To summarize, while he was in medical school, he would go to the animal shelters, adopt cats, treat them as pets in his home for a while, then take them into the lab to perform fatal experiments on them. He justifies his acts by saying that they were in the name of medicine and science. He glosses over it by referring to all of this as something he did in the past, as though the decisions we make in the past don't form who we are now. Even worse, according to this article, Frist recently said something "about the power he felt when holding the last beats of a dog's heart in his hand."

The article says that, "To his credit, the future senator wrote that it was a "heinous and dishonest thing to do."" However, what he is referring to is the adopting of the cats as pets (animal shelters won't knowingly allow someone to "adopt" an animal if it is for "scientific research"), NOT to what he did to the cats in the laboratory.

When I look at my cats—their trust, their intelligence, their patience, their love—I can't imagine how any human being could take such a creature and deliberately subject them to pain, suffering, and death. And isn't this one of the warning signs of a psychopathic personality, that he tortures small animals for pleasure? Hiding behind science doesn't work when he has already made RECENT statements such as that about the power he felt when holding a dog's dying heart in his hands.

The simplest answer is, just try it, and see if anything comes to you. I believe that channeling is actually just another form of communication, a form that we all must learn eventually. You might as well start practicing now.

But before you start, ask for spiritual contacts and guidance. When you do so, specify that you only want contact with the very highest, most worthy and loving spirits possible (because there are evil spirits out there, and I am sure you don’t want contact with them!). If there is a human being you trust that you can ask for advice and guidance, then that is also wise to do, though, as always, I caution you to be your own authority, and to listen to what is in your heart. No matter who someone is, if what he or she says doesn't feel right or sound right to you, then trust your own instincts and intuition and do what you feel is right instead.

Then, to try your hand at channeling, it is probably easiest to start by asking for guidance on or answers to some specific questions or issues you have. Set aside some time when you are rested and won’t be disturbed. Make yourself comfortable and relaxed (though, contrary to popular fiction, a darkened room and incense are not required), have some paper and a pencil handy (or some kind of sound recording equipment), and ask your first question. I don’t recommend using a computer to record your questions and answers because, in my own experience, the process of typing interferes to a small extent with the ability to listen to the information coming through.

After you ask your question, listen internally for any kind of answer or response. It might come as words, images, tastes, sounds, or just a “knowing” or sudden presence of information that wasn’t there before. Whatever the answer, spend a bit of time with the answer, exploring it, thinking about it, and perhaps asking further questions of it, to see if more information comes through, then record the answer either by taking notes on paper or recording it by voice. If you are very brave and feel lead to do so, you can speak your question aloud, then speak the answer as or right after you receive it.

It is actually a good sign if the information feels like it is coming from a source that is not you. It is also a very good sign if the information source feels warm, loving, and vast.

Don’t spend too much time on one question, though. Keep asking. Stop when you are tired. Try it again when you are rested.

Initially, you may not get any answers, or they may be short or unclear. Don’t worry about it. In this case, practice is a very good thing. Just keep practicing. You will get better at it.

The simplest answer is that you know it when it is true—when real information comes through, it has a feeling of truth to it. But it isn’t that simple. In order to be able to know it, there are a number of personal qualities that need to be in place.

1. You have to have a habit of truthfulness in all areas of your life—no lying to yourself or others, for example. This is because you have to be able to discern the truth when it comes through, and to whatever degree you are dishonest (especially to yourself), to that degree you will not be able to tell the difference between true information coming through and the illusions or wishful thinking or ego-based other ideas you are introducing. Something to watch for is anything that is self-agrandizing, especially if it is coupled with putting someone else down. (Such as, "My entity says he is better than anyone else's," or "My entity says that I am the best channeler in the world.")
2. You also have to have an open mind while yet retaining a high level of objectivity. An open mind, so that information coming through that seems weird or unusual or even impossible isn’t automatically censored by you. A high level of objectivity, so that you can ask yourself whether what seems to be coming through is instead a misunderstanding or even something you are making up or read somewhere else that isn’t, in fact, coming from a valid spiritual source. Coupled with that, the habit of honesty mentioned in step one will allow you to discard whatever doesn’t seem true or right or real.
3. You have to be fairly humble and willing to acknowledge that you can make mistakes in receiving the information, and that you sometimes even just do not receive any information at all. I sometimes don’t get information, and I tell my clients when I don’t. Otherwise, it would be a disservice to all if I were to pretend that I “got” something when I didn’t. It would be a disservice to my clients because I would be lying, and that is wrong. It would also be a disservice because it promotes the impression that psychics always get information. And it would be a disservice to me because it is my belief that every time someone misuses or abuses their talents, especially if through dishonesty, they are further cutting themselves off from the real source of information, and are instead substituting fantasy. Eventually, there is no connection at all, and instead they are making it all up.
4. For the clearest information, it is important to have a flexible mind as well, with the ability to see, appreciate, and value many different viewpoints at once. If you think there is only one right way to do things, then this is going to be a difficult step for you.
5. It also helps a lot to have a basically loving and optimistic outlook on life, as that will help attract the higher spirits.

If you feel you have these traits, then you are mostly there!

Next, it is important to ask for spiritual contacts and guidance, and to specify when you ask that you only want contact with the very highest, most worthy and loving spirits possible (because there are evil spirits out there, and I am sure you don’t want contact with them!). If there is a human being you trust that you can ask for advice and guidance, then that is also wise to do, though, as always, I caution you to be your own authority, and to listen to what is in your heart. No matter who someone is, if what he or she says doesn't feel right or sound right to you, then trust your own instincts and intuition and do what you feel is right instead.

I know this is a really short piece, but it encapsulates a lot of thinking I’ve done on this topic.

For those of you who shy away from poetry, or find it hard to follow: The first stanza is being said to Terence, the poet, by his friends, complaining that they think his poetry is stupid and useless and depressing.

"Come," they say, "make poems that are lively."

The rest of the poem is Terence's reply, explaining why he thinks poetry—his style of poetry, at any rate—is worth the writing and the hearing.

"If you want lively stuff, drink," he says. "While you are drunk, all will be well with the world. But it won't last, and when you are sober again, the world will be as it always has been. If you want to understand the world better, turn to poetry. It might even enable you to survive longer." Thus, the gist of his message, which ends on a thoughtful note. But a plain summary like this cannot convey the humor of this poem. Read! Laugh! Enjoy!

(Also note that "victuals," which means food, is pronounced "vittles," rhyming with skittles.)

Apparently, however, Philips thought it was a good idea, and ran with it.

I am so glad that I disconnnected myself from the time sink that is television ten years ago. I've never regretted it, and I strongly encourage others to experiment with removing it from their lives.

For those of you who are wondering, yes, I do now own a television set, but it isn't receive any kind of cable or broadcasts; it is strictly for watching DVDs. But whether you watch television or not isn't the point. The point is that, if you do choose to watch it, you are entitled to watch what you want, and to skip or avoid that which you do not want. When companies begin to think that they own you—that you must either be forced to watch commercials or pay to be able to skip them when fast-forwarding on a recording you have made—then something is seriously out of balance here. In fact, if you are like most Americans and have cable service, you have already paid to watch anything you receive on your television. So, since you have already paid, why should you pay again for the privilege of not watching something?

(I will abbreviate my bootless rant on how cable television was promoted, back when it was first gaining strength, as a way to watch television that was free of commercials. Petitions were circulating asking the good, kind voters to permit cable television to come into the Santa Clara area back in the late 1960s/early 1970s, and that was the claim, right there in black and white: Cable television will not have commericals. Period. Hah, I say.)

If you want to do something about this, visit the Electronic Frontier Foundation's Web site, join them, donate to them, write to your legislators, or do all three. Don't just sit there and complain later when you find yourself paying twice for advertising you never wanted to see once.

While on the subject of personal freedoms, take a look at this guy's Web log. I like how he thinks.

All the teas are attractively packaged in sturdy, re-usable tea tins. I've tried almost all of them now and they are all delicious. On behalf of micro-entrepeneurs and woman business owners everywhere, thank you!

Sure, some people abuse their rights and privileges, but as soon as you make something illegal because some people abuse their rights, you are on the way to a police state in which no one has rights and no one is free.

I took the photos at the Los Angeles Radio Reading Service's broadcast site. The Los Angeles Radio Reading Service (LARRS) is a non-profit service for those who are blind or print-impaired in Los Angeles County. Every year, LARRS provides a professional audio description and commentary of the Tournament of Roses Rose Parade. This year, despite extremely adverse weather conditions, they did their usual top-notch job, whose professionalism rivals any other broadcast. You can't tell from their broadcast that they are working on a shoestring budget under a tiny canopy that barely protects the broadcasters and their equipment from the weather.

I have known the LARRS project director, Jolie Mason, since our days in college together (too many years ago to mention). She is determined and resourceful, and is doing everything she can to make LARRS a success. One of her current projects is to create a top-notch, professional sound recording studio, which LARRS can use for their own needs and also rent out to help pay their costs. In other words, instead of having to rely solely on donations, with the completion of this studio, LARRS can start to become self-sustaining. If you can help in any way; in particular, if you can donate any money to help complete the studio, please contact them. If you speak with Jolie, and you have a high chance of doing so, say that Marina sent you. :-)

I once met a woman, a tarot reader, with whom I spent some time getting acquainted. I liked her a lot and I hoped she would be a new friend. Then one day we were talking about friendship and what it meant to us, and I said that I wanted friends who were honest, reasonably self-aware, able to admit to their mistakes, and who had a good sense of humor. She turned to me and said--and I will never forget this, because it astounded me so much--"You ask a lot of your friends." I didn't know what to say.

Needless to say, I stopped seeking her out after that. In saying to me that I was "asking a lot," she was saying that she felt that honesty, self-awareness, the ability to admit mistakes, and a sense of humor were all beyond anything one could reasonably ask of, well, at least of her. Fine, fine. We all have the right to set our own standards for our relationships. But with that attitude, she surely wasn't going to be someone I would want around. I mean--what? I should accept someone, trust someone, who is already self-declared as dishonest, self-obtuse, unable to apologize, and has no sense of humor? No thanks.

While I firmly support each state's right to govern itself however it likes in the social and political arenas, wolf management goes beyond society or politics and into the arena of survival of all species on earth. Giving management of wolves to the state of Idaho is like giving management of Jewish populations to the Nazis. Just as the Nazis before them, the state of Idaho has vowed to destroy what they perceive as a nuisance. In neither case does the group involved have any such right to do so. It would be naive of me to say that the Nazi problem has been solved, but at least good people are aware of the problem and are opposed to neo-Nazis. However, the state of Idaho not only remains recalcitrant about protecting wolves, but has now been given carte blanche to do as it pleases in regard to the wolves. The fox now guards the henhouse indeed.

If you think this action of Gale Norton's was ill-considered, you can at least send a letter of censure to Norton at this Web site.

I finally decided that I want to burn some of my old vinyl albums to CDs so I can listen to them again. This meant finding a turntable that would play all three speeds and produce quality sound output.

After much research, I decided on the Audio-Technica AT-PL120 Professional Direct-Drive Turntable. Reviewers were unanimously happy with it, with the only drawback being that it is a manual turntable, which means you have to manually place and lift the arm. Not a problem as far as I am concerned. In exchange for that one inconvenience, you get a very high quality turntable with many features at a very reasonable price. The link I've provided has the best price I was able to find on this turntable. Buy! Enjoy!

What kinds of hidden agendas can people have? They might want to

• Make themselves feel better about themselves by putting other people down.
• Achieve a position of power or prestige at the expense of others.
• Control other people.
• Make other people feel bad about themselves.

How can you recognize a hidden agenda? Pay attention to what a person says or does, and see how you feel in response to it. If someone says something that may seem like some kind of compliment, but feels like a put-down, then it could be an action arising out of a hidden agenda. If you confront that person about it (lovingly, of course), and they deny it or try to explain it away, give them the benefit of the doubt, but keep an eye on them. If the same kind of behavior continues, and you confront them again on it and they still deny it or explain it away, but continue acting the same, then the likelihood is high that it is a hidden agenda. (Sometimes a person's agendas are hidden even from themselves, because they are in denial about it.)

At that point, you need to decide what you want to do about/with that person. Do you want to keep associating with them? If it is a friend, you can drop the friendship—after all, what kind of friend continually tries to undermine you, control you, or make you feel bad about yourself?

If it is a family member or co-worker or, worse yet, a boss, it can be a little trickier—it is harder to just drop such people, but you are free to do everything you can to minimize contact with that person, and to also develop some defense strategies of your own.

If you are the book-reading sort, there are some excellent books you can read that can help raise your awareness about other people's hidden agendas and how to deal with them. Here is just a sampling (with links to Amazon.com, though you can also try your local library):

• Do I Have to Give Up Me to be Loved By You?, by Jordan and Margaret Paul
• Emotional Blackmail: When the People in Your Life Use Fear, Obligation, and Guilt to Manipulate You, by Susan Forward with Donna Frazier
• The Gentle Art of Verbal Self-Defense, by Suzette Haden Elgin (currently out of print, but you may be able to find a used copy at that link; if not, try your local library or abebooks.com)
• The Gentle Art of Verbal Self-Defense at Work, by Suzette Haden Elgin
• The Emotionally Abused Woman : Overcoming Destructive Patterns and Reclaiming Yourself, by Beverly Engel (men may find this book useful, too)

One thing to be aware of is that it takes time to learn to recognize hidden agendas, and even more time to learn the skills required to deal effectively with these agendas. A recent study has shown that being compassionate with yourself is actually more important when dealing with difficult situations than having good self-esteem. So be kind and gentle with yourself while you are learning, and know that there is always more to learn.

Just so, there are those who believe that having an attitude of thankfulness or gratitude can powerfully affect our lives as well, even creating miracles in our lives.

So what am I getting at? My brother Peter just sent me a Web site that is running an experiment in having people choose to feel and express gratitude. I’ve just signed up for it, so I know nothing more about it beyond what is on the Web site, but I think that it can’t hurt and it may even do some good. I encourage you to check it out.

For those of you who may wish to explore this idea of gratitude in another way, I highly recommend getting the 15-Minute Miracle Workbook. I’ve only done maybe 14 entries, and I’ve already had a number of good results (the author would call them miracles). The workbook is charmingly homemade looking, but powerfully effective nonetheless.