a few of my favorite things

I kinda get into a vibe every now and again where I start to define myself in a negative context. Maybe negative isn't the right word, I don't think there is a word for it, but I find myself thinking more about the things I am against than the things I am for. The anti-stuff rather than the pro-stuff. I just left a comment over at onestraw about being vigilant of the public's perception of our movement, revolution, whatever you want to call it. Being somewhat of a political junkie I have noticed a tendency of the media to accuse the genuinely progressively candidates as being angry, anti-this, anti-that, never mind the rightness, they focus on the anger. Dammnit we have a right to be angry, we have been cheated, co-opted, threatend, muffled and generally abused, so why shouldn't we be angry.

But anger doesn't win too many friends, and right now we could all use a few more.
so on with the positive, the following are some of my favorite things in the world. Some of the things I think will win new friends or win over old friends. (gardening was ommitted for the sake of obviousness)

Activities:
duh, I love to be outdoors so anything that involves getting outside the box usually makes me smile, but in particular, I love hiking and mountain biking.
In recent years mountain biking is getting a bad rap for its damage of certain areas. I think responisble biking can be a positive force. We needn't throw out the baby with the bathwater, biking gets more of my generation into the wilderness than they might otherwise, and that is key.

and lets not forget the most recuperative activity of all, falling asleep in the hammock to the sounds of birds chirping.

Books:
this one could go on forever but I will try to keep it short
"The last hours of ancient sunlight" by Thom Hartman. This one starts seriously depressing, but I know it will end on an inspring note. I'm not done with it yet, but I know Mr. Hartman from his radio show and he never ceases to provide positive solutions, not just complaints.

I've read more than a few books on gardening, but thus far "How to grow more vegetables..." by John Jeavons takes the cake.


"Living Buddha Living Christ" by Thich Naht Hanh. A fantastic work that brought me back home from my spiritual walkabout.

The entire "Dune" series by Frank Herber. Its fiction, but strangely prescient. The entire story hinges on humanity's dependence on a single commodity, and its willingness to blindly obey. Fantastic reading and eerily familar.

Honorable Mentions to "Culture Jam" and "Affluenza" more problem oriented than solution oriented, but sometimes it takes some doing to convince people that there really is something wrong.

Movies:

"The Shawshank Redemption" I don't know a single man who wont admit to shedding a tear at the end.

"Seven Samurai" often imitated, never duplicated

"Gojira" (we know it in its watered down, messageless, Raymond Burr injected form...the 1956 movie "Godzilla") In its original form it is a love story, a story of scientific obsession, of self sacrifice, of nature's revenge, a reminder of the horrors of war, and a warning.

Home:
on both the micro and macro level. My house, is smallish and cozy, with plenty of room for changes...a key component for any member of the odious cult of home improvement.

on a larger scale, I am in Central New York long known as an agricultural powerhouse, you name it, we grow it (well, maybe not everything, but a lot) and given the presence of Cornell University's amazing agricultural work we are always well informed about local eco issues.

Food:
This is the hardest thing, seems like every week I find a new favorite. I'm a vegetarian, but I am proud to say I have eaten a wider variety of foods than most omni's I know. I love to cook, and I love to dine with friends and family.

whats yours?