Back from being out of town for 3 days.  It's funny how much online "activity" that goes by - at any rate, will be back at blogging tomorrow.

A Fun Friday post -

Woe betide the musical wise men, for their time has come and gone. 

Everyone's a rock snob, or no one is. 

Those out there with huge, obscure, "great" music, that think that what everyone else listens to is balls (cough, cough Salathrustra...)



What do you do now? 

A couple of interesting articles on the relationship of Integral Theory to current career and knowledge management theory.

First off is Integral Career Development - this article takes some of the current career development theory, and adds an integral take - complete with diagrams.

The second article (warning PDF) takes presents some of the current work in Knowledge Management - a really dynamic field in the corporate world, and one that I deal with personally, in regards to Peoplesoft, Customer Relationship Management software, and Learning Management. 

It's a fascinating article, detailing how to "talk" to people, from which quadrant they are coming from.  (I've personally used variations of this in talking with customers, but really only as an extension of mirroring the "style" and "tone" of a customer's speech and mannerisms, languaging, in order to better communicate with that person.)

This also gets into one of my pet projects, interfacing the integral fraemwork with profile and skill-building software.  (I'm promsing my readers - at some point - some actual thesis worthy papers on this...)

NOTE:  Both of these pieces are analytical, rather than practical.

I've downloaded the new Google Talk.  I have to figure out why the sound on my home computer is as bad as it is - but man - REALLY powerful way for google to corner the personalization market, especially with the other features.

New Integral Wiki user Svladcjelli has been busy faithfully rendering Ken Wilber's conception of holon. 


While the committed page on holons you can see here, there's  a lot more in the draft on holons here.

I don't have time, probably for another week to comment, but I want  to comment  a bit - philosophically  - on how this conception differs from Liebniz's conception of monads, and whether holons has any pragmatic value, except in theory.


Are there any other comparisons out there?

and I want to mention them because they are community sites, not only individual sites - both on the Drupal software.

First off - there is Integral Reflections - from what I can see, this site has been around awhile (November 2004 counts as awhile) - and I'm not sure whether they will continue to publish, as they have gone pretty much silent since May of 2005 - but like Generation Site, you have multiple bloggers on one site.

Next, is Shift in Action - this site marks what I know to be the first entry by an "integral-type" college, into the blogosphere, as this has been put together by the Institute of Noetic Sciences.  As well, they are using the media friendliness of Drupal to present Live Teleseminars.  In this, they are following in the heels of Integral Naked, but it still is nice to see other organizations move forward with technology to engage in questions at the frontiers of inner and outer knowledge.

Now, here's where I have to admit my laziness - I have a separate box sitting there -with Drupal on it - right now!!

This is as opposed to integral's good techie friend, Michael Dubois, who actually has helped out with Shift In Action, from what I understand.  As well as keeping Integral Visioning and IntegralWiki going!

But, I haven't done anything with it - it sits there, as I go about my regular life.  (I was going to prettify it up, but I never got around to doing any site design, and adding a couple of modules, after I did the install.)

Ah well.  One of these days you'll see a community site, but up by ebuddha - but I wouldn't be holding your breath!

Jean has a nice post today, about feminine and Integralism - and sex!  I appreciate her thoughts on this, and I hadn't actually heard of Marion Woodman before.  I had read a couple of Riane Eisler' books, however.

From what I can tell, the intersection of blogging, computers, and integral, is - what - 90% male?  So it's always great to get a considerate, thoughtful, female voice, as hearing echoes of myself, while entertaining (because I amuse myself, dontcha know!), it is very limiting, and not all that integral.

Saw this article from KeyNet - follow the links to what LOOKS like smerican soldiers, such as National Guard, breaking up a party - although I guess they were police (SWAT probably) in soldier gear.  

While I understand that because the RAVE act was passed, this is "acceptable" in a legal sense, it looks absolutely awful.  Can't people have a dance gathering anymore?

At any rate, watch the video, pass this around - a person can't do much, but a thousand blogs can at least bring attention to the fact that these type of tactics are unacceptable.  Even if it is legally correct to shut a party like this down, why send SWAT and police in soldier gear?

I downloaded the beta version of Google Desktop 2.0 earlier today.  I've been letting it run,

It's pretty cool. 

1. I particular like the "Web Clips" functionality, as this allows you add as much content as you want, from whever you want. 
    a.The way this pops up is clean, and with the "pop-out" from the title of a post,
    b.can actually allow you to read the entire post without having to go a site.
    c.In addition, some feeds are added by the software, although I don't know how it this is decided.
    d. You can also "search' for a feed by keyword - with that amazing google speed.  I search on "integral", I get Ryan's Integral Awakening, this site, and Shawn's A Day In the Integral Life.  Played around for a bit, check out some cool tech, meditation, and philosphy blogs - all through searching for terms!


There's also:

2. Quick view of recent (and weighted?) bookmarks
3. What's Hot section - I wonder what the algorithm around this is - similar to Google News?
4. Weather
5. Email
6. News - which again, can be edited. 

This competition between Yahoo and Google, I must say, I really love.  Both are getting better and better.  Before today, I would have said hands down, Yahoo wins the personalization (and actually, as a web-base "My Space" type of functionality it still does.), however, there are (finally) a couple of features that Google Desktop has, that My Yahoo doesn't have.
NOTE:  This may be comparing two different types of products, since one is desktop based, and one is browser-based. However, both address a lot of the same functionality in terms of these services providing the CONTENT that I want to see, when I want to see it, and how I want to see it.

P.S.  Make sure to use the encryption functionality for desktop search, if you try out Google Desktop.
 

over at Blog of Collective Intelligence.

A good comment as well.

Now, how the whole idea of an "Integral Operating System", strikes me, as both cool, cheesy, and opportunistic - all at the same time! 

As much as I attempt to link to various practices and skill building in various avenues of life = which I will continue doing - the blogspace is most likely more productive for explaining, analyzing, and critiquing ideas, people, etc. 

So, is there a "neutral" Integral Operating System? How much does AQAL further the idea of "body mind spirit", which has always been the bedrock of the all-encompassing view?

As a  consciousness map, AQAL is useful in providing a framework for intersubjectivity, which wasn't present (that I know of ) in previous mappings of consciousness.

Any other thoughts of Integral Operating System?

An RSS tool that runs in Microsoft Outlook?

If so, would you let me know?

Thanks!

For those who haven't read it - here's a quote from the Integral Spirituality presentation (mini-book? study?), about terrorism:

In research for The Many Faces of Terrorism, I looked at the last fifty or so majorterrorist acts around the world, from the Protestant bombing of abortion clinics in the South to Buddhist subway attacks in Tokyo to Sikh separatists in India to Muslim terrorist
acts including 9/11. Astonishingly, they all had the identical psychograph: amber beliefs with red emotional driver.

And they all said exactly the same thing about why they did it (although not using these technical terms): The orange world will not make room for my sacred amber beliefs, and I am going to blow it up every chance I get.

I'm assuming this is going to be the thesis of the book - hopefully with a better sourcing.

This is a theory though that can be confirmed/disconfirmed pretty quickly though, with basic internet sleuthing skills.

Do all terrorists adopt an "amber" view?  Since I'm not into the colors thing - does this mean a Tribalist view?  I always go by Joe Perez's cheat sheet, and I don't see an amber.  What is the descriptive term for amber?

Who has a good non-color way to say the same sentence?

I ran across this LifeHack article about audiobooks, and it resonated with me. 

"I sleep for 6-7 hours, spend around 1 hour for lunch, dinner and bath, 8-10 hours for my work and 1 hour for commuting. Adding them up, I already spent 16-19 hours on those projects. By spending 2 hours per day for blogging and its preparation (reading, planning etc), time for attending my post-grad courses in human resources management, and time for my girl friend and family - That leaves me less than 3 hours per day to do the rest of things - including self-development."

It's a similar type of situation for me, in terms of lack of time - and then of course, you add an hour of meditation, and then an average of 30 minutes a day on some physical exercise (working out, yoga, running, etc).

Since my commute and my run are combined now (I'm commuting BY running home, for the most part), that helps.

Beginning of this year, I found a way to leverage some of the used time for self-development - by listening to audio books. With some tasks like commuting and bathroom break, I can utilize these times to listen and learn from the audio content

I've done something similar, in that I've put a few things on Audio -I have Eckhart Tolle on CD, and transferred it to the Ipod, and then a few INaked presentations and conversations as well. 

The Eckhart Tolle, and some Poonjaji stuff, is very good, for example, on a bus (if I'm late, don't want to walk).  There's something about moving, without being responsible for your own locomotion, that resonates deeply in terms of a proper understanding of will to Divine Will.  (Maybe this is just me).

Has anyone out there had a lot of positive experiences with books on tape/CD/Ipod?  What works, what doesn't, in your experience? In knowledge, understanding, behavior change, and simple entertainment?

An FYI, for those who haven't seen this.  Lots of stuff I haven't heard about (as well as a lot I have).  Maybe you will find something pretty cool yourself!

Or something.  I'm not exactly sure this is real or if it is a put-on, but read this tale of exploited capital, and marvel, weep, or yawn, as per your preference.

Well do you?

I wonder who uses a variation of SMART goal setting. for their accomplishments? 

Of course, this is a bit difficult when it comes to spiritual goals.  The apple falls off the tree when the apple falls off the tree - but you can still make sure the apple has -

the best environment - soil, sun, temperature
the best nutrients - water, food, vitamins, etc
the best attention - daily watering (practice( keeps those apples blooming!

It's now near the end of my workday, I was playing around with a couple of other new Yahoo beta tools - and I came across this site called Original Gravity.

It's pretty interesting - dating from the 1980's, a collection of writing, thoughts on art, on design, photography, all based around a type of integral philosophy. 

Funny enough, it reminded me a bit of our intrepid budding integral artist Dan Allison's site - although this may just be the open mouth visual thing.

Still, a fascinating site, really.  Almost like the "O.G" Integral Artist - a little respect y'all!

Who WOULD be the O.G. integral artist?  With a consciously aware philosophy of art that includes mind-body-spirit?  I mean, you could go back to DaVinci, of course - that monster of mind, art and philosophy.  But that would be too far back, and doesn't consciously include an integral perspective. You would have to start from after Aurobindo or Teilhard de Chardin.

Any thoughts?

If you haven't had a chance to view this site, please go take a look.

The Inner-Net.

The Inner-Net is a fascinating site, that is about a former brilliant Sun Microsystems employee (and PhD), who along with his wife, has taken a year out to basically walk across India, visiting every ashram and spiritual place he can find along the way (in the current entry, he has just come out of a ten day retreat).

The ongoing story is fascinating, and inspiring.  As an example, for all of my enthusiasm and "tech" skills (such as they are), this gentleman simply is the best of the best in regards to technical skills.

But he has given it all up (at least for now), simply walking, living on nearly nothing, travelling across India, meditating for various retreats, and documenting his travels, the meditations, and the people they meet. 

It's an inspiring story.  I suggest reading this blog, when you can.

I had mentioned previously that I had enrolled in the Yahoo My Web 2.0 Beta, but either it didn't exist, there is now a del.icio.us functionality - as well as the RSS functionality.
 
The shared bookmarking functionality works better than del.icio.us in many ways - however, you must have a Yahoo account to access it. 

Still, the community page is pretty cool - both the graphical view, and then clicking on "everyone's tags".

With the blogging functionality (which I haven't tried yet) and the ability to share or not share (discrete privacy options) it's a nice set of features.

Steve Pavlina on Self-Discipline.

Here's a quote:

Just as most people have very weak muscles compared to how strong they could become with training, most people are very weak in their level of self-discipline.

It’s a mistake to try to push yourself too hard when trying to build self-discipline. If you try to transform your entire life overnight by setting dozens of new goals for yourself and expecting yourself to follow through consistency starting the very next day, you’re almost certain to fail. This is like a person going to the gym for the first time ever and packing 300 pounds on the bench press. You will only look silly.

There's a lot of other good stuff there, take a look if you have the time.

Just a couple of notes on Site Stuff -

a.  Added the Kosmic Blogger stream to the right middle - at any time, you will be able to see the last 10 sites added to KosmicBlogger.

b.  The "Integral Voices In The Moment" stream is now up to 47 blogs - every day, new content, new stuff, all the time. 

If you are interested in that stream, you can also follow the "Read More" at the bottom of the Integral Voices In the Moment section, and then pick up the XML to put into your feed reader. 

WARNING - You will get on average 20 entries a day, so you need to start getting really good at blogsurfing! 

Michael Dubois has done us all a favor, by compiling a list of Integral Humor over at Integral Wiki.


Take a look at it.  Feel free to add stuff too!

There's a new video from Green Day, you might want to take a look at.

Wake Me Up When September Ends.

You might have to look around for the video - currently there is a link from the News section on the right side.

I'm putting out a call here, and I hope the people who read this blog may follow up on it. 

I read this article in the Washington Post about all the cool, snazzy, and peachy keen ways to be corrupt in the US Capital - completely legally. 

And then as well, I read this incredible Rolling Stones article, called Four Amendments and A Funeral on the actual process of  offering amendments in the current political environment

Along with all the legal ways of dealing with corruption, you also have the various pork boondoggles disguised at transportation bills, energy bills, and whatnot.

What would be the beginnings of an weaving an integral response to corruption? 

Socially, it seems that barring some crisis, "money begets money", in any society.  The haves, unless forced to change, begin "working the system" to get more - and more. 

But as far as the levels of consciousness? Where does the money drive reside?

Is the money drive pure Hedonism?  '

I would say that the money drive as embedded in corporations vying for dominance is not Hedonism only.  It would actually be a combinations of Hedonism, plus traditionalism (notice the suits, and paeans towards respectability, community, etc, in the corporate culture), with it's goal and (sometimes) home embedded in rationalism. 

As such, it's a pretty true representation of authentic lower level drives - but the corruption that shows up as part of the sickness of the rationalist drive, shows that this competitve drive can end up being incredibly shortsighted, shallow, and contrary to societies interests.

(NOTE - I derive most of the short and descriptive versions of the terms above from Joe Perez - who has encapsulated the various stages in one or two  sentences.)

I don't know of another mythos, that will authentically encapsulate the drives existing in a person and society, to combat this one.  There are some signs - such as in the movement to have nationalized health in this country - that practically show that some needs are better handled through shared risk, rather than singly. Businesses are now straining under the impact of handling health concerns singly, so in ten years, the United States will most likely adopt some national health plan.  That would be an inclusionary recognition that pluralistic values - in some areas - are pragmatic.

All I can think of however, are single acts - single responses, such as using tactics:

Shame, attention, game theory, dramatization, consistent pressure, transparency.

But these acts are not part of a coherent narrative, in any sense.  They aren't part of a vision complete with strategy.

Came across this - just incredibly amazing - site.  I've been consumed for hours with the tips, tricks, insights, for living life more productively, that are catalogued here.

Lifehack!!

There's an amazing amount of smart, cool pieces of advice.

Here is just a taste:

Over 100 Quick and Easy Foods

Essential Resources for Creativity

Spending Your Time and Money

There are also quite a lot of Firefox hacks - as a true Firefox enthusiast, this pleases me greatly!

Since Lifehacks is an essential part of Integral Practice (lord knows there isn't enough time in a day!), I've added the RSS stream to the front page here, far down on the left column.

You can find the latest version of the Integral Blog page right here.  This page will also always be in the right column, under "Integral Organizations And Information". 

There are 103 blogs included - this is the case even though:

a.  I have not included links for any blogs that haven't updated since June.
b.  I have deleted almost all blogs that did not directly reference Integral Theory in some manner.  (there are still a few however, such as How To Save The World, that takes a fairly integral view of life, but in a humanistic perspective.)

Still, there are over 100 integral blogs!

I've also cleaned up the look a bit, and the order the blogs are listed in is based on a descending order - last post first. 

A few observations -

1.  I'm not sure I'll be able to do this for a lot longer - the ways the blogging community is growing, it simply will probably take too much time to do this on an ongoing basis. Like I mentioned last week, there is now a blog created every second!

2. I'll experiment, however, with having a few more RSS channels on this blog, that will cull the Integral View automatically, such as a technorati feed, or another, more meaningful view.  (Here's an example of what I mean.)  However, there is still a lot of "junk" in Technorati's search, so we will see what will happen.

3.  The only way I've been able to keep up with even half of these, is that wonderful tool called RSS, and if you don't use an RSS reader yet, well, you should!   I personally use the RSS functionality in Thunderbird, and also use the My Yahoo functionality.

4.  Now, of course it IS annoying that blogs that I DO wish to be notified of when they have posted (such as Victoria and The Human Bean), still don't utilize RSS.  That's too bad.  (Yes, ALL should kowtow to my informational whims.  The sheer arrogance of a lone blogger raises it's head!  ) 

It is funny to get "attached" in a certain sense, to the stories that people tell - but I can't really help it.  Like a snowflake, every voice I read, or hear (and even in some cases see!) on a blog, is an exercise in a beautiful uniqueness.  That's true for pretty much every single personal blog I read, which I guess accounts for my reluctance to give them up...

At any rate - here's a toast to the blogosphere!

In particular the integral blogosphere, and this community of open-hearted intelligent souls, sharing themselves, in faith and wonder, for all the world to see.

UPDATE:  Well, it seems I spoke too soon on The Human Bean!  She DOES have a RSS feed!

Oops!  I was sure the last time I checked she didn't!  Well, at any rate, this is good news!  See, wishes ARE granted, even if they may be due to outdated information!

Saw this post from Kathryn, and it reminded me that I had planned on posting on this previously.

ANY type of volunteering or service is, in a very real way - integral.  However, this particular organization (Hands On Bay Area) serves as a "meta-service" organization providing:

a.  Integration of very diverse needs, from different communities, different populations, and different types of service. (Elderly, children, environmental, etc.)
b. Very flexible programs, to volunteer as makes sense in your life.
c. Thinks "locally", to show that YOUR service makes a difference.
d. Provides a mode for ALL of these differing communities to come together to form a larger whole.

So go take a look, and volunteer!