Minneapolis st. Paul, what shockingly contrasting Spirits I find here. People......

Minneapolis st. Paul, what shockingly contrasting Spirits I find here. People that are extraordinarily and proudly hateful, unkind, vicious. People that are aggressively kind, ferociously good and pleasant. The most blatant racism that personally I've seen. And other folks of profound inclusiveness.

"My sister was at Standing Rock too, for months, said the young waiter who kindly expressed admiration for my facial tattoos. She is......

"My sister was at Standing Rock too, for months, said the young waiter who kindly expressed admiration for my facial tattoos. She is currently in New York touring with Cheryl Angel, he went on. I explained briefly my mission around the country and he expressed thanks. He's a photographer and hopes I can wait here in town until his shift is over so he can do a portrait. I told him on my I'm on my way to spend the night at the house of a water protector who runs food now to the various camps. Joe Plouff

Regarding Trump followers: which of us does not spend most of their time trying to get ahead for me and mine? Virtually all of us, right? Which of.....

Regarding Trump followers: which of us does not spend most of their time trying to get ahead for me and mine? Virtually all of us, right? Which of us deep down is really proud with how we're serving Humanity, our fellow person, by doing so? Almost none of us, right? Well the white voters for Trump rightly View that their stock goes up, their power goes up, their Prestige goes up, if not their income, with Trump. Let's be careful about the pot calling the kettle black.

Literally the nicest people I know have screwed me royally over money. 15 years ago I went $20,000 in credit card debt, I have.....

Literally the nicest people I know have screwed me royally over money. 15 years ago I went $20,000 in credit card debt, I have very good credit, to provide a short term loan so that a political refugee here illegally could enroll his worthy son to college. It was a loan that was guaranteed to be repaid within weeks. I've not seen a penny of it nor heard a word. It took me 2 years labor to pay that off. Another person to whom I devoted the better part of my life limb and Treasurer owes me many thousands of dollars and appears to have no thought of paying that. An individual who was the worthiest, most giving soul, that I saw at, worked along side of, supported, at standing rock, appears to have lied, conned me, out of 500 bucks, and much more.  "What I fear is money. Jesus was sold for 30 pieces of silver." Teresa of Calcutta

Upon learning that I am facing a year in prison for refusing to be bullied away from Standing Rock a friend expressed interest in what legal support I might have. My reply: I have......

Upon learning that I am facing a year in prison for refusing to be bullied away from Standing Rock a friend expressed interest in what legal support I might have. My reply: I have a court appointed lawyer so so far she has been totally useless. I don't expect that to change. I'm very disappointed that Grandma Regina who was our leader has shown zero support for, or interest in, those of us who were arrested and charged. She was arrested and not charged. Knowing this now I would have made the same decision then but it does not speak well of her leadership. I do not perceive that I have any qualified legal support, so be it.

If Jesus were to eliminate all but his people in the land of the United States, pretty much all that would be left would be the natives of North and South America.

If Jesus were to eliminate all but his people in the land of the United States, pretty much all that would be left would be the natives of North and South America.

"You will be charged with trespassing, a federal misdemeanor, and you will face five years in prison and a $5,000 fine," I was told in the days leading up to my arrest on February 23rd.......

"You will be charged with trespassing, a federal misdemeanor, and you will face five years in prison and a $5,000 fine," I was told in the days leading up to my arrest on February 23rd at Standing Rock. Had I been told that I was facing the death penalty I don't suspect that would have changed my decision to stay and stand with Grandma Regina, Ogallala Sioux Tribe, on February 23rd, standing for Native American rights, standing for human rights. I don't do cowardice. I don't run from bullying.

What a day. Hours on the internet and phone trying to find the solution to these odd sized bicycle trailer wheels I needed to replace. Several......

What a day. Hours on the internet and phone trying to find the solution to these odd sized bicycle trailer wheels I needed to replace. Several hours traveling to the bike shop that thought they could help. Serious rain much of the afternoon making traveling a bit hazardous and hypothermic as it so severely reduces visibility. Extraordinary kindness and great expertise at this large family-owned bicycle shop. The owner had done homework online and drove me in his car to another facility where we found tires and wheels that would work. My bill including parts and labor was under $7. He got upset when I objected so I simply accepted the kindness. He and his staff I believe were stirred by the mission, the vehicle, our conversation. I was wet from pedaling in the temperature outside reducing so a bit hypothermic. Presently I am resting in the home of a fellow water protector who reached out to me several days ago and aggressively and kindly offered a place for me to spend the night or maybe two. Not sure about the next couple of days. Most likely I'll begin traveling toward Wisconsin tomorrow and visit another water protector in Western Wisconsin Friday night. Not sure after that. Tired but very appreciative that things seem to be working out.

His photo is of me smiling, it's been a long time since I've done that. As I was taking a photograph of the turtles an hour ago (delayed posting) I noticed a car stopping down......

His photo is of me smiling, it's been a long time since I've done that. As I was taking a photograph of the turtles an hour ago (delayed posting) I noticed a car stopping down the country road across from me. after a while a tall handsome middle-aged fellow begin walking on his side of the street toward the vehicle, hesitant. I said hello and he said hello. We had the most wonderful, painful, sad, Joyous 10 minute conversation, tho I'm afraid I did most of the talking. Frequently he was obviously choking back emotion. I don't think it was what I said as much as he was feeling less alone. About depression, was I ever depressed, did I ever feel sad. He wanted to know my experience because I believe those feelings are Central to him. As I've written and spoken before, I shared with him that only someone that is insane would not be occasionally depressed and sad given the destruction of everything of value going on before eyes. No disrespect to anyone else it is the most important face to face interchange I can recall having in many many days or maybe weeks. We discussed the turtles that I was photographing and with great joy he mentioned Turtle tunnel 2 miles ahead which indeed I went over. He was so glad that in the not-too-distant past efforts had been made to provide a safe Crossing for those Turtles from one wetland to the other. When I mention Standing Rock he also choked Back eMotion, saying that it was very emotional for him. He did not elaborate further and I did not invade his privacy to ask. I didn't mention to him the year in prison for being there I face. Such a privilege, such a joy, to connect heart to heart, soul to soul, with another person. So rare.

Self satisfaction is considered a virtue in this Society, no? I'm sitting....

Self satisfaction is considered a virtue in this Society, no? I'm sitting in a country cafe in a rapidly gentrifying area. Shortly I had to turn on White Noise because I couldn't stand the self-satisfied conversations around me. Everything for our children and grandchildren is rapidly disintegrating, economy, democracy, global environment. And with a Vengeance the folks here talk about everything but what's important. I spoke with a nice fellow earlier when I arrived and he considers himself a Christian. We had a nice respectful conversation. And he was very genuine. And I was certain that I saw wheels turning in his mind reflexively determining how to fit everything I said in a box that was comfortable to him and let him stay unmoved and self-satisfied. This is not unique. But I just haven't thought about it. It is a reflex that our sick culture builds into us, no? How absolutely deadly.

To try and keep my own walk real, one of the devices that I use is to imagine the parents of Syrian children, or Palestinian children in Gaza, watching me and what I do. And if I, take.....

To try and keep my own walk real, one of the devices that I use is to imagine the parents of Syrian children, or Palestinian children in Gaza, watching me and what I do. And if I, take care of myself, I try to imagine whether they would agree that I am taking care of myself or being criminally self-indulgent as is the American way and as I have done most of my years. To try and keep it real I have them armed with AK-47 rifles which they would be only too happy to use if I deceive myself and misuse my life to further indulge myself rather than serve the neediest on Earth. This helps me walk a path I experience as joyful, one of meaning. I wish more people would find a similar path. But that is ultimately up to them. I with my last breath I will walk the path for the joy of it and there by point the way.

"James, you would go to the mouth of Hell singing Hallelujah, right," a kind friend asked? "I have found no price......

"James, you would go to the mouth of Hell singing Hallelujah, right," a kind friend asked? "I have found no price that I wouldn't gladly pay to alter the horrific future faced by Humanity and all creation. On near-death hunger strikes more than I can count I've been at death's door and wanted to go through but there was no one there to collect the price. For staying and documenting Grandma Regina I face $3,000 in fine and a year in prison as do the 48 of us that remained. I know if no price I wouldn't gladly pay."

To those of you helping ease my credit card debt, bless your hearts. All the repair work done, necessary given the callous heavy-handedness of our sisters and brothers in uniform at Standing Rock, and their agents, all of that has been financed on credit card debt as......

To those of you helping ease my credit card debt, bless your hearts. All the repair work done, necessary given the callous heavy-handedness of our sisters and brothers in uniform at Standing Rock, and their agents, all of that has been financed on credit card debt as has been any lodging at bottom rate motels or state parks, food, as the mission around the country to stir hearts has resumed. The donations from those of you recent and in the past is deeply appreciated, wind under the wings of this work..

Are you a missionary, she asked? I was walking out.......

Are you a missionary, she asked? I was walking out to get something from the vehicle having checked into this non corporate coffee shop so that the vehicle, starve the corporate state, could be in this town on the Main Street for three hours or so. This after purchasing a replacement 16 inch tire for the trailer from a local bike shop Although I could have saved a couple of bucks at Walmart just a mile away. I don't freeload and what money I have I'd rather go to a tip than toward purchasing a product so I have a slightly expired, half off, $1.56 muffin in front of me and I'm nursing coffee from the earlier stop. Are you a missionary, she asked? She had seen my shirt. I didn't know how to answer the question, so I thought for a minute and replied, yes, I suppose that I am.

'James, you are the person from standing rock that I will continue to support in your work. I don't....

'James, you are the person from standing rock that I will continue to support in your work. I don't have much but when I can I'll help you.' This from the dearest soul, that I worked alongside at Standing Rock. A white person, like me, who work themselves sick for the good of the camp and to my eyes, received little more than reverse discrimination in return. The goodness of this person was mistaken for either weakness or vulnerability. I'm deeply touched by the donation just made. And more touched by the faith in me and my work. I replied:  "Bless your heart. Your contributions is a lot and your faith in my work means a great deal. I have almost no active support. This could be evidence that I am wasting my life but I don't think it is. I'm doing the best I know how with every breath. Your kind words mean a lot to me."

What do you do on cloudy days? The question I get asked so often. Two nice guys in a pickup truck at a quick stop where I just bought..... Fr Apr 16....

What do you do on cloudy days? The question I get asked so often. Two nice guys in a pickup truck at a quick stop where I just bought some bananas and bread peanut butter. Truly nice guys with some level of Wonder and awe toward the vehicle. I said, friend, I am absolutely not trying to belittle your question. What do you do when you drive away from the gas pump. I could see him thinking. I use gas from my tanks. And I use electrons that I stored in batteries on sunny days to power me at night and on cloudy days. I went on to share that obviously our politicians are either f****** idiots or are absolutely lying to us. Jeff Flake, congressman from Arizona or someplace like that, just the other day told his constituents in a meeting, I can't promote solar energy because people need electricity at night. This guy should be locked up for life for either criminal negligence or criminal lying. It was a very pleasant conversation

I fight to win. I'm willing to lose but I fight to win. I see a a path to victory that I walk on though it is extremely Slim. Do you know a true activist in history that has done anything less? Fr Apr 16

I fight to win. I'm willing to lose but I fight to win. I see a a path to victory that I walk on though it is extremely Slim. Do you know a true activist in history that has done anything less?

Spoiler alert; my liberal sisters and brothers, we are not winning. We..... Fr Apr 16...

Spoiler alert; my liberal sisters and brothers, we are not winning. We are not close to winning. Maybe it has something to do with the fact that we never honestly faceless horror. If and when anyone is going to it comma if anyone is going to face and to try and see a way out of it, I hope they consider contacting me.

An hour or two ago I commented that what may be the Hallmark of mental and spiritual health, the ready capacity for Wonder and awe, has rarely been seen by me in Minnesota. Whereas..... Fr Apr 16....

An hour or two ago I commented that what may be the Hallmark of mental and spiritual health, the ready capacity for Wonder and awe, has rarely been seen by me in Minnesota. Whereas that is true it implies that Minnesota may be the problem. That will be unclear to me for months. Yes, it is in stark contrast to my experience traveling through the states beginning in North Carolina and ending in North Dakota November twenty-eight or so. But geography is not the only thing that has changed. It could well be that another six months of of this dying economy has driven people into fear and fear certainly extinguishes the capacity for Wonder and awe. It could be the presence of trump and his cast of Horrors who have egg on our spirit of hatred. Or it could be Minnesota. The coming months will tell me more.

Finally I am learning from life to be more glad at the hatred from those who drive by then the kind words knowingly expressed by the informed. The..... Fr Apr 14th

Finally I am learning from life to be more glad at the hatred from those who drive by then the kind words knowingly expressed by the informed. The kind informed already show by their behavior they will not change, they will not stand up. They know, and yet they do not do. Hope lies with those who do not know and the fury they hurl at me they also surface for themselves and might possibly learn from it. The informed they already know and are not open to learning anything new. The exceptions prove the rule. If the shoe does not fit do not wear it. I came not for the well, but for the sick, my teacher rightly said.

Reagan lit the match for economic Armageddon, Bill and Hillary Clinton provided the gasoline.

Reagan lit the match for economic Armageddon,
Bill and Hillary Clinton
provided the gasoline.

"God bless you," she said. "He just did," I said. She got it, and was stirred at the thought. I was.....

"God bless you," she said. "He just did," I said. She got it, and was stirred at the thought. I was sitting on the asphalt with my back toward the Aldi parking lot eating a can of $0.87 corn beef hash I had just purchased for lunch. May I give you this, she asked? And she placed several curled up dollar bills in my hand. I recognized her from the checkout line where she was just before me and as she was leaving she turned quickly and said to me, I love Jesus too. To which I said, as you do unto the least of these you do unto me. She didn't say anything to that and I thought maybe she didn't like me saying it. So I was surprised that she got my attention in the parking lot. Moments later there was a car behind me and I heard a gentleman's voice and looked, it was her husband, she was driving the car. They wanted to speak more and know what I was doing. They were moved at this Mission, what I'm doing. It was typical of quite a few such encounters when I was in a Walmart parking lot, Home Depot parking lot, elsewhere around town, Caribou Coffee earlier in the morning. Where are you going, they ask. Wherever Hearts can be stirred, I replied. Where is your home? Like my teacher said, the son of man has nowhere to lay his head.

The lady before you paid for the next few customers. No charge for your medium cup of coffee." Maybe this was exactly true. More likely I think is that someone bought for Ho......

"The lady before you paid for the next few customers. No charge for your medium cup of coffee." Maybe this was exactly true. More likely I think is that someone bought for homeless people. They guessed I was one maybe. LOL, my teacher said, the son of man has nowhere to rest his head. Either way what a kind thing and what an important seed she planted. Speaking of planting seeds, that's the purpose of the vehicle, that's the purpose of this Mission, that's the purpose of my life, and maybe it should be the purpose of at all. Objectively. Though my body is not particularly happy about it my soul has us select spots such as this where I can sit and work and the vehicle, and I with my signage, can be seen. The next few days are rain and full clouds. As I try to not push this old body too far too fast, today's Journey will be short, about 30 miles, to a state park that seems to be open. I'll use that as a low cost base of operations to take the vehicle around to spots such as this in what is now bedroom communities for Minneapolis, hence fairly dense populations.

Inconceivable to proceed without a winning strategy, the professional, surgical, military team.... Activists? Cruel suggestion!

Inconceivable to proceed without a winning strategy, the professional, surgical, military team.... Activists? Cruel suggestion!

True activists are exactly those who are oblivious to the excruciating pain of criticism. They experience it but.....

True activists are exactly those who are oblivious to the excruciating pain of criticism. They experience it but embrace and transcend it because all they care about is winning for their constituents, for their cause. For those one-in-a-million, Mission success is everything and no personal price is too great, no personal pain is too huge to bear. And they are the first to criticize themselves and the last to discourage others from doing so for the risk of losing valuable input and insight.

Fellow Boomers, we unleashed the environmental, political, and economic Armageddon. Stop waiting to die and get out and fix it.

Fellow Boomers,
we unleashed the environmental, political, and economic Armageddon.
Stop waiting to die and get out and fix it.

Male, female, native, non-native, etcetera... We've already lost if all we can do is replace one dominant group with another.

Male, female, native, non-native, etcetera...  We've already lost if all we can do is replace one dominant group with another.

What is more evil than seeing a group pursue a fatal path, and not speaking up? Such a coward I am not.

What is more evil than seeing a group pursue a fatal path, and not speaking up?
Such a coward
I am not.

Am I a Christian, they often ask? No, I reply. I just stand with the man Jesus, as best I can.

Am I a Christian, they often ask? No, I reply. I just stand with the man Jesus, as best I can.

Fatal flaw of the Giants Hedges and Chomsky: never will they criticize their followers. Only empty flattery.

Fatal flaw of the Giants Hedges and Chomsky: never will they criticize their followers. Only empty flattery.