Now, if you’ve been reading this blog for a while, you know how much we love Survivor around here.

I tuned in with great interest last night because the show included a preview for the 20th season, which will be entitled, “Heroes vs. Villians“.  Exciting!  Intriguing!  Just plain cool.

And right in the wheelhouse here at Orumai.

Why?

Well, the interest of Survivor is not just the game.  It’s more than that.  It’s the strategy and the beautiful locations.  It’s also the group mentality, and what that says about individuals.  In other words, when you tune in to a fresh season of Survivor, it’s like taking the shrinkwrap off a brand new box of possibility.  When you put 20 or so people together in one place where they will be denied constant food, water, and basic hygiene, plus you dangle $1,000,000 in front of them, well, that is a recipe for human nature to shine at its best…and worst.

This season, Orumai will conduct a weekly Survivor blog.  It’s another chance to get dialogue started on this board about what it means to be human and, possibly, spiritual.  That’s right.  When we watch shows like Survivor, we have a visceral reaction to them because they show us something about our deepest selves through watching others.  When we see people lying, scheming, truthing, battling, and generally hanging tough in adversity, those are usually times when we do an internal check to see if these actions are something we think we would do, or whether we think we would act differently.

It’s also a time to see if we are telling ourselves the truth about such matters.

Whether or not you watch Survivor, I know you’re reading Orumai…and that means you have a point of view on life.  Well?  Do you?  Join in.  And let’s enjoy season 20 together.

Yeah, I know it’s not life or death.

But it’s Survivor!

-josh

Your Twitter stream could not be collected. Normally this is caused by no XML feed being returned. Why this happens is still unclear.

Now, I have to say, that sounds kind of…sketchy.  Who wants to collect my Twitter stream?  Can they say that?  Can they do that?  I mean, no one told me my Twitter was going to be tested today.  Can I have a few minutes to prepare?

That’s ok.  We’re Tweeting anyway, whether or not it can be collected.

You heard right.  Tweeting.  Or, maybe it’s Twittering.  Who the heck knows?  Maybe it should be Tweetering…

Now, I expect to see this garner both glee and groan, but we’re in, and you know?  It’s actually pretty cool.

So, here’s why I’m posting this now…I am actually going to be attending the Palm Springs International Film Festival from January 8-17 and will be Tweeting from there.  I’ll be talking about the latest movies and goings on, and I want this to kick off our Twitter campaign.

It’s easy!  Just find Orumai on Twitter and help us build the list!

At Orumai, we’re building an online community, and this is another way we can do that.  So, if you don’t have a Twitter account, create one and join us.  If you do, follow Orumai today.

We look forward to seeing you and, er…Tweetering you.

Can I say that on here?  Is that ok to say?

-josh

I know it has been a long time since I posted, but I was away.  I was in Canada.  I was in New Mexico.  I was at a medical outpatient facility (but I’m ok!)

I was in other places in my mind.  I was in the world this whole time.  I’m in the world, but have been strangely detached from it.  I can’t really explain that much more.  It has been a weird time.  But Orumai was always in my mind.

I’ve been thinking about what I will write about all these experiences.  I want to share them.  And I will.  There are plans in the works to expand Orumai in various ways.  It’s all in process right now, but they are big ideas.  They are all in the mind, but not all in the world yet.

However, one has already come to pass.  iAffirm.

Orumai, in conjunction with Sunscape Photography and Cynical Peak Software, has co-created an iPhone/iPod Touch application that presents you positive daily affirmations along with beautiful photography, right on your iPhone or iPod Touch!  It’s really great.  For just $.99, and a mere shake or a swipe, you can have a nice message and a nice pic.  And maybe a good feeling.

Orumai is hoping it is just the first step.  The future looks bright.  Keep coming.  Keep reading.

And I’ll keep posting.

I’m here.  I’m in the world.

Sometimes.

-josh