CasaZaza Blogspot

Maher Arar and the 9/11 Myth by Peter Zaza

Get me to Syria, I need a quick 10 Mil

I went to the University of Victoria last night to see a panel discussion called, "Civil Liberties and National Security: The Maher Arar Panel"

This panel was comprised of Maher Arar, his wife Dr.Monia Mazigh - who has a PhD in financial economics and ran for the NDP in the 2004 federal elections in the riding of Ottawa South, and thirdly, Stephen Toope who is the Arar Commission fact-finder, human rights law scholar and UBC President. The panel discussion was moderated by UVic Law Dean Andrew Petter - just in case the assembled guests were to break out into a rousing contest involving Indian leg wrestling, or possible declaration of a thumb-war. In case you haven't heard about the Maher Arar case - here goes:

Maher Arar is a telecommunications engineer who was born in Syria and emigrated to Canada when he was 17. Holding dual citizenship in Canada and Syria, he was returning home to Canada from a family vacation in Tunis in September 2002 when he was detained during a layover at JFK airport. The US government suspected him of being a member of Al Qaeda and then deported him to Syria where he was held for almost a year, during which time he endured deplorable conditions, as well as routine torture.

The Canadian government held an inquiry into Arar's case and concluded that he was innocent of all charges, whereupon they publicly apologized and delivered a compensation package to him in the amount of 10.5 million dollars. The US government, however, has refused to clear Arar's name and continues to keep him and his family on their watch list. Currently there is a case pending - Arar v. Ashcroft, which is being pursued by his U.S. attorneys at the Center for Constitutional Rights seeking compensatory damages on his behalf, declaring the actions of the U.S. government illegal and in violation of Arar's constitutional and international human rights.

The fluffy feel good story for all the rubes out there (what they want you to believe)

The war on terror is real, and after the horrible events of 9/11 perpetrated by the evil Al Qaeda Muslim type radical Jihadists, we find the American authorities acting on inaccurate information from the RCMP. Everybody was naturally a bit jumpy because of the terrorist attacks, and so authorities acted overzealously and mistakes were made. Truth and justice prevailed in the end however, and we have apologized for our errors while making restitution to this unfortunate individual who suffered unduly, and we can all learn important lessons for the future so this type of incident never happens again, Yada Canada, yada freedom and democracy, yada yada yada...

Something more like the truth (don't read this if you go Baa)

The war on terror is a complete hoax, the attacks on 9/11 were in fact a false flag operation carried out or assisted by the US government, which is demonstrably complicit in this event and its cover-up. Used as a pretext for the genocide in Iraq and Afghanistan, this tragedy is also a turning point and a catalyst for the bigger plan to implement a North American Union in 2010, while advancing the agenda for one-world government replete with the destruction of nationalities and cultural identities. 9/11 was necessary to justify the abrogation of human rights and personal liberties in order to usher in the current world-wide security grid, necessary to implement the above plans.

Canada is a willing partner in this scheme, being complicit in the stand-down of NORAD which allowed the planes to hit their targets on 9/11, by its military support for the US regime, and also by enforcing unconstitutional and illegal measures like the no-fly list and other legislation like Bill C-36, The Anti-Terrorism Act. Canada is actively engaging in treasonous activities by negotiating secret deals like the SPP to further the North American Union agenda, as well as signing agreements like the one enacted on Feb. 14th 2008 in Texas that paves the way for the armed forces from either the USA or Canada to send troops across each other's borders during a civil emergency - a good definition for the word TREASON.

The truth is "hate speech" only to those who have something to hide. -- Michael Rivero

The entire National Security doctrine is predicated on the existence of Al Qaeda. The history of this organization is inexorably tied to the CIA since the Soviet-Afghan war. The US intelligence community created Al Qaeda, nurtured it, and is now utilizing it as a central proposition for their "war on terror". Even among most of the dissenters of the current administration, the tendency to blame our protectors for security failures which allows terrorism to thrive is in itself a ruse - if you demonize the government for ineptitude you still buy into their myth and central premise regarding Al Qaeda. Once you apprehend the basic fraudulence of the US government's claims about this mythical organization and their omnipresent threat to the world - the entire "war of terror" unravels and we can clearly see it as a system of lies, hatred and fear promulgated to benefit a small, malevolent group of psychopaths.

This is precisely the issue I have with Maher Arar and the panel discussion I witnessed last night at the university. The problem being that the official myth is bolstered by the omission of facts, not by the assertion of what is already known. You can't look at the Arar case without talking about 9/11, and if you start from the proposition whereby you care so much about one man and his right to justice - we must by extension give at least that much concern for thousands and subsequently millions of innocent lives that have suffered as a direct result of this tragedy.

It's one thing for the UBC President Stephen Toope to explain to us about his excitement and fascination while fact-finding in a human rights case such as Arar's, or the pursuit of minutia relating to concurrent elements of detainees and their stories which could corroborate one's guilt or innocence. It's fascinating stuff indeed Professor, but my thoughts kept drifting to the mountain of irrefutable evidence involving controlled demolition of the towers on 9/11, or the suppression and destruction of evidence in that case. Yes Mr. Toope, it's amazing how you noticed the subtle nuance of detail regarding aspects of Maher Arar's incarceration - the stairs in the prison, the bucket of filthy water noted by different inmates, etc. If you truly possess the academic curiosity and work ethic that espouses such professional assiduousness when it comes to details, and especially pertaining to events involving suppression of human rights, you will no doubt want to look into some of the more subtle clues in our possession regarding 9/11 - like the many bombs going off all over the WTC site. Maybe you might be so animated and enthralled to look into the fine little details pertaining to Building 7's collapse at free-fall speed, not being hit by a plane, into its footprint, evidence of thermite, molten metal, insurance fraud, news reports of collapse before it happened, counting down to the implosion - you know, subtle, wispy things like that. Maybe we could carefully go over a few hundred other anomalies and incongruities regarding this blatant false-flag operation. Are we at all curious about this major event responsible for unjust laws currently enacted in our own country, not to mention the wars?

"Canada is fighting the Taliban in Afghanistan in retribution for the 9/11 attacks that killed at least 3,000 people, including 25 Canadians" - Defence Minister Gordon O'Connor

"We are there [Afghanistan] because of the deaths of about 30 Canadians in the World Trade Centre" - Prime Minister Stephen Harper

I had read about Maher Arar and his story, but it was a different impression I received when listening to him directly. I do feel horrible about what happened to this innocent fellow who was just returning home from vacation, and I'm ashamed at my own country for taking part in this travesty of justice. I'd like to also mention that Dr. Monia Mazigh is rare among people I've had the honour of seeing in person - this individual demonstrates an uncompromising devotion to human rights, as well as speaking with a voice that evinces compassion and understanding.

What I found most intriguing about Maher Arar was his opening statement where he asserted first and foremost, "Terrorism is very real". Do you mean state sponsored terrorism is very real? Is it the media crafted idea of terrorism that is very real? - the one that vilifies Muslims in general, the one that got you put away and tortured for a year to advance a political agenda even though you were completely innocent?

ter·ror·ism – noun, the use of violence and threats to intimidate or coerce, esp. for political purposes.

I want to question this man who was imprisoned and tortured for a year, received compensation along with a public apology, but still manages to reinforce the lies put forth by his captors. Not because I doubt the sincerity of his words, but just because I need clarification on his terminology. Either he believes in the story of Al Qaeda being responsible for 9/11, or he is aware of the volume of evidence pointing to complicity of the US government. In either case - How can you try and give us the impression that the official myth concerning terrorism is genuine, when you yourself are living proof that they are using innocent victims to reinforce the lies for their war on terror? As you were incarcerated unjustly, what makes you think others might not be as well? Also, at least you are still alive - I wouldn't trade any amount of money for what you went through, but in another sense we have many more millions of people dead and suffering because of this treachery.

Under a government which imprisons any unjustly, the true place for a just man is also a prison. - Henry David Thoreau

Until we have a proper investigation exposing the real criminals behind 9/11 - we will be forced to sacrifice our sons and daughters in these wars of aggression, along with our freedoms, our rights as individuals, and any sense of dignity as human beings.

You can email Peter @ casazaza@shaw.ca

Other articles by Peter can be viewed at http://vic911truth.org/casazaza/

9/11 Blacklist: Using Our Dollars for Change

In the six years since the tragic events of September 11th, 2001, the mainstream media in America has largely been a mouthpiece of the Bush administration. All of the major networks including ABC, CBS, NBC, CNN, and others had until recently, been silently complicit in the cover-up of the events of that day, the un-Constitutional wars that would follow, and the steady erosion of our Constitutionally protected rights.

When the “9-11 Truth” community grew to the point that it could no longer be ignored, these same networks that had ignored the issue for so long began to attack individuals and groups of individuals who were seeking answers to the lingering questions which still remain about 9-11. As the success of various truth movements continues to broaden, these attacks have now escalated to include Peace activists, monetary reform activists, and now even supporters of Presidential candidate Ron Paul. Recent attacks have suggested that the 9-11 movement, Peace activists, and Ron Paul supporters are terrorists, and some in the media have implied that we should be silenced.

THEREFORE: We intend to compile a comprehensive Black List of the advertisers who support this anti-American programming and urge concerned parties to boycott these products and services until the product advertisements are pulled.

We take these attacks very seriously and regard them as a frontal assault on our freedom and liberty as Americans. The garbage coming from the talking heads makes a mockery of the First Amendment to the Constitution and MUST NOT go unopposed. We must take a stand against this kind of yellow journalism and we think we have a way to make these networks feel our presence. All network television and radio are driven by advertising dollars. We can get the networks attention by targeting their sponsors, and therefore, have an impact on their advertising revenues. The most effective way of doing this is to boycott the products and services of the advertisers which choose to advertise on these various networks. There is strength in numbers and we need to make ourselves heard by hitting them where it hurts, in the pocket-book. This site is dedicated to beginning that process. 911Blacklist.org

On the grand chessboard of the power elite in this world, we may only represent insignificant entities insofar as we are concerned as individuals. However, when considered as a group, we have the potential for considerable influence. Our strength in numbers only serves our cause to the detriment when we blindly live our lives as an economic engine for the ruling class - it is our ignorance that works against us. Our strength is the realization of millions of independent thinkers who can influence the cause of freedom by affecting change where we ourselves hold the most power - as in boycotts of key industries and products.

There is another philosophical aspect to this direction of thought - there is no point in fighting fear and violence with the same methods used by those set against you - in which case you risk becoming that which you oppose. When we are illuminated with the light of truth and understanding, we can then use that power to influence the course of events and effect change. How long could they last if a majority of the people started to boycott key industries and products the corporations are dependent upon for rising profits?

Too often people feel can feel helpless against the giant machine of corporatism. 911 Blacklist gives us the opportunity and the mechanism by which we can take back control. I urge everyone to get involved with this project - indeed, the only way it can work is if sufficient numbers of people realize the power we have collectively.

New World Disorder: Patterns Of Psychopathy And Other Fractal Anomalies By Peter Zaza
	“If you do not change direction, you may end up where you are heading.” - Lao Tzu

Patterns are all around us, in us, and part of every dynamic process that defines our behaviour and the world in which we live. They can be beautiful to look at, such as the microscopic view of a crystal, or they can be disturbing, like the image of prisoners lined up in orthogonal rows at a death camp. In this essay I'd like to talk about some patterns that exist both as the highest and lowest examples of man's creativity and ingenuity. On the one hand we can explore some fascinating iterations of our intellectual capacity through mathematical algorithms that bring forth intricately beautiful graphic images. As well, we can look at a darker side to human artfulness in our ability to arrange patterns of behaviour for power and greed. If we are to survive the current changes being wrought upon our world, we must first identify and understand those systems of control set to manipulate us, only then can we realize our own potential in charting a course that is truly and freely our own.

"Clouds are not spheres, mountains are not cones, coastlines are not circles, and bark is not smooth, nor does lightning travel in a straight line." - Benoit Mandelbrot, 1983

Frac·tal n. A geometric pattern that is repeated at various scales to produce irregular shapes and surfaces that cannot be represented by classical geometry. A fractal has a fragmented geometric shape that can be subdivided in parts, each of which is approximately a reduced-size, self-similar copy of the whole. Fractals are used to model irregular patterns and structures in nature.

Benoit Mandelbrot was a mathematician who coined the word "fractal" in the early 1980s. At its simplest definition, a fractal is any quantity or pattern that displays self-similarity and reveals greater complexity as it is enlarged. The graphical representation of a fractal illustrates the idea of "worlds within worlds" or "self iteration", concepts that are innate to most Western cultures. Fractals are generated from what is known as a "positive feedback loop". Data, or something else like physical matter, goes in one "end," undergoes a modification, and comes out the other. Fractals are produced when the output is repeatedly fed back into the system as input again and again. These models demonstrate to us how a simply defined instruction set can generate intricate and elaborate patterns. We see these types of formations in the natural world, and in the realm of human behaviour.

"The process of creation is the same in art and nature." - Wassily Kandinsky

Traditional geometric patterns appear simpler the more they are magnified, reducing in complexity to a straight line as you draw closer. Fractals, on the other hand, reveal greater complexity and detail when magnified, like the bifurcations of a lightning bolt or the variegated surface area on a piece of broccoli. The standard example used for explaining fractals is the Coastline Paradox. If we measure the length of a coastline with a mile-long ruler, we will get one number. If we use a yardstick, we will get a larger value, because a yardstick can more accurately map the convoluted boundary of such a natural shape. As the scale of measurement decreases, the considered length increases without limit. Therefore, as the instrument of measurement approaches zero in its length, the estimated length of the coastline approaches infinity. This irregularity of the object being measured is characteristic of fractal curves and surfaces. Any section of a self-similar fractal curve when magnified in scale, will appear identical to the entire curve in question. This repetition of pattern is found everywhere in nature and is revealed in the organic growth patterns of seashells, vegetation, and many other examples which illustrate the principle of self-similarity, especially genetics.

Primary Patterns

Primary Patterns Each child is born into our culture as a blank slate, and in that helpless state of dependency our egos are molded and shaped by society from the very beginning to believe that we are the centre of the universe. This pattern is set within the first few years of a person's life. Born out of a parent's love, then nurtured and manipulated through an education system, along with the mentally crippling effects of controlled indoctrination through television, we grow up believing we are the best. Once outside the family circle we will naturally come up against a multitude of others who are also trained to think the same thing. Indeed, they too have a very egocentric view of the world and believe themselves to be most important. There will be competition, fights, and a lifelong struggle to prove we are better than the rest. Everybody is trying to dominate, to outshine everyone else and prove that they alone are the focal point of all creation. Wealth and power are the signs of success, and in the adult world skewed by moral relativism, all means - lies, hypocrisy, deceit, pretension, anything it takes to be on top and be better off than the next guy - are employed to win the prize.

Psy·chop·a·thy –noun, plural ‑thies. A mental disorder in which an individual manifests amoral and antisocial behavior, extreme egocentricity, lack of ability to love or establish meaningful personal relationships, failure to learn from experience, etc.

Patterns of behaviour are instilled from an early age. Education has become another system of societal control. Much like health and law enforcement, it started out being a service but has turned into an authority. Eventually every level of government will be standardized according to mandated directives from the United Nations. My 6 year old daughter showed me her new ID card from the Elementary school. It has a bar-code, her picture, and some other information encrypted on it as well. Now, why would a 6 year old need an ID card at school? The truth is, they don't - but it is one tiny bit of social conditioning along with thousands of others designed to get the next generation accustomed to the idea of being identified and controlled - always under the guise of safety or some other perceived social benefit. In reality, it is to train people for how they will be required to live in this brave new world. You can't get into these areas or access these special privileges without this card, or without that biometric identifier, or this new brain-chip.

"All active tyrants and oppressors holding the reins of administration feel their existence endangered if men develop their faculty of thinking. There is a possibility of revolution in all successful quests after Truth. The so-called organized societies, religions, and kingdoms have their edifices founded on untruths. Hence? A collective effort is made the moment a baby is born to fetter him in bondage and make him dependent on beliefs. All types of educational systems so far have been doing only this. The avowed aim of education is to liberate man. But actually what is achieved is this. In the mind of the individual, restraints of subtle mental slavery are shrewdly infused. The system does not impart thinking but it inculcates beliefs. Since it does not encourage doubts and revolts, the products of such a system of education are usually incompetent to think independently." - osho

And the training continues throughout our entire life. You can't get the sale price without the store's special membership card. You can't be a good citizen and fight the drunk drivers without giving up your rights. You can't fight the drug war without suspending logic. You can't fight the terrorists without believing in lies. There is always a sacrifice where some piece of your individuality and personal integrity is given up to achieve a desired result, and it's always for the greater good. Or else. I used to think that as long as I didn't bother anybody I could just live my life happily and let all the politicians say and do whatever they wanted in order to satisfy their narcissistic power hungry egos. In that happy little arrangement of a life, I could close myself off from the rest of the world and not care what was going on outside my immediate sphere. Of course, I couldn't see that I was being manipulated into living an unconscious existence, cut off from the rest of the world, placated into a dull, senseless state where I didn't have an ounce of empathy for my own kind. Think about it; if you don't care what happens to somebody else, then this trait falls into the category of psychopathy. What makes you think that somebody else is going to care about your rights when the wave of oppression drifts up to your door?

Worlds Within Worlds

Perhaps you have seen an ornamental design known as the Chinese Puzzle Ball. These intricately carved spheres contain a number of smaller, freely moving orbs enclosing each other in concentric circles. This ornament contains great symbolism for different concepts like the eternal circle of life, four layers for the compass points or natural elements, yin and yang, etc. Imagine each of our own perceived realities as being a point on one of those spheres. We move independently, believing that we occupy a place on the outermost circle, just like we believe that everything in our life happens spontaneously and in real time. Each floating sphere is a different perception, a unique consciousness that believes itself to be the centre and on top, until it becomes aware of another layer. You ultimately come to the realization that this is just a contrived reality. Now you see the pattern. It's your own sphere, spinning inside a more complex layer which contains and defines the reality you thought was your own.

How does one come to a realization of this contrived reality? We see a consciously directed agenda unfolding everywhere, independent of which political party is in power. We see it written by the Think Tanks and the NGOs. We can study the United Nations and Agenda 21, the writings of the Council on Foreign Relations, the Bilderberg Group, the Club of Rome. We are aware of certain arrangements throughout our whole life which keep repeating, and many things just never seem to make sense. The points of incongruity are all around us at this very moment. We have mercenary armies paid for by the government with our own tax dollars. We have police acting as agents provocateurs trying to incite riot among peacefully assembled citizens. We have the inhumane practice of torture codified into law. We have a campaign of aerial spraying above our very heads for all to see, yet every government will deny existence of the program. We have case after documented case of government led experiments on domestic populations with horrifying and deadly results. We are funding law enforcement agencies who torture people to death with electricity just because they won't answer a question, or because they asked a question, or maybe they are confused and don't speak English and can't understand the question, or maybe because they just refuse to move their car. We are supporting the systematic genocide of our brothers and sisters "over there" in Iraq and Afghanistan. It doesn't matter how you equivocate in your own mind that it's okay; that they live like animals, they mistreat woman, they don't worship our god, they don't like soft-boiled eggs on Tuesday, whatever. It's not okay. It's just plain murder. These patterns we live day to day are supporting all manner of atrocities. The trick is that we are made to believe that the sphere we occupy is real and good. We get so absorbed looking at the marvelous intricacies and endless diversions of culture, art, and entertainment, that we don't see the layers on top that are just using us to make up more complex arrangements. Instead, we can remain blissfully unaware of if we want to, or merely choose not to think about it. Our lives are simple; go to work, pay your taxes, watch TV.

In Germany during the 1930s, a young man worked on an assembly line in a baby carriage factory. His wife was going to have a baby, and he conceived the idea of stealing a part from each factory division. So, every couple of days, he stole a part. When he had all the parts at home, he assembled them. What he wound up with was not a baby carriage, but a machine gun - which illustrates the fact that in the beginning Hitler built his war machine using subterfuge. By the time the world became aware of his plans, it was too late. Even more ribald is the fact that Hitler was funded in part by New York and London banking interests. Indeed, there was a sphere of reality on top of the one our grandparents believed in and gave their lives for. The same thing is happening today . Well meaning, patriotic people are killing and dying for a cause which is a total fabrication. The same thing has always happened. There's a book called, "War Is A Racket" by Major General Smedley Butler. He testified to Congress in the 1930s and blew the whistle on the current President's grandfather, Prescott Bush, who was plotting a fascist coup of the US Government. This attempted coup was being bankrolled by a German industrialist named Fritz Thyssen, who happened to be one of Hitler's main financiers. How's that for an example of a genetic self-similar repetition of pattern?

Once you gain awareness of the bigger pattern of which your life comprises a necessary part, you must say goodbye to the old paradigm that was your interpretation of the world. Since that moment when I apprehended the truth about 9/11, I've never been comfortable with the idea that mass-murderers are running the show. The situation is not acceptable to me anymore. People are being subjugated to unspeakable horrors so a few egregious excuses for humanity can obtain obscene wealth and uncontrolled power, and everybody is supposed to look the other way because it's just too uncomfortable to talk about. Look at just a few facts which we are supposed to be comfortable with: - We must make war in Iraq and Afghanistan so we can bring them peace. - We must strike Iran first with nuclear weapons of which we have thousands, because in a few years they might develop one. This despite the fact that the Director of National Intelligence publicly states, "We judge with high confidence that in fall 2003, Tehran halted its nuclear weapons program". - The troops were lined up to attack Afghanistan months before the US government staged 9/11 and blamed it on the "terrorists". - We must fight Al Qaeda, even though the CIA is inexorably tied to Al Qaeda. - The money wired to Mohamed Atta didn't come from Al Qaeda, so ultimately it's not important who funded the "terrorists". - The very fact that anybody speaks about "terrorists" on 9/11 when they have not produced one shred of evidence for the existence of these 19 men on that day. - The financial entity that placed the "put options" before 9/11 is not connected to Al Qaeda, so it is not relevant to talk about it, even if it turns out to be connected to the CIA, who created Al Qaeda. - On June 5, 2006 the FBI stated, “The reason why 9/11 is not mentioned on Osama bin Laden’s Most Wanted page is because the FBI has no hard evidence connecting bin Laden to 9/11.” As well as saying, “Bin Laden has not been formally charged in connection to 9/11.” - The missing 2.3 trillion dollars from the defense budget announced by Donald Rumsfeld the day before 9/11. - The obvious controlled demolition of the 3 World Trade Center towers hit by only 2 planes. - The Patriot Act & Military Commissions Act & Homegrown Terrorist Act & every other Act put forth by these traitors. - The Department of Homeland Criminals.

"This earth, this beautiful earth, we have turned into a great prison. A few power-lusty people have reduced the whole of humanity into a mob. Man is allowed to exist only if he compromises with all kinds of nonsense" - osho

Patterns of Politics

Our entire culture is one big pattern, carefully created and manipulated according to a plan. For this plan to work we must all be quantifiable, predictable, and generally hypnotized into complacency. Those who fall outside the established norms with be deemed by "experts" to be mentally imbalanced. We see it already with the ridiculous laws being set up to criminalize dissent. There is no way we are ever going to see truth and justice from these people regarding 9/11. There may be more than enough compelling evidence to bring them to trial, but that would presuppose there was a sphere of justice in control. There is not. It's like asking the serial-killing pedophile to look after the girls dorm for the weekend. And so the mantra of the psychologically diseased gets repeated ad nauseam. War on terror. Al Qaeda. Bin Laden. Radical Muslims. On and on. That's all they have. The impetus of their conspiracy theory dissipates on a daily basis as the numbers of awakened individuals is increasing exponentially.

"Advertise, go on repeating to the public, and don't be bothered whether they believe or not -- that's not the point. Hitler says there is only one difference between a truth and a lie: the truth is a lie that has been repeated very often. And man can believe any lies. Man's gullibility is infinite. Man can believe in hell, man can believe in heaven, man can believe in angels, man can believe in devils, man can believe in anything! You just go on repeating." - osho

“See, in my line of work you got to keep repeating things over and over and over again for the truth to sink in, to kind of catapult the propaganda." - George W. Bush

Ever notice how politicians can profess diametrically opposite viewpoints, yet still manage to convince themselves of the truth in their words. They are so genuinely concerned about your needs when they are running for office, but once elected they don't want to acknowledge your existence. It's human nature in this system. When I bring back the empty beer bottles to the liquor store "Returns" counter, the person takes a long time in the back before coming out to gruffly sneer at me without so much as a hello. Then he slaps down the change and brushes me off like I'm some kind of a bum. Now, in my mind, I can't help but think that just a few days ago it was "good day, Sir" and "thank you, Sir" when I was just a few feet away from this hell's corner starring "Shleppo the Wonderboy". There I was, standing in the line-up, apparently deserving of all the respectability in the world as I was waiting to shell out the bucks for some booze in this government-controlled liquor store. There should be just as much dignity to the process of returning the empties as there is in buying the full, shiny, new bottles. The point is, when people want your vote or your money, they are among your best friends, but when you want something from them, then it's "please fill out the form" or "press the pound key now".

How do we break free of these patterns? First we identify them, which means elevating our level of awareness and understanding, then we must have the courage to let them go.

Searching for Buddha

A monk set off on a long pilgrimage to find the Buddha. He devoted many years of his life to this search until he finally reached the land where the Buddha was said to live. While crossing the river to this country, the monk looked around as the boatman rowed. He noticed something floating towards them. As it drew closer, he realized that is was the corpse of a person. When it drifted so close that he could touch it, he suddenly recognized the dead body. It was his own! He lost control and shrieked at the sight of himself, dead and lifeless, floating along with the river's currents. Now he didn't need to get to the other shore, all that was him and his past floated away with the corpse. That moment was the beginning of his liberation. He started laughing because he had spent so much of his life searching for the Buddha without, and all the while Buddha was within. All he had to do was let go of that image he carried of himself. In another telling of this beautiful parable we have the monk arriving on the riverbank. Just as he is about to give up his search he sees a great teacher on the other side of the river. The monk yells over to the master, "Oh wise one, can you please tell me how to get to the other side of the river?" The teacher ponders for a few moments, looks up and down the river and yells back, "You are on the other side."

The patterns ingrained deep within us tell us there is only one way to be victorious in this world, and that is to fight our enemies and be better than everyone else. It has become an integral part of our survival mechanism. When you move inside your being, you naturally bring this same methodology, only here it will not work. Employing the old techniques of cunning, aggression and deceit will not help, for inside there is no one to trick but yourself. The greatest battles are fought internally. The worst hell is that which we impose on ourselves in our own mind through our misinterpretation of the world. Instead of inculcating our young psyches with relativistic notions of who is best, we might try cultivating a mindset that seeks true understanding through awareness. That sense of mindfulness involves becoming a witness to your own life. Every thought and action has a ripple effect, and is therefore significant. It requires seeing yourself as not being separate from and in contention with your fellow human beings, but an integral part of all things.

Heaven and Hell

A huge, rough Samurai once went to see a little monk, hoping to acquire the secrets of the universe. "Monk," he said, in a voice accustomed to instant obedience, "teach me about heaven and hell." The little monk looked up at the mighty warrior in silence. Then, after a moment, he said to the Samurai with utter disdain, "Teach YOU about heaven and hell? I couldn't teach you about anything. You're dirty. You smell. Your blade is rusty. You're a disgrace, an embarrassment to the Samurai class. Get out of my sight at once. I can't stand you!"

The Samurai was furious. He began to shake all over from the anger that raced through him. A red flush spread over his face; he was speechless with rage. Quickly, menacingly, he pulled out his sword and raised it above his head, preparing to slay the monk

"That's hell." said the little monk quietly.

The Samurai was overwhelmed. Stunned. The compassion and surrender of this little man who had offered his life to give this teaching about hell! He slowly lowered his sword, filled with gratitude, and for reasons he could not explain his heart became suddenly peaceful.

"And that's heaven," said the monk softly. - Zen Proverb

Being a witness to your own life can elevate you to the perspective where you don't have to fight against the world. There is no need to prove anything, nobody to defeat. There is a higher consciousness which can be obtained by truly living within this moment, in no longer being a slave to our desires. We realize that our physical body whithers with time, the ego fades, but rather than becoming some sad caricature of our former self, we can lift ourselves above what we once believed were the limits of our being. That realization requires bringing a mindfulness to each moment as if it is the only time we have left. It is. The past is gone. Tomorrow is never certain. But within that state of true conscious awareness, we have the eternal capacity to renew ourselves and throw off those patterns that are but chains upon our life. We don't need them. Rather than defining us in any life-affirming way, they only serve the designs of others and pose limitations on our true potential.

"Life repeats itself mindlessly - unless you become mindful, it will go on repeating like a wheel. Thats why Buddhists call it the wheel of life and death, the wheel of time. It moves like a wheel: birth is followed by death, death is followed by birth; love is followed by hate, hate is followed by love; success is followed by failure, failure is followed by success. Just see! If you can watch just for a few days, you will see a pattern emerging, a wheel pattern. One day, a fine morning, you are feeling so good and so happy, and another day you are so dull, so dead that you start thinking of committing suicide. And just the other day you were so full of life, so blissful that you were feeling thankful to God, that you were in a mood of deep gratefulness, and today there is great complaint and you don't see the point why one should go on living.... And it goes on and on, but you don't see the pattern. Once you see the pattern, you can get out of it." - osho

Turns Out My Dog Is A Terrorist Too By Peter Zaza

Just walking my dog along the streets downtown this morning - there was a guy who didn't put his car close enough to the curb, he's a parking terrorist. The hot-dog vendor didn't make correct change - financial terrorist. This guy over here was thinking about getting a few friends together and smoking some marijuana while watching a movie - narco-terrorists. Now, that guy over there just returned from a tour of duty in Iraq - he did his part to bring freedom to those people who were suffering under a brutal dictator. Too bad they can't enjoy the benefits of their new found democracy - being dead and all. Egad, I almost called him a terrorist too, better tell the cops to go bust those folks getting high, or else we might lose track of the real criminals around here.

Another strange thing about all the terrorists among us - most of us don't even know about our criminality until we get to the airport - then it's all right for the authorities to do whatever they want to us. Imagine that, thinking we can travel around freely as if we had rights. Oh well, back to our stroll downtown. Must think good thoughts, only good thoughts about our leader, gotta make sure I don't commit any thought crimes now I can be a criminal for just thinking about stuff. I remember the old days when you actually had to commit some act of aggression on somebody or their property in order to be guilty of a crime - it's so much easier now that people can be arrested for just thinking, and it saves time as well. Good thoughts, must think only good thoughts about our leader. The leader is good, our leader knows best. Oh, this is so hard - I started to think about what a brainless idiot our leader is - oops, better head down to the police station - maybe if they aren't too busy they can zap me with 50,000 volts of electricity - Zzzzt Tzzzt Zzzztt - ah, there, that's better - no more thoughts about idiots, politicians or the negligible lines of distinction therein.

Came home from work yesterday and found my dog taking a dump and getting sick all over last week's newspaper - the front page no less, which contained a picture of the Congress about to pass another one of the leader's great new laws - this one makes it illegal for anybody to wrap a towel around their head after getting out of the shower. Now the image of these Senators is completely smeared with dog poop and vomit - how can we tell the difference between the original photo and Rover's latest addition to their vestments of honour? Better take my dog down to the Homeland Buffoonery Animal Re-Education Center for Excellence - Second Floor, Department of Congress Canine Excrement Differentiation & Detection - you know, the HBARCEDCCEDD for short. Good thing they were recently awarded 8 billion dollars to expand their facility in this vital area. Turns out that if your pet is stricken with this type of affliction, the situation can be corrected by placing said animal in front of the TV while turning up the volume on CNN News. As long as the sound of your pet throwing up is sufficiently drowned out by the yelping, vomiting sounds of Glenn Beck nobody will know the difference - sorry to associate such a foul, disgusting image with all those innocent puking dogs out there.

Over to Fox News where there is a special edition of a new show called, "NeoCon Nightly" featuring Bill O'Reilly and Ann Coulter on the mouth organ - they're going to try some naked ballroom dancing to the tortured strains of Bill Maher's new comedy classic, "No Brains, No Balls, But I Get To Keep My Show". It's a cavalcade of stars I tells ya, a veritable "cunning array of stunts".

Good thoughts only, must think only good thoughts about the leader and our country - Ah Screw it - this is way too hard, forget the whole thing and drag me away to the FEMA camp, I give up. Perhaps I'm better off with the other 300 million terrorists in this god-forsaken country - besides, it's Wednesday and tonight at the camp we're going to pour lighter-fluid on top of the cast iron stove, grab a match and watch that sucker melt to the ground.

"Our society is run by insane people for insane objectives. I think we're being run by maniacs for maniacal ends and I think I'm liable to be put away as insane for expressing that. Thats whats insane about it" - John Lennon

Mental Blocks And 9/11: Analogize This By Peter Zaza
	One of the most interesting videos I've seen on YouTube is a news piece called "Building Stonehenge - This Man can Move Anything". http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lRRDzFROMx0

Here's the descriptive paragraph for the video - "Wally Wallington has demonstrated that he can lift a Stonehenge-sized pillar weighing 22,000 lbs and moved a barn over 300 ft. What makes this so special is that he does it using only himself, gravity, and his incredible ingenuity."

If you take six minutes to watch this video, you will see Wally demonstrate how he moves these gigantic blocks of stone without the aid of machinery. Using simple principles involving levers, gravity, buckets of sand, and his resourcefulness - he is able to manipulate these huge objects and replicate such monolithic structures as found at Stonehenge or in Egyptian style obelisks. In one segment he demonstrates his technique for moving a block of stone weighing over a ton by tilting it with wooden boards, and then placing a few pebbles underneath so he can rotate this massive object and thereby position it quite easily.

Aside from the simple genius of this man's method, I believe there is an important allegorical message inherent to this approach. When you can determine the point of incongruity in an argument, it is analogous to finding a tiny pebble - which, if placed correctly, will enable one man to move a mountain - or one idea to change the world. Knowing exactly where to place the pebble, or finding the point of balance where the weight of an argument will determine the direction of thought, we can affect change with only the slightest use of force in relation to the magnitude of the problem.

"Give me a lever long enough, and a place on which to rest it, and I will move the world" - Archimedes

Just as Wally has demonstrated so vividly in physical terms - as he could have brought in a huge piece of machinery to move such a block, or just a pebble placed at the right spot with just one man pushing a small load, thereby accomplishing the same task. The weight of the object or the severity of the problem is irrelevant - the most important elements being correct intellectual analysis and measurement, determining point of fulcrum and leverage, and application of minimal force to achieve the desired result.

History is replete with stories of people facing incredible odds, but succeeding in the end because of determination, belief in themselves and the righteousness of their cause - as well as the ability to place a small pebble of an idea correctly into the massive machinery of injustice. Today we are faced with audacious examples of the government's mendacity and outright disregard for human rights - so it is easy to find many spots to place our pebbles - here's one:

The entire National Security doctrine is predicated on the existence of Al Qaeda. The history of this organization is inexorably tied to the CIA since the Soviet-Afghan war - although we of course will never hear about any of these facts through the propaganda machine known as the mainstream media. The US intelligence community created Al Qaeda, nurtured it, and is now utilizing it as a central proposition for their "war on terror". Even among most of the dissenters of the current administration, the tendency to blame our protectors for security failures which allows terrorism to thrive is in itself a ruse - if you demonize the government for ineptitude you still buy into their myth and central premise as to the existence of Al Qaeda. Once you apprehend the basic fraudulence of the US government's claims about this mythical organization and their omnipresent threat to the world - the entire "war of terror" unravels and we can clearly see it as a system of lies, hatred and fear promulgated to benefit a small, malevolent group of psychopaths.

"The whole aim of practical politics is to keep the populace alarmed, and hence clamorous to be led to safety, by menacing it with an endless series of hobgoblins, all of them imaginary." - H.L. Mencken

There is no Al Qaeda without the CIA, that's what makes it so horrendous as they torture people into confessing their ties to this organization, when in reality the ones doing the accusing are actually the terrorists in question. That's why the Department of Homeland Criminals is not a legitimate entity, they are no better than a bunch of mafia gangsters - correction, they are MUCH better than any organized crime syndicate because they have managed to establish themselves as part of government while most of us are transfixed on how well America can dance.

"The 'Criminalization of the State', is when war criminals legitimately occupy positions of authority, which enable them to decide 'who are the criminals', when in fact they are the criminals" - Michel Chossudovsky

How about another spot where we can place a pebble - one of the most obvious being the ludicrous and asinine statement, "we can't show you the evidence because it's a matter of National Security". Despite the many cameras at the Pentagon, we are only presented with 5 frames that show us absolutely nothing. Apparently it's a matter of "National Security" that we are not allowed to see an airplane that would support the government's claims. Anyone who went to trial and declared, "We have evidence, but we can't show it to you" would be laughed out of court. Let's think about it - what do you suppose would happen if we saw a video of a commercial airline slamming into the Pentagon - I guess most of us would grab a butcher knife and run down to City Hall while setting ourselves on fire. Exactly how is "National Security" compromised by citizens looking at any evidence in this case? Here's the answer - if they show us the videos we will all see that they are lying and there is no plane. It is their security that is in jeopardy here, not that of the nation. The same goes for suppressing the mountain of evidence for the controlled demolition of the World Trade Center towers in their bogus investigation. How about the many videos at the airport - they could shut us up in 2 seconds flat by showing just one video of the "terrorists" with the other passengers. There's the guy - see him, he's buying a double latte coffee and doing the crossword before getting on the plane. Oops, don't spill that hot drink onto your seat there, Mohamed, the frame on that vibrating recliner might crumble from the intense heat

"History will have to record that the greatest tragedy of this period of social transformation was not the strident clamor of the bad people, but the appalling silence of the good people." - Martin Luther King, Jr.

There are many more points of leverage where we can place our allegorical pebbles - we just have to look at the giant brown stain on humanity known as the mainstream media for many glaring examples of intellectual inconsistency. Polls taken in the last few years show hundreds of millions of people who doubt the US government's fairy tale story about 9/11. How is this fact by itself not a major news item? The media's silence and complicity in this matter, and many others concerning 9/11, and the subsequent wars are a huge smoking gun. However, within the context of their role as a propaganda tool of this regime, it is no longer such a mystery. I still hear people naively ask, "If what you say about 9/11 is true, then why is it not all over the media?" The answer is simple. You are starting from the proposition that these networks which are owned by the same corporations that have military industrial ties, are somehow genuine and unbiased news entities that want to inform the public in an impartial way, while nothing could be further from the truth. The media's part in the cover-up is tantamount to a crime even greater than the one which occurred on 9/11 because it facilitates all the subsequent horrors based on a fallacious premise. It's one thing to be ignorant of the truth, but to be kept in the dark on purpose is an offense more egregious than all others.

The Parable of the Sheep. There was a magician who was also a shepherd. He had thousands of sheep to look after and he was a very miserly man, so he didn't want to pay anybody and he did not want his sheep to be lost or taken by the wolves. So he played a trick on the sheep. He hypnotized them and told every sheep, "You are not a sheep. Don't be afraid." To some he said, "You are a lion." To some he said, "You are tigers." To some he even said, "You are men. Nobody is going to kill you. Don't be afraid and don't try to escape from here."

The sheep started believing in his hypnosis. Every day he would butcher a few sheep but the others would think, "We are not sheep. He is butchering only sheep. We are lions, we are tigers, we are wolves, we are this and that...", even that they were men. And they believed it. It was always some sheep which was to be butchered. They remained aloof, distant. They were not worried. And by and by they were all slaughtered. - George Gurdjieff

Those people "over there" in Iraq and Afghanistan who get butchered today are no different than those unfortunate souls who were murdered on the day of 9/11, or anyone else whose life is sacrificed for the cause of war. It is a fact that every war serves to consolidate the assets of the ruling elite, this is as true today as when the New York and London bankers financed the Bolshevik Revolution or Hitler's Nazi party in WWII. It takes a long time and a huge amount of money to plan and wage a war - these folks want a return on their investment, and the common people are always the ones who end up paying through taxes and blood. I wish I could reach back through time and tell my ancestors not to pick up that gun, that all such conflicts are based on deceit and manipulation of both sides by a ruling class on top. If you stand there wearing a costume and holding a weapon, you might be hypnotized into believing these lofty ideals about duty, honour, justice and peace. The reality is that you are being used to kill others so a select few can grow rich and gain more power. If somebody took an automatic weapon and started murdering your neighbours you might kick up a fuss - but when it happens "over there" and they put on a uniform, then it's supposed to be okay. In fact, you should be proud on behalf of your country.

Until we wake up to the incongruity of thought in this situation we will play a vital role which enables its continuance. It is entirely possible to stop the machinery of war and change this path toward human destruction. The enormity of this task may seem daunting when you consider what it might take to move this gigantic block of oppression and injustice that is pressing down on our world, or it could be as easy as changing your mind and picking up a pebble.

"The key to growth is the introduction of higher dimensions of consciousness into our awareness" - Lao Tzu

9/11 And Other Optical Illusions By Peter Zaza

There's a wonderful optical illusion which involves a graphic of a ballerina spinning around on one leg. It's called "The Spinning Silhouette Optical Illusion" and can be found easily on the Internet. This illusion elucidates a very important principle concerning subjective reality, and helps to illustrate a point about the vastly differing views people can hold about events such as 9/11. Some people who look at the spinning figure will first affirm that she is bouncing on her left leg while twirling in a clockwise direction. Others may avow that she is instead bouncing on her right leg and spinning in a counterclockwise direction. Indeed, you can have many people looking at this animated graphic at the same time and not agree as to what is happening. This idea is not really foreign to many people who have made the journey from one belief about 9/11 to its diametrical opposite.

First - we must try and deconstruct the illusion and find out what is going on. When you look at a silhouette of a figure it is not possible to determine if it is facing you, or facing away from you. There is no depth to the figure, it's just an outline - our Left/Right designation of what we visually perceive will set the stage for our belief of what follows. If the human cut-out is interpreted to be facing you then you will assume it is her left foot touching the ground, and vice versa if not. The information is not sufficient when viewing a black and white silhouette, our brain makes an assumption at first glance and then proceeds toward a logical eventuality based upon that assumption.

When you first look at the optical illusion you are subjected to your own implied interpretation. It's interesting to analyze our mindset while going through the entire process of discovery in figuring out this type of problem. I looked at it initially and told myself to concentrate on which leg she is bouncing on - I was sure it was the left, how could anyone doubt it - you can see it, can't you? You would have to be an idiot to think otherwise - anybody who does not see it must be a lunatic. But then something happens, there is a period of thought and analysis, and then a question of our belief. As we catch ourselves seeing the right leg touching and the figure rotating in the opposite direction, there arises doubt concerning our convictions. We come to the ultimate realization that we can be fooled, and it is embarrassing to admit that those assertions we would stake our lives upon, and the derision we feel toward those who do not agree with us, are after all only based upon an illusion.

When you change the way you look at things - the things you look at change" - Wayne Dyer

It's just a trick - now I can look at the spinning figure and see it going either way - usually by focusing my attention below the dancer upon the movement of the shadow - yes, it's her left leg touching the ground while going clockwise, and yes it is also her right leg touching and she's going in the opposite direction. This understanding of the illusion cannot be achieved until we take the time to study it, as well as our part in viewing it. The key is an awareness of ourselves as witness to illusion that passes for reality, followed by a willingness to discover the nature of the phenomenon. One must in a sense step outside of oneself and watch the watcher. Now I'm ashamed that I could be so sure it was her left leg touching and everyone who disagreed must be stupid, moronic, unpatriotic, knees painted purple, whatever. If we do not take the time to study and understand the trick we will forever be stuck inside this reactive mindset that is subject to misdirection or assumption. Any guesses where I'm going with this?

Years went by and I believed it was the planes hitting the towers of the World Trade Center which caused them to fall. It's simple isn't it? It was those radical Muslim guys, wasn't it? And we should be afraid of them and hate them shouldn't we? NO - it's a lie. If you still believe these things it is because you have not educated yourself about the event and have based your opinions entirely upon what you've been told. Optical illusions are fun, and when we discover the trick we can understand that it is only a matter of subjective reality - both realities being true depending on how you look at it. It is not the same thing as a real world event like 9/11. Now we must look at physical objects and dynamic processes, and more to the point, we must consider the fact that thousands of people were mass-murdered on that day. Then we made war in Afghanistan and Iraq, then a few million more were killed and displaced, now we've got innocent people being tortured, shoes off at the airport, Department of Homeland Criminals . . .we could go on here for a bit. You owe it to yourself and your country to find out if there is any shred of evidence to support the assertions made by the 9/11 truth movement. This is much more than a mental exercise where we can train ourselves to believe both realities depending on interpretation. There is only one reality about 9/11 - yet we have two diametrically opposite belief systems about what happened. I'm telling you that if you still believe the official "conspiracy theory" about this tragedy, it is because you have not taken the time to educate yourself and study the event and realize the trickery being foisted upon you by the US government. Ask yourself how you would react if you found out that they were truly responsible, ask what you could do about it when the mainstream media is controlled by the same people involved, as is the Congress, the military, the courts.

The individual is handicapped by coming face to face with a conspiracy so monstrous he cannot believe it exists" - J. Edgar Hoover

Jet fuel can't melt structural steel, molten metal does not appear unless there is sufficient explosive energy involved. Freefall speed cannot be achieved unless sufficient mass is removed as in controlled demolition. NORAD does not stand down unless directed. You do not remove and destroy evidence unless you are guilty of the crime. Gag orders are not issued unless you want the truth suppressed. Video tapes are not withheld unless you are lying. Patriot Acts are not made into laws unless you want to institute a fascist state...we could go on here for quite a while. Look at the answers I get from people when I bring up these points - they tell me I'm a moron, I'm not an engineer, etc. Thanks folks, you explained the melted steel really well with that answer, and you are obviously well-versed in the sciences AND classical literature, and let me help you along with your line of reasoning - I'm also overweight, I'm getting older, balder, blinder, etc. But none of this ad hominem stuff bespeaks to any of the central incongruities being raised. It only illustrates that you are in a certain stage of understanding about the event, and would rather get angry with the messenger instead of dealing with the message, and I'm still standing here trying to explain X. I've been in your spot and I've felt the same anger, I've looked at myself carrying erroneous baggage contrived by others to provoke me towards hatred, and I can understand the indignation of people who are disgusted at the 9/11 truth movement. Once, I felt exactly the same way they do. Until we receive factual information about what's going on, our first response is always going to be hostility against anyone who can't plainly see the spinning ballerina so obviously bouncing on her left leg going clockwise. That is the critical difference between myself then and now - information.

Strange times are these in which we live when old and young are taught in falsehoods school. And the one man that dares to tell the truth is called at once a lunatic and fool” - Plato

I went to pick up my child from school the other day, and while waiting outside the classroom I looked at a big mural put together by the students. This bed sheet sized piece of folk art displayed a person's head in the middle, with all these circles around it containing one word messages like hope, understanding, curiosity, character. Inside the graphic head which occupied the centre were similar messages and aphorisms, obviously representing the dynamic of learning, growth and development, and all presented in the most positive and uplifting way. When my children were born I was awestruck with the miracle of creation and the sanctity of life. What happens to us? Why can I not feel that sense of wonder when considering most of the adults in this world? Moreover, if that mural in the school is really indicative of our society's values and its hopes for our young - why do we witness so much deceit and corruption by our political leaders and governmental institutions. Obviously, there is a lot that happens to us between that state of being newborn and becoming an adult.

The moment a baby is born a collective effort is made to chain him to servile dependency on various beliefs. This is all the educational systems have ever done, and yet they say their aim is to liberate man. But what really happens is that a shrewd and subtle mental slavery slowly overtakes the mind of the individual. This system does not teach people how to think, it simply pumps them full of beliefs. It does not encourage doubt, it does not allow rebellion, and the products of such an educational system are usually unable to think for themselves" - osho

The ability to think for yourself is of paramount importance in this survival game. If you allow your opinions to be formed by society through the media, you will inexorably be led down a path of moral contradiction and unconscious collusion. Everybody I know who is "switched on" about the current situation has shut off their TV a long time ago. When you unplug yourself from the daily lies and misdirection there unfolds new possibilities for awareness - when you change the things you look at, you begin to redefine what is actually important and relevant in your life. It's a funny thing - when it comes to our personal computers we all have anti-virus programs as well as various other utilities for filtering out the steady barrage of trojans, worms, spyware and everything else that is constantly being thrown at us. We realize the importance of protecting ourselves from the harmful elements that might corrupt our personal computer - but what about our brain? What about the constant bombardment of garbage we are inundated with on a daily basis through network news, advertising, sitcoms and infotainment? One of the most significant things you can do to start the detoxification process in your life is to shut the TV off. Talk to a real person, read a book, go somewhere, build something, experience through your own senses instead of sitting there for hours at a time entertaining yourself in front of the CIA controlled electronic brain manipulator.

Many persons have a wrong idea of what constitutes true happiness. It is not attained through self-gratification but through fidelity to a worthy purpose" - Helen Keller

There's something else that unifies many people I know within the 9/11 Truth movement. That is an awareness of a bigger reality of which 9/11 is only a part. Once you start down that road of inquiry and discovery it is truly a bumpy ride - layer upon layer of deceit and manipulation unfold until every precept we may have once held about our society and our role in it gets called into question. You begin to see a different side to many issues - it's like your new-found ability to look at the spinning ballerina both ways and understand that it is but a contrivance. You realize that certain people will purposefully manipulate the information we receive toward an agenda, only instead of being hidden, it is so blatantly obvious to you now.

The frog who lived in a well thought that his entire world consisted of the well, himself, and the portion of the sky that he was able to see from the bottom of his home. The frog bragged and felt very proud of his home in the well - the