Hat tip to avdi for this link: a great speech that concisely summarizes some really interesting research on the nature of optimism . I haven't read the book referenced in it, but I think I might need to now. It defines qualities of optimism vs. pessimism, articulating them in a way that makes the whole concept less woo-woo and abstract. I recognized in it elements of my own journey out...

I just posted a rant that's been a long time in coming to my personal journal: http://avdi.livejournal.com/356049.html In it, I write as a Jew who can't stand the monetary focus in the modern Western Judaism.  I'm posting a link here because the subject matter of the rant goes to the core of what makes me a "Wierd Jew" and not an establishment Jew.  I'm curious to see if there are other "wierdjews"...

You all should totally visit The Lazy Faire , a blog site on abundant living that avdi and I co-blog.