Is the October Sky Really Bluer?

by | Saturday, January 3, 2015 | World View | 5 comments

october skyAfter asking this question some time ago, it seems the answer is ‘yes’.

Evidently, there are two things at work here:

1) When the sun is lower on the horizon, which it is during the fall and winter, more of the scattered light is directed towards the observer’s eyes, which increases the amount of blue in the sky.

2) In the fall the air has lower humidity, which reduces scattering due to water vapor. The scattering due to water vapor would otherwise wash out the blue color.

© Michael Mamas. All rights reserved.

Saturn Moon and Mars

by | Saturday, August 30, 2014 | World View | 6 comments

Sunday evening just after sunset you might be able to see Moon next to Mars with Saturn just slightly below them.  Mercury will be a little further down near the western horizon and might be faintly visible as well.  If skies are clear, I will be watching.

Then, on Sept 4, Mars moves out of Libra where it has been with Saturn for some time.  Saturn and Mars together have been a trouble maker for conflicts, etc.  It is good that Mars is moving along and into its own sign leaving Saturn alone in its sign of exaltation.

© Michael Mamas. All rights reserved.

Memorial Day

by | Monday, May 26, 2014 | World View | 8 comments

flagToday, Memorial Day, is a good day to remember that it has been the warrior class that was entrusted with the Knowledge throughout the ages.  Note that Lord Krishna was a kshatriya (warrior).

Principles like duty, honor, trust, and loyalty are upheld by the military.  This is so even while those principles may be somewhat out of favor with many.  It is said that the valorous, who fall in battle, immediately attain moksha.

To live a life dedicated to something greater than the small ‘personality’ self is a great thing.  I for one will take this day to humbly honor the valorous.

 

© Michael Mamas. All rights reserved.

Point, Counter Point, and Policy Making

by | Sunday, May 18, 2014 | World View | 3 comments

WJ9A3784_HDRMy daughter is writing a paper on gender rules.  Should boys be allowed to play with dolls? Should boys be encouraged to play with dolls?  Should girls be allowed to dress like boys?  Etc., etc.  What does it mean to be male?  What does it mean to be female?

Just as I mentioned regarding politics, the whole topic seems to revolve around taking a stand, sticking to it, and trying to force a policy that conforms to that perspective.  Oh, if life were only so simple.

Every decade or so, a new viewpoint on things is adopted and adhered to in the name of political correctness, an evolved society, or some sort of epiphany.  To gain a better understanding of life, just look to the trees.  The are not rigid.  They sway with the wind.  Wisdom does not hold fast to one fixed perspective.  Life is a paradox, not a rule book.  In more enlightened times, wisdom will replace policy. Contradictory points will not be argued.  They will be held gently and reflected upon thoughtfully.  When vision is narrow, the tree of life becomes rigid and brittle.  Yet when vision is narrow, effective policies are the best humanity can hope for.

Currently, we live in a world of fanaticism. In time, we will live in the Age of Wisdom.

© Michael Mamas. All rights reserved.

A New Sort of ‘Nation’ has Emerged

by | Saturday, April 19, 2014 | Spirituality, World View | 5 comments

German media executive, Dopfner,  says that the oligopolic power of the tech and social media elite is unconstrained and unchecked.  He says that business leaders around the world are so intimidated by Google’s political and economic power that they fear to confront Google and that Google is currently an unstoppable force in the world.  The economic, political and social media giants are so powerful that they are viewed as a new sort of virtual ‘nation’ overtaking the world.  Their influence over how and what people throughout the world think is remarkable.

Clearly such a powerful force could be used for good or otherwise.  The issue is that the ones controlling those companies are the ones that determine what is good and what is not.  How all of this unfolds is, of course, yet to be seen.  But certainly the world is changing rapidly.  Global communication has reached levels never before imagined.

What lies at the depth of every individual is Divinity.  Everyone in their essence is One with all that is… infinitely harmonious, life supporting, and coherent.  It is our task to free humanity from the stresses and strains that prevent individuals from living that fullness of life.  As that emerges, the family of humanity will benefit from greater levels of communication.  Until that emerges the effects of such power is in question.

The Age of Enlightenment is emerging.  It is ours to bring it forth as quickly as possible.

world

© Michael Mamas. All rights reserved.