The idea of going 'broke' or spending all that one has worked to save is highly disconcerting. 

Bankruptcy is the state of being totally depleted of resources, be it in quality or material.

In the wake of financial ruin, one is said to be financially bankrupt.  After failing to act with principles or good character, one is said to be morally bankrupt.  If one lacks in faith and hope, they are said to be spiritually bankrupt.

Bankruptcy comes in many forms and fashions.  This perspective of viewing one's character implies that savings and constant replenishment of valued resources is needed.  As children mature into adulthood, learning to become self sufficient is an important concept.  Parents and caretakers who neglect to impart this lesson unto their young fail to equip them with the life skills necessary to survive and thrive in a competitive world.  They will be forever dependent on someone or something unless they learn to free themselves.

Once an individual is able to survive independently on their own (not on the charity or external validation of another) they become capable of establishing savings and reserves.  These savings can refer to monetary and material earnings or intangible qualities such as emotional (esteem), spiritual, and health reserves.

The acquisition of money and assets refer to financial solvency (the opposite of bankruptcy).  When one has no debt obligations or liabilities, as well as zero earnings or assets they are said to be financially neutral (like individuals living from paycheck to paycheck).  When one moves away from neutrality towards establishing savings they are moving in a direction away from bankruptcy or indebtedness.  When one consumes both their earnings and savings, they have progressed into debt and insolvency (sometimes referred to as being 'broke').

When one is first starting out on their own, sometimes parents, caretakers, or creditors help an individual establish a foundation of credit, which allows the individual to obtain goods and services without payment based upon the trust that repayment will be made in the future.  This helps the maturing individual build or strengthen the habit of spending within their budget by providing consequences to irresponsible financial behavior such as not repaying debts on time.  Positive credit rewards the individuals who borrow and repay their debts in a timely manner.  They are rewarded with attractive (lower) interest rates and higher spending limits because they have proven themselves worthy of handling financial responsibility.  Negative credit is assigned to individuals of whom lenders have determined through historical track records the presence of payment inconsistencies or defaults.  These individuals are often still given borrowing opportunities at higher interest rates which may or may not exacerbate the borrowers credit score in the future.  If the borrower does not work to improve their financial integrity of repaying debts and interest in a timely manner, their credit 'health' will plummet.  Some individuals never recover from the high interest rates charged on frivolous spending and ruin their chances of borrowing in the future.  In other words, they are deemed not mature enough to borrow and repay debts, and must wait until their creditors have forgiven their transgressions.

The psychological pathways of entrenching oneself into debt is very similar to the neural pathways associated with one's diet choices.  Most people seek a balanced diet once they reach a point in their maturity that allows them to see the consequences of succumbing to poor dietary choices.  If one is in possession of a happy and healthy body, then they are said to own a balanced diet.  If one wishes to lose weight (in the pursuit of health and well being), then they must carefully watch their caloric consumption in so far as they are able to metabolize both their intake and work to burn off the excess calories in fat storage from previous consumption.  In other words, they must spend more calories than they consume.  Our bodies require caloric intake in order to provide energy to think, move, and live.  In an environment where there is an overabundance of food choices, we find the temptation for quick and easy solutions that provide instant gratification.  These "solutions" can come in the way of cheap fast food and microwavable meals that are expensive purchases against our caloric debt.  They are often unfulfilling, unsatisfying, and accompanied with absurd caloric "price tags".  These indulgences are (thankfully) permitted from time to time; however, when they become a staple in our diets our bodies begin to reflect our poor dietary choices by building itself with the "cheap" caloric bricks that such conveniences provide.  Our bodies are 'honest machines' that can only perform as well as the fuel we provide it with.  It reflects our dietary consumption and physical output capabilities in much the same way our credit score keeps track of our abilities to consume and repay debt.  Because of our tendencies to value superficial concepts of material or physical beauty we often times beat ourselves up for failing to live up to social standards when the goal should in fact be emancipation from dependency on external sources for validation and fulfillment (like running on a hedonic treadmill).  Identify areas needing improvement, forgive yourself, and practice so that you average more towards walking the path you wish to walk more often than not.

The very same neural pathways carved from practicing inhibition, delayed gratification, and self-discipline provide an individual with the tools necessary to resist temptation in both finance, diet, and morality.

In the wake of the Global Financial Crisis (2007), the financial parties responsible for the collapse were guilty of committing moral hazard.  In other words, executives placed their client's wealth at risk in order to secure profits for themselves.  Greed is often used to describe the behaviors of such individuals.  Appetites for instant gratification without effort put forth to earn the reward can lead one to a dark path of moral bankruptcy. 

"For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?"

Achievements that one earns for themselves as a result of disciplined effort and hard work are the keys to freedom from dependency upon external sources of validation and fulfillment.  One must learn to work for themselves to satisfy their financial, physical, spiritual, and mental hungers.  The nature of our appetites is that we are only able to consume a little at a time (lest we overdose). 

When one has achieved fitness of mind, body, and spirit, they have learned to feed themselves with the highest quality building blocks available and enjoy a healthy self esteem.  They have learned to live within a measure of grace without succumbing to total loss of control.  Their morality carries a healthy balance that serves to protect and inspire others to act with prudence and moderation.

They have developed the discipline to withstand the temptations of instant (unfulfilling) gratification and indulgences of ego.

They have learned to walk the path that leads to fulfillment and ultimately become free from dependency upon the fleeting temptations of ego.

How is it that a pattern of sound can be so pleasing to the listener?

Why do certain beats and rhythms 'speak to us' and set our feet dancing and our bodies in motion?

How powerful is music?  Why is it soothing?  How can it transcend language and time?

These are questions, best answered or experienced for oneself.

Lovers of music can experience it in a multitude of ways.  Transmissions can be heard over the radio, online streaming, the actual singing and playing of instruments, out in nature, and attending music shows.

Music festivals differ from regular single artist concerts because of the ubiquitous exposure to new artists, crowds, and sounds.  These events usually take place in large parks where the stages of many bands playing simultaneously can occur without too much interference from one another (as conducted in Zilker Park during ACL).  The crowds in attendance are quite diverse.  People of all ages, races, cultures, and creeds attend to listen to the sounds (people watching here is amusing on its own).  Often times the artists are new, up and coming performers.  Their music depends on exposure in order for them to grow and continue to get bookings for future performances.  In a way, people vote with their attention by gathering to listen to which ever stage is broadcasting the most pleasant sound.  Many times I have found myself walking to the center of the park to listen to the frequency of sound that my body finds most pleasing.  I tend to walk with an unconscious rhythm in my footsteps, and am most attracted to the sound that I can easily dance to.  My feet lead the way with my ears guiding the direction.  Once near the stage, one can clearly hear the band broadcast their music's soulful energy which excites the crowd.  If the music resonates well with the audience then people will dance, which creates a positive feedback of palpable energy capable of changing lives (it's incredible to experience).   The artists weave their song in harmony with their instruments that send their message of love, peace, compassion, or whichever emotion they wish to channel.  Like the conductor of a symphony, the leader of the band controls the throttle of musical force and inspires the crowd as a prophet does his people.

I have discovered many new and old artists this way and have concluded that it is virtually impossible to listen to all the magnificent music at the festival, let alone in this world.  The only thing that one can do is to follow the most attractive sound at the time they can hear it and appreciate the song for as long as the dance lasts.

“None but ourselves can free our minds.”
― Bob Marley

Dissent is the ability to oppose popular opinion and hold viewpoints that may be at odds with society.

Society, like a collective 'Ego', is concerned with fitting in and going with the flow of popular culture.  For instance, certain fashion trends in clothing, style, and politics.  When people are not mature enough to form their own ideas, they tend to rely on trusted relationships such as parents, siblings, close family and friends to share beliefs with.

"Cool kids" in school can be seen setting trends that eventually others will adopt and become commonplace in such environments.  The ability to influence young minds that haven't yet learned to think for themselves can be dangerous grounds for the abuse of influence.  If one were to use their influence to shame a person then that would be abusive to the self esteem of the singled out individual(s).  Conversely, influence can be used to build up and encourage individuals to free themselves from following social constructs.

Skepticism is the ability to question ideas or motivations for behavior.  It can be used in a healthy manner to help an individual see multiple sides to a certain perspective.  For example, understanding the motivations of a salesperson can help to clarify the reasons why a buyer must act in order to make a decision.  This applies to business, medicine, relationships, politics and religion.

In the end, a choice must often be made.  Nobody can sit on the fence forever (otherwise, the choice makes them).  Understand the privilege to hold thoughts of dissent, be skeptical, be fair, and be firm in your beliefs.  It takes courage to swim against the flow of society.  The only true freedom one actually has, is the ability to make up your own mind.  Choose wisely.

“Warning: If you are reading this then this warning is for you. Every word you read of this useless fine print is another second off your life. Don't you have other things to do? Is your life so empty that you honestly can't think of a better way to spend these moments? Or are you so impressed with authority that you give respect and credence to all that claim it? Do you read everything you're supposed to read? Do you think every thing you're supposed to think? Buy what you're told to want? Get out of your apartment. Meet a member of the opposite sex. Stop the excessive shopping and masturbation. Quit your job. Start a fight. Prove you're alive. If you don't claim your humanity you will become a statistic. You have been warned.”
― Chuck Palahniuk, Fight Club

Modern clocks use the frequency generated when electrical current passes through quartz crystal which is an inexpensive and fairly accurate method to keep track of time.  Frequency is the measured occurrence of a repeating event per unit of time.  When electrical current is passed through quartz, it's frequency oscillates at a rate that can be used to calibrate seconds, minutes, and hours.  It's accuracy is within a second over the course of 30yrs.

Before this technology was developed, clock makers relied on mechanical systems that used precise gears, cogs, sprockets, and springs to tell time.  At one point, these time devices were expensive status symbols that could only be afforded by the wealthy.  These individuals took stock in advertising the value of time over money.

Many methods of time keeping have been used through out history, such as the measurement of sand passing through an 'hour' glass, or the rate of a burning candle stick.  Ancient civilizations used the Sun to measure shadows through out the day.  Water clocks operated like sand through the hour glass.  With technology, more accurate methods of time keeping developed.

Today, we use Atomic clocks that rely on the frequencies of atoms to calibrate the clocks on our electronic devices such as cell phones and computers.

Technology allows us to understand and solve problems our ancestors simply did not have access to in their day.  The micro-, macro-, and telescopes we are able to use now help us to see things that were previously undetectable.  We can map the human genome, study molecular compositions, and better understand our Universe.

It seems that with 'time', we are able to more accurately understand and keep track of the frequencies that are being (and have been) broadcast through out the Universe.  The orbit of the planets in our solar system revolve around our Sun with the cosmic frequency of a clock, much like the electrons around an atom's core.  There are gravitational forces constantly acting upon and influencing atoms and molecules from billions of miles apart.  Each gear in the cosmic rotation of the planets acts upon the molecules receptive to the celestial pull of gravity.  At the frequency of 24 hours, the moon pulls the ocean tides, and the Earth revolves around the Sun.

Humans have the ability to broadcast or receive transmissions much like an antenna when we hear or feel energy such as the vibrations of music in our ears.  Each person is 'attuned' to frequencies that they find pleasant or disturbing.  The beat of a drum has been employed by both musicians and slave drivers to inspire the dance of listeners or control the march of subjects.  Frequencies have the ability to manifest in the energy signals people broadcast to one another (happiness, depression, masculine, feminine, nervous, calm, weak or strong).  Animals display the ability to detect the emotional energy we emit and behave according to their instincts.  Humans are also able to tune into the emotional broadcast of others.  We can choose the company we keep with regard to energy frequency.  (Couples tend to be on the same political channel).

The limitations in language prevent people from effectively communicating to one another.  Patterns of occurrence must then be used to repeat a message until it can be understood or at the very least acknowledged.  While there are clearly limitations in human communication there is also interference to incoming signals.  Once an individual closes their minds to a frequency, it becomes difficult to hear in the future.  Most people are not equipped to handle the broadcast  being sent from another person, let alone from the Universe.

If we are to truly understand the concept of time, we will need to re-calibrate our frequencies to the Cosmic Clock.

Both science and religion teach that Mankind came from the "Jungle" in Africa or sometimes referred to as "the Garden of Eden".  We know that the continents are set adrift on floating masses of land known as tectonic plates.  At one point in time, these plates were joined as a single land mass known as "Pangaea".  This evidence is supported by fossil discoveries of common plant and animal life that was found on both sides of the ocean where continents were once conjoined.

As plant and animal life evolved and adapted to the shifting environment, it became necessary to follow the various sources of food in order to survive.  The organisms best suited to adaptation were able to adjust to the dynamics of their world and thus multiplied with abundance.

With an abundance of life, comes reproductive "choice".  The organisms that best displayed the ability to parent healthy offspring were selected to reproduce.  Their genes would continue on to the next generation.

The constant environmental shifts gave rise to genetic mutations that provided early life with either reproductive survival advantages or was bred out of existence.  The dark pigmentation of skin and hair provides protection from the Sun, which explains why "Original Man" was most likely "Black" or more accurately dark brown.  As our ancient ancestors followed their sources of food across the land they encountered different climates and terrain.  Here, mutations such as lighter skin pigmentation and protective eye lid adaptations allowed for more successful survival in colder mountain climates.  The lighter skin pigmentation made one more difficult to discern from the environment while hunting or evading danger.  The colder mountain environment was harsh on exposed mucous membranes such as the eyes, lips, and nose which one also relied on to both hunt and evade danger.

Science teaches that early ancestors migrated from Africa through Asia, on to Europe and eventually the Americas.  This supports our ancestors departure from the original genetic packaging they began with until now.  They were faced with the choice to hold on to their genes or adapt and evolve to better fit the environment.

The world is no longer separated by impossible distance.  We can travel to opposite ends of the world within a day.  This was not possible a century ago.

With the evolution of technology and society, humans are no longer dependent on hunting for survival.  Instead, we've reached a civilization that is capable of solving our differences through diplomacy.  We can grow our food in abundance.  We have the ability to live side by side with other "races" and cultures without fearing tribal attack for resources.  We live in one of the best possible times on this planet.

In spite of this amazing time we live in, we are still confronted with the occasional clash of culture and irrational need to draw distinctions in class, religion, and race.  We have young people being killed because they are perceived as a threat to one social group or another.  Social injustice continues to haunt and stain the collective soul of the Human Race.  We are failing to evolve and adapt to a world much smaller than our ancestors had to navigate.

“We must live together as brothers or perish together as fools.”
― Martin Luther King Jr.

The first born child of Mankind is African.  His twin younger brothers, Asian and Indian.  Next, we welcomed our light brown brothers (Natives of the Americas), and most recently... Our youngest brother, the "white man".  All of us share equal inheritance to our Creator's world, no brother is placed in higher regard than another.  We can choose to squabble and bicker over who is rightful owner 'of what or to whom we should serve', but the fact remains that we are ALL children of the same Creator.

Let's be grateful that we have diversity and a rich inheritance of cultures to enjoy.  A single race, or practice of worship, or food to eat, or song to dance might get tedious.  Let's look at things from different angles, let's appreciate the times, let's Evolve.