, you've got a dominant thought going on, and Law of Attraction is going to deliver that to you again, and again and again. And you say "The reason that I believe this, is because it is true." And we say, the reason that you believe it, is because you've practiced the thought. All that a belief is, is a thought that you keep practicing."

My Caucus Experience

Yesterday was the biggest primary election day in U.S. History. At my sole Democrat caucus (serving 9 precincts) alone, there were well over 500+… it was mayhem at times. Once we moved from pure pandemonium into some sort of “organized chaos”, I went around helping to officiate each of the precincts votes. Without a doubt, Colorado is currently “Obama Land” right now.

However, stuff I noticed there bothered me greatly.

If you want to know what I observed, read on.

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There was stuff that bothered me enough that I actually forced a few recounts with three (3) precincts because of unscrupulous observations. While the majority were cooperative and respectful of each other, there were quite a number of those who not only hollered sexist jokes about Hillary (with entire Obama crowds laughing at it), but there were also women there (in ALL groups) that were visibly offended, but shrunk back without exclaiming their outrage to such disgusting misogynistic comments.

While I, personally, may not be the most sensitive to this type of rhetoric, these things would NOT be tolerated if it was a racist comment. And we all know good and well, that if someone makes a comment considered even slightly racist… it would be condoned on the spot, and a huge media attention would be drawn to it talking about how dishonored we are as Americans.

So this caused me to wonder:

Why do women, any minority group including gay men and women, or for that matter…any CIVILIZED HUMAN tolerate or discount when a woman is treated like this? Why are people BLIND to the hypocrisy in the U.S. (religion, government, media… everywhere) when it comes to woman, especially in leadership? There are some serious double standards here people, and we all need to dig deeper.

Out of those that responded back to my previous email sharing their thoughts on Hillary or Obama, I felt there was only one person that made a decent case for Obama. The rest were jumping on to the emotional bandwagon of Obama’s speechwriters (the Kennedys’ own speechwriter – Ted Sorenson), hardly anything more. They could only repeat opinions about Hillary that they’ve heard in the media (i.e. “polarizing”, “too political”, “too high profile”,etc..) because they haven’t taken the time to thoroughly investigate the issues, experience, and background of ALL candidates.

I understand that U.S. Politics can be exhausting. But I don’t get why many who are so tired of politics are actually considering someone with a lack of knowledge, experience and skill as someone attractive to them - as their prospective leader. Whereas Hillary is a high-profile candidate with an enormous grasp of foreign- and domestic-policy nuance, dedication to detail, ability to absorb staggering insult (even misogynistic insults) and personal pain while retaining dignity, resolve, even humor, and she keeps on going! (Or maybe you haven’t heard about the idiot who yelled, “Iron my shirt” to Hillary and everyone thought it was amusing. Or how she’s considered “too ballsy” or “too emotional”… you pick! Which one? How can one combat such public sexism and double standards?)

This woman, this leader… deserves FAR MORE RESPECT and HONOR than what I saw at the caucus last night and in the media thus far. I’m urging more of you to become more responsible about the candidate you support, rather than jumping onto the manufactured hype (the MTV-style hype) that we get with entertainment. Because let’s face it… Our media has practically become simply - entertainment. Why else are huge celebrities (e.g. Opera) jumping on the campaign visits to cities? It’s one thing to have political endorsements, but celebrities?

Please understand I’m not criticizing anyone for supporting Obama, I like his position. But whoever you support, in one way or another… please stop pandering to sexists even if they root for your candidate. Show your disapproval and don’t become an accomplice to that. And for those people that I saw counting EXTRA heads at the caucus or who were trying to stifle the other candidates supporters (why I forced the recount)… is that really how you want your candidate to get ahead?

“Women’s rights are human rights. Among those rights are the right to speak freely—and the right to be heard.”

After all, it was Hillary Clinton defying the U.S. State Department and the Chinese Government at the 1995 UN World Conference on Women in Beijing (look here for the full, stunning speech).

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Hillary said she found her own voice in New Hampshire. It was highlighted in the January ’08 issue of Newsweek.

But I believe the real question is deeper than her re-finding her voice. Can we find ours? Can we do this for ourselves, or will we be complacent and let the media or celebrities or the hype created by their speechwriters dictate which candidate, which leader, we stand behind?

I, for one, support Hillary Clinton because she’s the best qualified of all candidates running in both parties. I support her because her progressive politics are as strong as is her proven ability to withstand what will be a massive right-wing assault in the general election. Obama is hardly being attacked by the right… there’s a reason for that: They’re not afraid of him right now!

I needn’t agree with Clinton on every point. I agree with the 97 percent of her positions that are identical with Obama’s—and the few where hers are both more practical and to the left of his (like health care). I support her because she’s already smashed the first-lady stereotype and made history as a fine senator, because I believe she will continue to make history not only as the first US woman president, but as a great US president.

As regards Obama, I’d rather look forward to what a good president he might make in eight years, when his vision and spirit are seasoned by practical know-how.

Thanks for listening to my final thoughts after the my caucus experience. Hope you’re enjoying your day.

Nathan

Gotta love Hillary! - Comical Video

oh god, I LOVE Hillary!!
I want a president like this, with a good sense of humor. Not some stupid goofy laugh, like our current one. She just GETS IT... and anyone who doesn't see that, is blind or envious or insecure.

ImprovEverywhere.com

My friend Riley showed me this video... thought it was pretty cool. Would loved to have seen something like that in person.

Religion

OH - HOW TRUE!

"Every religion on the planet, and there are so many more than you are even aware of, has the potential of absolute thriving. But when you think that you must prove that you have the only one that is right—and you use your condemnation to push against the others—your condemnation separates you from your own Connection that, before your condemnation, you were finding in your own religion."
- Abraham

Moment of Truth

I'm not a huge FOX fan, and even this show was a little drawn out, but it's at least worth seeing once. It's really interesting to me observing the psychology of entertainment. What we do these days to entertain ourselves is something else! Check out this preview for The Moment of Truth.

Who you are and what you know

Who you are and what you know when you are born is everything that you need to know to thrive. You are born with a sense of self and a sense of wanting self to feel good, and the mechanisms to bring it about.