Note to Self: Read Note to Self

Every time I do this month-long series of treatments I go through the same exact pattern. After the first of four treatments I think, "Well this is awful but not as bad as I remember. Maybe I'm tolerating it better." Then it gets worse all week and the second treatment hits like a brick. Still I think, "Well, closer to what I remember but not as bad. I think my body is definitely tolerating it better." Then it gets worse all week and the third treatment is straight outta hell. That's when I think, "Oh man, this IS what I remember and I'm definitely NOT tolerating it better."

Though I'm curled up right now with intense nausea, pain, weakness and a pile of other side effects, I can still step back and find the humor in the whole thing. Not every second-- that would be neurotic-- but in an overall OMG-just-believe-your-stupid-notes kinda way.

Ungagged

It's been a long time since I've written about William Cassidy, the man stalking Jetsunma and harassing our sangha since 2007. It was a forced and difficult silence; we were all prevented from discussing the case or responding to his continued online attacks while the legal proceedings were underway. It was brutal seeing Jetsunma tormented every day for years without being able to rise to her defense and watching helplessly as her health deteriorated to the point where she is now living with severe pain and multiple stress-induced conditions.

Unfortunately justice did not prevail. Several months ago we learned that the judge dismissed the case, concluding that William Cassidy was merely expressing his First Amendment rights to free speech when he bombarded Jetsunma with those 8,000+ tweets and blog posts-- a sickening collection of vulgar, hateful and threatening messages. Additionally, the judge asserted that since Jetsunma is a public figure she's basically fair game and Cassidy's comments weren't a "true threat." Really. Here are a few of Cassidy's "not-a-true-threat" tweets using various accounts:

("Tora, Tora, Tora" is the phrase Japanese kamikaze pilots shouted before striking their targets)

As disturbing as those tweets would be coming from anyone, remember that William Cassidy is a violent, convicted felon, not some teenage boy firing off scary-sounding tweets to mess with people. We take his threats quite seriously even if the judge didn't.

Since Cassidy's release from federal prison, he's resumed his online attacks on Jetsunma, our sangha and KPC. Of course.

So that's the update on Cassidy. The final piece to add is that--as if Cassidy weren't enough-- in February, 2011, we learned we had a second stalker named Andrew Wilson. This article gives the background on how that happened and the ways he's joined forces with Cassidy in cyberstalking Jetsunma. Due to various investigations we were also forced to remain silent in the face of Wilson's harassment and threats, so as William Cassidy awaited trial in federal prison Andrew Wilson was running amok online.

The charge of cyberstalking would have made legal precedent and saved countless lives. Someday it will, no doubt. It's just a matter of time before someone (statistically likely to be a woman) is killed by someone (statistically likely to be a man) after a period of intensifying cyberstalking. Having lived through this nightmare, I can tell you that cyberstalking is no different from "real life" stalking, in which the violent threats escalate as the victim tries in vain to protect herself. The law fails victims of "real life" stalking every day, and it has now failed victims of cyberstalking as well.

What Jetsunma has had to endure deserves to be told. Stay tuned.

Bye Bye Fishies

Alright. I finally sat down and tried to fix the busted blog template-- no go. As far as I can tell, "New Blogger" will have nothing to do with "Old Blogger" and has turned up its bloggy nose at my offensively outdated template. There's no way those fishies are coming back, folks.

Well, that's how samsara is-- the fact that something begins means it has already shaken hands with the ending. The fishbowl has expired. It's dead. Deceased. Pushing up daisies. It is an ex-template (respectful but giggly nod to Monty Python).

By the time I got wise to it, the fishies had already been scooped out of my karmic net. They're off on another dimensional string (nod to quantum physics, which I don't really get but like the idea that quantum physicists don't really get, either).

I don't know about the plant theme. But I have things that must be said and it buys me space to do that. And just in case I eventually fall in love with it, I'm gonna say goodbye to it right now so it won't break my pathetically weak heart when it falls into the inevitable abyss of Stuff You Wish You Still Had.

Update: The plant theme has been uprooted! Now I'm all about the Orange Sherbet look. This is eerily reminiscent of shopping for shoes. Don't make me tell that story. Just don't.

Busted

In November I noticed that my blog template seems to have spontaneously collapsed. I have no idea what happened. It's worked for nearly 3 years. I don't know how to fix it, short of reloading the entire template-- a huge job. If anyone knows how to repair it please let me know. If you're new to my blog, I assure you that it doesn't look anything like this squished mess. It's supposed to look like this!

What We Want

9/11: Real Homeland Security

In the media today there was a lot of talk about how much we've learned since 9/11. All of it is about our "security." It seems we missed the point.

If we help feed, clothe and care for countries in need without expecting anything in return, I think that would be the end of terrorism.

If we persist in propping up dictators and maintaining troops against the will of the people, then terrorist acts against us are a given.

If we continue to use food as a weapon of coercion by creating embargoes, then we shouldn't be surprised that terrorism thrives.

We aren't at the mercy of the meanies out there. What did we do (or fail to do) to allow a bin Laden to develop? That's the question.

As a nation we had a great opportunity to talk about that question. We chose instead to funnel our pain into hatred and go to war. Twice.

I pray that those of us who believe in peace will speak up again and take back the reins.

No More War. Food Not Bombs.

9/11 Morning Prayers

May all those who were killed on 9/11 have an auspicious rebirth. May they benefit beings wherever they are.

May all those who survived 9/11 be cleansed of their fear & sorrow. May they dedicate their lives to benefiting others.

May those who celebrated the killings on 9/11 be cleansed of their anger & and feel remorse. May they think only of benefiting others.

May our nation "Never Forget" that all nations have experienced sorrow equal to ours at some time in their history.

May people of all faiths unite to bring an era of harmony, respect, acceptance & loving-kindness to our nation.