Tuesday, July 12, 2011
Wednesday, July 6, 2011
The Academy and the WhiteStones Project
WhiteStones Academy
Of
Knighthood and the Chivalric Arts
Table of Contents:
1. The Need
2. The Missing Dimension in Education
3. The Curriculum of WhiteStones Academy
a) The 12 Trusts
b) Scout craft
c) Work
d) Altruistic Endeavors
4. Graduate Opportunities in the WhiteStones Foundation
The Need
To see for yourself the need, just look around. During my short 60-some years there has taken place a distinct deterioration of our culture’s moral behavior: Sex, Greed, and all kinds of perversions broadcast 24,7; Children who haven’t got a clue are having children and, as our population in the schools increases, “God” and the teaching of moral absolutes have been taken out of our school systems. The result is obvious in crime statistics and the increasingly rude behavior we see around us. Broken homes, violence, thefts and murders, all acts perpetrated by people without moral imperatives, people who are ignorant of the way of peace and prosperity.
The Missing Dimension in Education
What is missing in the education of our children is the one dimension science denies even exists: The Spiritual Laws of the universe. Did you know that spiritual law is absolute and is manifestly demonstrable? It is true! For instance, the fool who will not listen to sound instruction will remain ignorant. The wise will heed and increase their learning, understanding, and wisdom. Another “for instance”: those who are ruled by self interest above all else, who lie, steal, cheat, and are “users” will find that people around them shy away from them and have ill will toward them. Those who put the welfare of others above their own self interest, who give generously, speak only truth, serve a cause greater than themselves, will find that others are far more likely to want to give back to them and live at peace with them. It is this missing dimension of spiritual education that the WhiteStones Academy is formed to address and supply to the students who enroll.
The Curriculum of
The WhiteStones Academy
a) The 12 Trusts
b) Scout Craft
c) Work
d) Altruistic Endeavors
a) The 12 Trusts of Chivalry are the core curriculum of the Academy. Summarized they are:
1. I will develop my life for the greater good. Studies regarding self improvement.
2. I will place character above riches, and concern for
others above personal wealth. Here is defined the perfect Character, Attitude, Personality, Spirit.
3. I will never boast, but cherish humility instead. Getting real about “self.”
4. I will speak the truth at all times, and forever keep my
word. There are words and there is The Word.
5. I will defend those who cannot defend themselves. Not by might, nor by power, but by “Perfect Spirit.”
6. I will honor and cherish the opposite sex, and avoid sexism in all its guises. Understanding the difference in CAPS of the sexes: Assertive and responsive.
7. I will uphold justice by being fair to all. The knowledge of good and evil imposes the responsibility to shun the evil and cling to the good.
8. I will be faithful in matrimony and loyal in friendship. Love toward others and fulfilling vows.
9. I will abhor scandals and gossip --- neither partake nor
delight in them. Rumors run riot but chains and cycles can be broken.
10. I will be generous to the poor and those who need help. This is True religion.
11. I will forgive when asked, that my own mistakes will
be forgiven. Removing condemnation from our thought patterns.
12. I will live my life with courtesy and honor from this day
forward. Commitment to “The Way.”
Each of these topics is a lengthy topic of discussion and study and an aspect of Chivalric behavior and conduct leading to self discovery and spiritual growth that any man or woman needs to understand in order to arrive at authentic manhood and authentic womanhood.
b) Scout Craft is part of the curriculum because knowing you know how to make a fire with friction or flint and steel gives one the sense of ability to survive no matter what. Also CPR and First Aid will be offered. Self esteem is underpinned by knowing you know how to survive in the wild. Use of the outdoors to teach scout craft also provides another “classroom” where the acolyte can bond with mentors around the camp fire … the precursor to the round table.
c) Work is provided by the academy to teach good work ethics. It also provides a way for the student to earn a little money and pay tuition, housing, and food. Lids by LeRoy provides the students an education in how a small manufacturing concern can be started without significant initial capital investment and is an object lesson in how the work of the hands can produce a flow of capital.
d) Altruistic endeavors are a way for the academy to further benefit the community and the individuals within it who are in need. They also give to the student the opportunity to experience the results of doing benevolent deeds. The regular performance of altruistic endeavors, by the way, is recommended as therapy for treating post traumatic stress.
Graduate Opportunities
in the
WhiteStones Foundation
The WhiteStones Foundation is a large organization with numerous enterprises. The Academy is one of these enterprises. Lids by LeRoy, a hat manufacturing company operated by the students of the Academy, is another. Other concerns include: SolarTrans, a fabrication operation geared to producing solar powered transportation for the average man; Gemstones is a Business Services Company with a focus on clients who are business owners and small investors. Gemstones provides office and meeting spaces, phone answering services, Event catering, and much more. WhiteStones Catering Company provides Food Service to all of WhiteStones operations as well as public contracts. I look forward to adding WhiteStones Construction to this list.
Persons who graduate from the Academy will be offered the opportunity to continue with The WhiteStones Foundation as a working partner in a position within the company.
WhiteStones is a 501(c)3 nonprofit altruistic organization.
Friday, June 24, 2011
June 24, 2011 Update
I've been riding my electrified tricycle for awhile now and I've worked out some bugs with some bugs to go. I bought a trailer and I bought a set of solar panels. I built a platform for the trailer to mount the solar panels on and now I have to replace the rear wheels of the tricycle to upgrade them to beefier spokes and no-flat solid tires. In the trash dumpster by my place I found a "dash" to mount on the handlebars that came off of some other machine and modified it to suit me. Next I'll buy a LiFePO4 battery (36V, 10AH) from Ping Batteries of Hong Kong (Chinese product, yes. But the best battery on the market.)
Pictures later
Pictures later
Friday, March 18, 2011
My 3 wheeled Horse
At last I've reached a major milestone in my effort to outfit myself for my planned trek across America: The Cobalt Blue Schwinn Meridian Tricycle I ordered finally arrived last evening and I've just finished assembling it and taking a maiden voyage. Next is to build my trailer and get better batteries and solar panels.
In the mean time I can now get around and begin making contacts in preparation for the promotional activity for setting up neighborhood mentoring programs.
I have to say that this past year, with all of it's trials and tribulations I've had to face, there were times when it seemed that the universe was conspiring against me to prevent my progress, what with one family crisis after another taking my money. But patience and perseverance proved to be the qualities that finally allowed it to happen.
I am very happy to have reached this goal and it spurs me on in hope.
As I progress I will post reports.
In the mean time I can now get around and begin making contacts in preparation for the promotional activity for setting up neighborhood mentoring programs.
I have to say that this past year, with all of it's trials and tribulations I've had to face, there were times when it seemed that the universe was conspiring against me to prevent my progress, what with one family crisis after another taking my money. But patience and perseverance proved to be the qualities that finally allowed it to happen.
I am very happy to have reached this goal and it spurs me on in hope.
As I progress I will post reports.
Friday, March 4, 2011
Milestone 2
Yesterday I ordered a cobalt blue Schwinn Meridian Tricycle and it should arrive in just a few days. Yahoo!
Monday, February 28, 2011
Sunday, February 27, 2011
A Tragic Comedy
A comedian on Comedy.TV said:
To those who feel,
Life is a tragedy.
To those who think,
Life is a comedy.
I laughed along with the audience. But it also got me to thinking.
Feelings. Logic.
All are capable of both. But not all have both in balance.
When out of balance, problems arise.
My advice:
Whether you are ruled by your feelings or are ruled by your logic, you must find the less used side and strive for equilibrium. If you are one who always acts on your feelings about things whether others agree or not, then stop. Learn to set aside your feelings for a moment in order to be able to also think with a clear head. If you are one who always thinks logically and acts accordingly and consider feelings illogical: Think again and ignore your reasons for a moment in order to reach for the honest feelings logic often ignores. Balance is achieved when both aspects of our psyche are in agreement.
One who is logical and passionate is a most powerful dynamo.
***
To those who feel,
Life is a tragedy.
To those who think,
Life is a comedy.
I laughed along with the audience. But it also got me to thinking.
Feelings. Logic.
All are capable of both. But not all have both in balance.
When out of balance, problems arise.
My advice:
Whether you are ruled by your feelings or are ruled by your logic, you must find the less used side and strive for equilibrium. If you are one who always acts on your feelings about things whether others agree or not, then stop. Learn to set aside your feelings for a moment in order to be able to also think with a clear head. If you are one who always thinks logically and acts accordingly and consider feelings illogical: Think again and ignore your reasons for a moment in order to reach for the honest feelings logic often ignores. Balance is achieved when both aspects of our psyche are in agreement.
One who is logical and passionate is a most powerful dynamo.
***
Saturday, February 26, 2011
IRKED
It really bothers me to witness these teachers protesting. These are not the impoverished masses crying out for food to ward off starvation. These are the people we allow to teach our children. And I, for one, do not like what they are teaching with their unruly demonstrations and the many deliberate attacks on moral principles born of their own lusts.
I really don't care what anybody else thinks: Homosexuality is lust and all about physical pleasures. Such persons are deficient in moral judgement and should not be anywhere near our children. Yet, here they are, teaching in our schools.. (Exception exception! I hear the cry, but protests to the contrary notwithstanding.) Our schools are teaching our kids that there are no moral absolutes. This undermines any attempt to establish moral principles in our children's lives. I hate that. If you tell your children to not lust, it may not make a difference since the schools will contradict you by tell them that lust is natural and perfectly OK.
Want to know the difference between the Tea Party demonstrations and the demonstrations taking place now by the public employees? Just wait until the people leave the streets and go home then go look at the streets where they demonstrated. One group cleaned up their trash and left the area clean. The other group tossed their trash down and left it for others to clean up. Which group was which? You know you know the answer. Be honest.
I really don't care what anybody else thinks: Homosexuality is lust and all about physical pleasures. Such persons are deficient in moral judgement and should not be anywhere near our children. Yet, here they are, teaching in our schools.. (Exception exception! I hear the cry, but protests to the contrary notwithstanding.) Our schools are teaching our kids that there are no moral absolutes. This undermines any attempt to establish moral principles in our children's lives. I hate that. If you tell your children to not lust, it may not make a difference since the schools will contradict you by tell them that lust is natural and perfectly OK.
Want to know the difference between the Tea Party demonstrations and the demonstrations taking place now by the public employees? Just wait until the people leave the streets and go home then go look at the streets where they demonstrated. One group cleaned up their trash and left the area clean. The other group tossed their trash down and left it for others to clean up. Which group was which? You know you know the answer. Be honest.
Thursday, February 24, 2011
The Day the World's Jaw Dropped in Awe.
Ginormous World Quake. Epicenter Tunisia. Egypt celebrates in Hope. Libya slaughters 2,000 plus. Despots shaking in fear with some fighting back and some reforming quickly. Iran not immune. Israel scared. US hosts its own demonstrating revolutionaries. What new beast will arise from the sands of the middle east? Haven't I read something about this is some ancient prophecy? Oh, yeah. Daniel. Something about a king of the south?
Sunday, February 6, 2011
As Egypt Boils
Cairo simmers and the world watches to see if a new democracy will emerge in the Arab World.
I found this in the Jerusalem Post:
* * * * * * * QUOTE * * * * * * *
ISRAEL’S INDIFFERENCE to democratization of the Arab world has been a cause of consternation for some of its traditional supporters in conservative circles in the US and Europe. Israelis are accused of provincialism. As citizens of the only democracy in the Middle East, we are admonished for not supporting democracy among our neighbors.
The fact is that Israeli indifference to democratic currents in Arab societies is not due to provincialism.
Israelis are indifferent because we realize that whether under authoritarian rule or democracy, anti-Semitism is the unifying sentiment of the Arab world. Fractured along socioeconomic, tribal, religious, political, ethnic and other lines, the glue that binds Arab societies is hatred of Jews.
* * * *
Given the Western media’s obsessive coverage of the Arab-Israel conflict, at first blush it seems odd that they would ignore the prevalence of anti-Semitism among the presumably prodemocracy protesters. But on second thought, it isn’t that surprising.
If the media reported on the overwhelming Jew hatred in the Arab world generally and in Egypt specifically, it would ruin the narrative of the Arab conflict with Israel. That narrative explains the roots of the conflict as frustrated Arab-Palestinian nationalism. It steadfastly denies any more deeply seated antipathy of Jews that is projected onto the Jewish state. The fact that the one Jewish state stands alone against 23 Arab states and 57 Muslim states whose populations are united in their hatred of Jews necessarily requires a revision of the narrative. And so their hatred is ignored.
But Israelis don’t need CNN to tell us how our neighbors feel about us. We know already. And because we know, while we wish them the best of luck with their democracy movements, and would welcome the advent of a tolerant society in Egypt, we recognize that that tolerance will end when it comes to the Jews. And so whether they are democrats or autocrats, we fully expect they will continue to hate us.
* * * * * * * END QUOTE * * * * * * *
Never been a time like this.
Perhaps the technology of today has a magnifying effect on our perception of world news and events.
Or perhaps we're witnessing the events predicted to occur at the cusp of the Seventh Millennium.
In either case: Get ready. The times are changing and difficulties lie ahead. Think about basic survival and lay in store now. Make your contingency plans. Clear your head and think soberly.
I found this in the Jerusalem Post:
* * * * * * * QUOTE * * * * * * *
ISRAEL’S INDIFFERENCE to democratization of the Arab world has been a cause of consternation for some of its traditional supporters in conservative circles in the US and Europe. Israelis are accused of provincialism. As citizens of the only democracy in the Middle East, we are admonished for not supporting democracy among our neighbors.
The fact is that Israeli indifference to democratic currents in Arab societies is not due to provincialism.
Israelis are indifferent because we realize that whether under authoritarian rule or democracy, anti-Semitism is the unifying sentiment of the Arab world. Fractured along socioeconomic, tribal, religious, political, ethnic and other lines, the glue that binds Arab societies is hatred of Jews.
* * * *
Given the Western media’s obsessive coverage of the Arab-Israel conflict, at first blush it seems odd that they would ignore the prevalence of anti-Semitism among the presumably prodemocracy protesters. But on second thought, it isn’t that surprising.
If the media reported on the overwhelming Jew hatred in the Arab world generally and in Egypt specifically, it would ruin the narrative of the Arab conflict with Israel. That narrative explains the roots of the conflict as frustrated Arab-Palestinian nationalism. It steadfastly denies any more deeply seated antipathy of Jews that is projected onto the Jewish state. The fact that the one Jewish state stands alone against 23 Arab states and 57 Muslim states whose populations are united in their hatred of Jews necessarily requires a revision of the narrative. And so their hatred is ignored.
But Israelis don’t need CNN to tell us how our neighbors feel about us. We know already. And because we know, while we wish them the best of luck with their democracy movements, and would welcome the advent of a tolerant society in Egypt, we recognize that that tolerance will end when it comes to the Jews. And so whether they are democrats or autocrats, we fully expect they will continue to hate us.
* * * * * * * END QUOTE * * * * * * *
Never been a time like this.
Perhaps the technology of today has a magnifying effect on our perception of world news and events.
Or perhaps we're witnessing the events predicted to occur at the cusp of the Seventh Millennium.
In either case: Get ready. The times are changing and difficulties lie ahead. Think about basic survival and lay in store now. Make your contingency plans. Clear your head and think soberly.
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