Memory of Halloween 1992

// October 31st, 2006 // No Comments » // Uncategorized

I’m not sure what prompted this memory, but around lunchtime today I was listening to some Halloween MUSAK being piped into the lunchroom I often eat in and I was instantly transported to Halloween 1992…

It was everyone favorite holiday, Halloween and in the Thornton house it was a little over the top. The Thornton house was always a lair of sinister dealings and much debauchery but it’s inhabitants were all not only Halloween aficionados, but fans and experts of prosthetic makeup and appliances…and high-powered firearms and gluttonous amounts of hard drugs.

That year Stephen was some sort of doctor who had the greater part of 1/3 of his face flayed off. Joseph was a rather menacing tactical cop with a large caliber bullet wound in the front of his head and a floppy, gooey exit wound in the rear. I remember it was my year to be Abigor, one of the female cenobites and I had a large crown of 21″ metal spikes that were founded in my head and rooted in the cheek appliances. I was an unearthly blue. Like the undead. There were a few other gruesome and expertly applied wearers-of-the costume but after months of designing our costumes, we were applying the final touches and piling into Steve’s car to head up to the flats in Cleveland where we spent much of our recreation-time.

On the drive up we encountered a hyped-up group of teenagers in another car, whooping and throwing beer bottles out of their vehicle. One bottle hit our car and Steve sped up to glower menacingly at the contents of the miscreant youth in the other vehicle. They engaged and there was much testosterone flung about.

Finally the vehicle with the younger contents sort of edged over to the side of the road, apparently interested in taking this to a more hand-to-hand level. Steve obliged and pulled over as well. As he did, the contents of our vehicles chambered rounds into whatever caliber weapon we were carrying. As the cars drew to a stop, about 5 acne-marked teeny-boppers climbed out of their car and walked back towards our vehicle…

Yeah…they walked in front of our running car…

Steve, seeing a much easier resolution to this encounter merely stepped on the accelerator and plowed right through them. Teenaged boys flying like bowling pins this way and that. Slides were released and side arms were stowed back into a passive position and we went on to have a HECKUVA grand time that Halloween night. I think some of us even won money for our costumes.

After we got to the clubs…it was always a bit of a blur, back in those days. But anyways…to anyone who has most excellent Halloween plans, BE SAFE OUT THERE! (and don’t walk in front of anyone’s running car either).

My Yoga Journal — A Spooky Savasana

// October 31st, 2006 // No Comments » // Uncategorized

DBW – The Highest Happiness

// October 31st, 2006 // No Comments » // Uncategorized

	Happy is he who lives contented in solitude, is well-versed in the Doctrine and who has realized it. Happy is he who lives in this world free from ill-will, and is benevolent towards all beings. Happy is he who lives in this world free from passion, has overcome sensual enjoyment, and who has attained mastership over the conceit of “I am.” This indeed is the highest happiness. -Udana 2.1 From “365 Buddha: Daily Meditations,” edited by Jeff Schmidt. Reprinted by arrangement with Tarcher/Putnam, a division of Penguin Putnam Inc.

ABYSSUS ABYSSUM INVOCAT

// October 31st, 2006 // No Comments » // Uncategorized

ABYSSUS ABYSSUM INVOCAT
happy halloween…from the underworld

Happy Samhain

// October 31st, 2006 // No Comments » // Uncategorized

Oh…it’s my favorite time of year! I love Halloween! It’s about the only time I can say I actually like Ohio. Fall colors, the crispness in the air. It’s actually pretty awesome!

The winter that follows…the LONG winter that follows. The 8 months of long winter that follows… That I like not-so-much.

But today is a happy day.

Go out and harvest. Pick out your winter crops. Learn to use a bow-drill to start a fire. Dress in your oggy-boogie best. Go see “Nitemare before Xmas” in 3D! Grab your loot bag and go beggin’ door-to-door and eat gross candy until you puke!

After that, light a fire and watch the door between the world grow thin. Go exploring if you feel like it. Or not! Just remember to leave the light on in your windowsill tonight to let those “otherworlders” find their way through.

Gotta love Samhain!

Day 5…spinal headache

// October 27th, 2006 // No Comments » // Uncategorized

Spinal Headache

// October 24th, 2006 // No Comments » // Uncategorized

DBW – Suchness

// October 24th, 2006 // No Comments » // Uncategorized

There are some who wish to perfect themselves and who train themselves in this way: “One single self we shall tame, one single self we shall pacify, one single self we shall lead to final nirvana.” But those with compassion should not train themselves in such a way. On the contrary, they should say this: “My own self I will place into Suchness, and so that all the world may be helped, I will place all beings into Suchness, and I will lead to nirvana the whole immeasurable world of beings.”

-Diamond Sutra

From “The Pocket Buddha Reader,” edited by Anne Bancroft, 2000. Reprinted by arrangement with Shambhala Publications, Boston, www.shambhala.com.

Align with the Divine

// October 24th, 2006 // No Comments » // Uncategorized

Making a Bow-Drill Set for Making Fire

// October 24th, 2006 // No Comments » // Uncategorized

Making the Set There are five parts to the bow-drill set. The bow, the string, the spindle/drill, the board, and the handhold. The drill spins against the board on one end and is held vertically by the handhold at the other end. The drill is spun by the bow and string. The following describes how to carve the components of a beginner set from a larger chunk of wood. The Board: Taking the once-split branch, cut it with a saw or whittle and snap it into a foot long length. Using an axe or a knife and baton (a short, sturdy branch for hitting the back of knife blades) combination, split the branch evenly down the middle. Keep splitting until you get a flat board that is about one inch thick, or the thickness of your thumb. Whittle it down to remove any protrusions so you end up with a flat, straight-sided rectangular shape (this isn’t very important). The board should be about three inches wide, but anything greater than two inches is fine. The Spindle: Take a foot-long straight-grained section of wood (if possible, from one of your previous splits) and whittle it into a slightly less than one-inch diameter straight dowel. In other words, the dowel should have the same diameter as the first knuckle of your thumb. Whittle the last inch of each end into sharp points. The fatter the spindle, the less wear it places on the string, but a longer bow is required to result in the same amount of rotations taken per bow stroke. Essentially, this works the same way as the gearing on a bicycle. The Handhold: Take the other half-split branch and saw off a section approximately four to five inches long. Whittle down the edges to remove any rough spots and to provide a comfortable surface for gripping. On the flat side of this, exactly in the center from all four sides, gouge a hole with the point of your knife. Make the hole about half an inch deep. Make the sides of the hole slope out at a 45 degree angle so as to form a cone shaped depression. The String: There are a wide variety of materials strings can be made of. These include: nylon, cotton, jute, leather, rawhide, buckskin, and a wide variety of wild plants. In general, use a string that is at least one and a half times the length of your bow. The string should be relatively thick. A thickness of a quarter-inch will last a long time. Shoelaces are usually not thick enough for repeated use. Cotton hockey skate laces will do. It is best to avoid synthetics such as nylon as they sometimes melt from the friction unless thick enough. Thick cotton cord is just about ideal for repeated use. The Bow: Find a section of a green (live) branch that is about the thickness of your index finger and almost straight or slightly curved and the length of your arm from elbow to fingertip. The bow should be reasonably flexible but not flimsy. It should not want to bend more than two inches from a straight line when flexed using a little strength. If it bends too easily or is prone to snapping, find a slightly thicker branch or use a denser wood. If it hardly bends at all then you can carefully whittle off a little wood on the inside of the curve. Make sure it bends evenly to avoid weak spots. The flexibility of the bow is important in the overall feel of the set. If the bow doesn’t bend, the string will slip frequently and soon break. If the bow is too flexible the string will also slip and you won’t be able to apply the torque that is required. Split the first two inches of each end of the bow with a knife. This is why you need a green branch. A dry branch will not split properly. Make sure the split is even and doesn’t run off to the side. The orientation of the split is very important if the bow has any curve.. When the bow is set on a flat surface, the splits should be parallel to that surface. Take two short lengths of cordage and snugly tie them around halfway up the splits. Use square knots of some other knot that will not work loose. The clove hitch is very good for this. Tie one end of the bowstring into a knot. Set this end into the split in the bow so the knot is on the side of the bow that is curving away from itself (convex). Make sure that the string is held tightly by the split by moving the short section of cordage up the split toward the bowstring. This will effectively tighten the split. Take the other end of the bowstring and repeat on the other side. The amount of slack in the string is something that must be adjusted through trial and error when you fit the spindle. For now the string should be somewhat loose or you won’t be able to load the spindle.

Technique & Form If you are right-handed, hold the bow with this hand. Place the board flat on the ground so it is stable. Take your spindle and push the point into the board so that you make a mark. This mark should be about one full spindle width from the edge of the board (about an inch). It should also be at one end of the board so that you have room to place your foot. With your knife, gouge a shallow hole similar to the one in the handhold. The bow is tilted slightly down to avoid rubbing the string against itself. Also, the stabilizing of the left hand against the shin is very important. Now, put your left foot on the board (if you are right-handed) so the inside ball of your foot is next to the shallow gouge. Your right knee should be on the ground and you should be sitting on your right foot. Your right leg should be parallel to the board. Another possibility is to raise your butt off your foot and lean your chest on your left knee -use whatever works for you. Load the spindle by wrap ping the string around the spindle so that the spindle is outside of the bow. This may require some adjusting of the string. The spindle should feel like it’s going to pop out. The tighter the string becomes, the better, just don’t make it so tight that it breaks the bow. Holding the loaded spindle and bow in your right hand, place the bottom point of the spindle into the hole in the board. Cap the other end with the handhold and apply some pressure to keep the spindle from popping out. Let go of the bow. The bow should be pointing itself up towards you. If it is pointing down, reload the spindle so the bow is pointing up. Make sure the spindle is on the opposite side of the string to the bow. Otherwise the spindle will knock against the bow while stroking.

Burning In You can now begin the “burn-in” process. This is to form the handhold hole. Simply begin stroking the bow back and forth slowly. Keep the pressure on the handhold fairly high. Eventually, you should see a small amount a smoke forming at one or both ends of the spindle. Pick up a little bit of speed until both ends are smoking. It is most important that the handhold end smoke at this point. If it refuses to, even when you pick up the speed and push down harder, reload the spindle so the top is now the bottom and vice versa. Repeat until the handhold starts to smoke. Keep going until the hole in the handhold is the same diameter as the drill. It should match the curve of the drill point exactly now. Now you must lubricate this end (keep track of which end is up and which is down!) This is to keep it from smoking and taking away your energy so all your power can be focused on the lower end. Unload the spindle and rub the top into the hole in the handhold. Blow off any dust. Push the drill into the handhold as hard as you can and slowly rotate the drill. Again, blow off any dust. Now, rub this end into your hair and along the sides of your nose. This is to transfer the natural oils found on your skin onto the wood. It helps if you haven’t showered for a day. Repeat the pushing-in procedure. You may want to push the end of the spindle against a smooth rock. This effectively hardens the end of the spindle by compressing the wood. To baseball players, this is known as “boning”. Repeat the pressing of the spindle into the handhold hole and rubbing the tip into your hair until it develops a sheen. Keep all moisture away from this as it will cause the wood to expand and it will bind in the handhold causing friction and burning. You want the frictionless end of the spindle to be very rounded. This distributes the pressure forces over a greater area reducing the tendency of the spindle to drill up into the handhold. If you imagine an electric drill, a small bit will require less effort to drill through a material than a very large one. We want to prevent the drill from burning at this end so we use a large surface area.

Cutting the Notch You must now make a notch in the board next to the “burned-in” hole so the ground-off powder has a place to accumulate. Take your knife and scribe a 45 degree angle in the top of the board that originates form the center of the hole. The two lines will go to the closest edge of the board. Cut out the wood in between these lines so that you have removed about a one-eighth fraction of the burned-in hole. This slice should go all the way to the bottom of the board so that you have removed a wedge of wood on one side of the board pointing to the center of the drill hole.

Getting the Coal Place something under the board where the notch is to catch the coal. This can be paper, birch bark, etc. If you are on a floor, the coal will melt it so keep that in mind. Put yourself into the position explained earlier and begin drilling. Be sure to put the lubricated end of the drill in the handhold. You can now begin the first stage, “powder”. Drill slowly and with firm pressure until the bottom end begins smoking. Keep the smoke down to just a wisp. You should see powder accumulating in the notch. Keep this slow pace until the notch is just about filled. Now lighten the pressure and drill very fast. This is the “heat” stage. The idea is to make heat, not powder. It should begin to smoke heavily. If not, apply a bit more pressure until it does. Keep going until you are totally surrounded by smoke. At this point, stop drilling and carefully remove the drill. If there is smoke coming from the powder pile for more than a few seconds you probably have a coal. Gently blow on the coal until it begins to glow red. You may now transfer it to a tinder bundle. This is simply a fist-sized bundle of dry grasses, fibrous inner bark of certain trees, etc. Blow on it until it flames up. Sometimes you can skip the powder stage and just go for the heat. This is usually when the wood is very dry, soft, and easy to work with. Every piece of wood is different, even from the same tree.

Reading the Powder If the drill begins smoking in the handhold end you will have to re-lubricate it. You may have to switch the ends of the spindle as one end may be slightly harder than the other. Another solution is to “shoulder” the lower end of the spindle. This is simply reducing the diameter of the last inch or so of the drill. This results in less pressure being needed to drill the spindle into the board. This often solves the problem of the handhold burning as well as the problem of the lower end of the spindle refusing to start burning. Problems can often be solved by looking at the colour and consistency of the powder. Remember, the suggestions below are for the powder stage. The heat stage should produce the least amount of powder with the most amount of heat. In other words, you should be pushing down enough only to make lots of smoke, but no more powder. If you push down too much you run the risk of making crusty powder and pushing all the good powder you so carefully made out of the notch. This is not so important with dry, soft woods, but is very important when using damp or slightly harder than ideal woods. Colour Consistency Problem Light Brown D usty Going too slow, not pushing down hard enough Light Brown Fuzzy Going too slowly Dark Brown/Black Fuzzy Perfect Dark Brown/Black Little Rolls Difficult, sometimes going too fast & not pushing down enough Dark Brown/Black Crusty Pushing down too hard, going too fast

(see photos below for examples of each type)

Colour is associated with speed. Light brown means there is not enough heat being generated, hence you must drill faster. Black means there is plenty of heat generated although you have to be careful not to push too hard. Consistency is associated with downward pressure. Dusty means tiny floury fragments are being ground off. This isn’t so much of a problem in itself, but it usually occurs because there is not enough pressure down and not enough speed. Fuzzy is perfect. This provides the most amount of surface area for combustion to take place. Crusty means there is too much pressure down. This usually occurs in combination with too much speed. This powder will not ignite easily because there is little surface area for combustion reactions to take place. Light brown, dusty powder Light brown, fuzzy powder Dark brown/black, fuzzy: Perfect powder Dark brown/black, little rolls Dark brown/black, crusty This will usually allow you to adjust your technique and get a coal. Sometimes however, this isn’t possible. For instance, if you are pushing down as much as you can and still getting dusty powder or hardly any powder at all you have done all you can with technique. Your next option is to shoulder the spindle down a little more as was mentioned before. This way the set will require less downward pressure to produce more powder allowing you to fill the notch with the same amount of strength. A downside of this is that the set becomes more sensitive making it easier to push too hard! If the problem seems to be not enough speed, there are a couple things you can do. First, you could make another spindle this time a little wider. The wider spindle will generate more heat because the edges of the drill will be traveling faster than the narrower spindle. The second option and probably better is to use a longer bow. This may or may not be of help, depending on how long your bow already is. This allows you to reach higher speeds by taking longer strokes, resulting in less time spent stopping and starting the bow. Finally, there is the problem of getting powder in the form of little rolls. These look like the rolls you would get after using an eraser. Sometimes these happen because the wood is somewhat damp. Other times, you get these when the wood is a little hard. The best way to approach this, in my experience, is to shoulder the spindle down a bit, build up a good pile of powder (whatever it looks like), and just try to make as much heat and smoke as you can. Usually this results in a coal, but if you are already tired it can be very difficult. (See photo below)

Wrap-Up It is very important that the fundamentals are learned before attempting the more advanced techniques. If you don’t learn how to read what the wood is telling you, your coal-producing reliability will be unpredictable in the more difficult scenarios. You should be able to get a coal nearly every time you try when using a proven set before you move onto made-from-scratch bow-drills. Keeping a notebook of your experiences and experiments will greatly aid in advancing your ability.

© 2000 Peter Moc

Daily Insite – Don't Worry About It

// October 23rd, 2006 // No Comments » // Uncategorized

Don’t Worry About It

Yoga is amazing—even if you only practice for one hour a week, you will experience the benefits. If you can do more than that, of course, you will reap more advantages.

If you’re a beginner, try practicing two or three times a week, for an hour or an hour and a half each time. But if you can only do 20 minutes per session, that’s fine too. Don’t let time constraints or unrealistic goals be obstacles—do what you can, and don’t worry about it. You will likely find that after awhile, your desire to practice expands naturally, and you will find yourself doing more and more.

Can’t make it to the studio very often? Although experienced teachers are an invaluable tool for the beginner, it’s a great idea to practice on your own once you understand the basics. Building a home practice will allow you to go at your own pace, work on poses you need to improve, and be in an environment where you feel safe and comfortable. Can’t remember more than one or two poses? Perfect! Do what you know, and add to your home practice as your yoga repertoire grows from the time you spend in class.

Fun with Olive Oil

// October 23rd, 2006 // No Comments » // Uncategorized

Potato Croquettes

Enlarge

Howard Yoon

Olive oil is a surprisingly good choice for deep-frying. The oil has a high smoke point and retains its flavor after several uses. Try frying this classic Mediterranean dish in standard olive oil. Save the extra-virgin for something special. Throw in some cooked ham or pancetta for a little kick.

Makes 10-14 croquettes

• Olive oil, for frying
• 2 pounds Yukon Gold potatoes, peeled, cut into cubes and boiled until a knife cuts easily through
• 4 eggs
• 2/3 cup freshly grated Parmigiano Reggiano
• 1/2 cup milk
• 1 cup flour
• 1 cup Japanese panko breadcrumbs (found in the ethnic section of the grocery store)
• Salt and freshly ground black pepper

In a medium-sized cast iron skillet, heat 3 to 4 inches of oil to 375 degrees. Check the temperature using a deep-fry thermometer.

Put the potatoes through a ricer or a food mill and collect in a large bowl. Stir three of the eggs and the cheese into the potatoes and mix well. Season to taste with salt and pepper.

Combine the fourth egg and the milk.

Create an assembly line on your counter: one plate with the flour, one shallow bowl with the egg-and-milk mixture, and one final plate with the breadcrumbs.

Shape the potato mixture into small egg shapes with your hands. You may want to flour your hands to prevent sticking. Roll the croquette lightly in flour, then roll in the egg mixture, and finally, the breadcrumbs. Continue until potato mixture runs out.

Carefully place croquettes, a few at a time, in the hot oil and fry to a deep, golden brown, about 3 to 5 minutes. Remove and drain on paper towels. Serve immediately.

Infused Roasted Garlic Oil

Enlarge

Howard Yoon

The better the olive oil, the more it should stand alone as a flavor. This dish is always a favorite at cocktail parties. Experiment with different herbs — rosemary, thyme, sage — and salts to match your taste. I’ve found that sticking with one herb per batch works best. Use a bold, peppery oil for this appetizer.

Makes 6 appetizer servings

• 5 cloves of roasted garlic (see recipe below)
• 1/4 cup fine extra-virgin olive oil
• Kosher salt
• Cracked black pepper
• Chopped fresh herbs (optional)
• 1 fresh baguette or kalamata olive loaf, warmed and cut into square chunks

Mash garlic (and chopped herbs, if you’re using) in oil. Salt and pepper generously to taste. Serve in a small dipping bowl with pieces of crusty bread for dipping.

Roasted Garlic

Cut one head of garlic crossways. Sprinkle exposed garlic flesh with kosher salt and extra-virgin olive oil. Combine the two sides to form the head again and wrap loosely in aluminum foil. Roast at 375 degrees for 45 minutes, or until roasted garlic oozes out of its skin with a slight squeeze of the fingers. The roasted garlic cloves should be soft to the touch but not mushy.

Jerusalem Olive Oil Cake

Enlarge

Howard Yoon

Olive oil in cake? You’ll be surprised how the olive oil keeps the cake super moist. Make sure you use a floral olive oil rather than, say, a peppery one. This recipe is from Holiday Baking: New And Traditional Recipes for Wintertime Holidays , by Sarah Perry (Chronicle Books 2005).

• 1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/4 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 2 eggs, at room temperature
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 1/2 cup fruity extra-virgin olive oil
• 3/4 cup milk
• 1 1/2 tablespoons grated orange zest (from about 3 medium oranges)
• 1 tablespoon of orange liqueur (Grand Marnier or Cointreau)
• 1/4 to 1/3 cup sliced toasted almonds
• 2 tablespoons marmalade, warmed in the microwave
• 1 tablespoon powdered sugar

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Lightly grease the bottom and sides of a 9-inch round cake pan with cooking spray. Line the bottom with a round of parchment or waxed paper.

In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt.

In another medium bowl, whisk together the eggs and sugar until well blended, about 1 minute. Whisk in the olive oil, milk, orange zest and orange liqueur.

Whisk the egg mixture into the flour mixture until thoroughly blended.

Pour the batter into the prepared pan and bake until the cake is firm and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, about 30 minutes. Transfer the pan to a rack to cool for 20 minutes.

Meanwhile, scatter the almonds in a single layer on a small baking sheet or pan and toast in the oven until slightly brown, 8 to 10 minutes.

To serve, unmold the cake, remove the parchment paper, and place the cake on a flat serving plate. Using a pastry brush, coat the sides of the cake and a 1-inch rim along the top with the warm marmalade, arranging any bits of peel along the rim. (If the marmalade is too thick, add 1/4 teaspoon warm water and stir.) Press the almonds onto the sticky top rim. Using a fine sieve, lightly dust the powdered sugar evenly over the top. Serve warm or at room temperature.

Sprouts

// October 23rd, 2006 // No Comments » // Uncategorized

More bad news from New Orleans….*sniff*

// October 19th, 2006 // No Comments » // Uncategorized

Ugh! I want SO MUCH for my hometown to come back with a flourish…but the stories I hear from the mouths of those that have returned and from tales like these remind me of why I’m still up here working the corporate gig… Miss you Lady Babylon, may you rise again. And soon…

FROM CNN.com
Katrina survival story ends in grisly killing, suicide
NEW ORLEANS, Louisiana (AP) — After Hurricane Katrina, Zackery Bowen and his girlfriend Adriane Hall appeared in news stories as examples of young people who had pressed on in the battered city despite evacuation orders and a lack of power and water.

Their story came to a disturbing end this week: Bowen leapt to his death from a hotel, leaving a note that led police to a French Quarter apartment where they found a woman’s charred head on the stove, limbs in the oven and torso in the refrigerator.

Bowen’s note said he had strangled and dismembered his girlfriend, but did not mention her name, police said Wednesday. Authorities said that because of the condition of the dismembered woman’s body they could not immediately identify her. They were looking for Hall, however. ( Watch how residents, police struggle for reasons — 2:04)

In the note, Bowen wrote: “I scared myself not by the action of calmly strangling the woman I’ve loved for one and a half years …. but by my entire lack of remorse,” according to The Times-Picayune newspaper, which said it had obtained a copy of the note.

Bowen wrote that he had $1,500 in cash and spent it lavishly before killing himself, the newspaper reported: “So that’s what I did: good food, good drugs, good strippers, good friends and any loose ends I may have had.”

Police would not confirm the wording.

The body was found late Tuesday in the second-floor apartment that Bowen and Hall had shared above a voodoo shop, according to the landlord.

A woman who identified herself as Priestess Miriam Chamani in the Voodoo Spiritual Temple and Cultural Center below the apartment said the couple had recently moved in.

“You never know what’s going on in people’s minds,” she said, incense wafting onto the sidewalk from her shop.

The apartment’s owner, Leo Watermeier, said he last saw Hall on October 5, four days after the couple put down a deposit on the one-bedroom, $750-a month apartment. Later that day, Watermeier said, Bowen called him, angrily saying the woman was kicking him out.

Watermeier said Hall told him she had caught the boyfriend cheating.

The motive appeared to be a dispute over rent, police spokesman and chief of detectives Anthony Cannatella said. It indicated Bowen strangled the woman after an argument and cut up her body with a hand saw and knife, according to police.

“He took his life to compensate for the life he had taken,” Cannatella said.

The note, Cannatella said, indicated the woman was killed early in the morning of October 5, in apparent conflict with the landlord’s account of seeing them that day.

A story published by Newhouse News Service last year described the couple gathering tree limbs for cooking fires and trading alcohol — easy to get because of their jobs as bartenders — for clean water.

They also found a creative way to make sure police kept patrolling their home: a story in The New York Times included her flashing her breasts at officers to make sure they drove by.

“We’ve been able to see the stars for the first time,” Hall told Newhouse after the storm last year. “Before, this was a 24-hour lit city. Now it’s peaceful.”

Holly Jacker, who tended bar with Bowen, said he was outgoing and a hit with the ladies.

“Women loved him,” she said Wednesday night, over the din of music in at Buffa’s, the dimly lit bar. “He was gorgeous, charming, a big fat flirt.”

Detective Ronald Ruiz said police hoped to make a positive ID of the body, using DNA or dental records, sometime next week. He said police estimated the dismembered woman was in her mid to late-20s.

Joy Spaulding, who works at the nearby Nawlin’s Flava cafe, said she occasionally saw Hall and Bowen. “To be honest, they seemed like a real nice couple. They were good-looking people, young people trying to do something with their lives,” she said.

Copyright 2006 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

http://www.cnn.com/2006/US/10/19/nola.dismember.ap/index.html?eref=rss_us

DBW – "Self-Study"

// October 19th, 2006 // No Comments » // Uncategorized

To study the Buddha is to study oneself. To study oneself is to forget oneself. To forget oneself is to be enlightened by the myriad dharmas. The be enlightened by the myriad dharmas is to bring about the dropping away of body and mind of both oneself and others. The traces of enlightenment come to an end, and this traceless enlightenment is continued endlessly.

-Dôgen, “Flowers Fall”

From “365 Buddha: Daily Meditations,” edited by Jeff Schmidt. Reprinted by arrangement with Tarcher/Putnam, a division of Penguin Putnam Inc.

Another 125 for my circle of Hell…

// October 19th, 2006 // No Comments » // Uncategorized

Buddhism: Your Daily Meditation

// October 18th, 2006 // No Comments » // Uncategorized

To gain that worth having, it may be necessary to lose everything else. – Bernadette Devlin

Sponsored by humaneInterface.com – Crestron Programming

Daily Insight — Inversions for Beginners?

// October 18th, 2006 // No Comments » // Uncategorized

October 18, 2006
Inversions for Beginners? Sirsasana (Headstand) and Sarvangasana (Shoulderstand) are often referred to as the king and queen of all poses. These advanced postures are very therapeutic—they calm the brain and ease stress and mild depression. But it’s hard for many beginners to get into these inversions safely, much less hold them for the three minutes it takes to get the full benefit. So what do you do if you are still developing the necessary strength and flexibility to practice them safely? A good understanding of correct alignment in these postures will help you practice them with integrity and without injury, so it’s important that you work with an experienced teacher the first time you attempt inverting. Once you have a mastered the theories of alignment, your teacher might suggest you use props and/or lean on a wall for support. Such props are a terrific teaching tool that can protect and support your body as it learns these important postures. Before long, you’ll be able to do them in the middle of the room. If you’re still uncomfortable practicing the king or queen of poses, or you’re just low on energy, Viparita Karani (Legs-Up-the-Wall Pose) is an excellent, restorative substitute that offers many of the same benefits.

30 Tips for Emergency Preparedness

// October 18th, 2006 // No Comments » // Uncategorized

Violet Flower Sorbet

// October 18th, 2006 // No Comments » // Uncategorized

Wilderness Camping

// October 18th, 2006 // No Comments » // Uncategorized

General Equipment List

The following is a general list of the types of equipment recommended for backcountry travel. You will want to modify this list accordingly for the climate in which you will be traveling. For example, if you are traveling in cold, high-mountain country you will may want to pack additional cold-weather clothing or mountaineering gear. Additionally, if you plan hunt, fish, canoe etc. in wilderness, you will want to pack additional gear needed for such activities.

• Tent
• Sleeping bag with stuff sack
• Backpack
• Clothing
• Hiking boots (broken in and waterproofed)
• Socks (wool and liner)
• Jacket/sweater
• Rain gear
• Hat and/or stocking cap
• Shirts (long- and short-sleeve), pants, shorts (pack according to the climate you will be travelling in)
• Cook stove with extra fuel bottle
• Cook pans
• Waterproof matches or lighter
• Bear canister (if travelling in bear country)
• Rope (long enough to hang food, if necessary)
• Cup, bowl, spoon, fork, knife (sharpened)
• Water bottles or canteens
• Water filter or water treatment kit
• Garbage bags, ziplock-type bags (for packing out waste and repackaging food)
• Sun glasses
• Mosquito repellent, chapstick, sun screen
• Toilet paper (in plastic bag with additional plastic bag for packing out used paper)
• Flashlight or headlamp (with extra batteries and bulb), candle lantern
• Toiletries (toothbrush/paste, personal medications etc.)
• First-aid kit, emergency survival blanket
• Repair kits for your stove, tent, backpack, hiking boots etc.
• Camera, binoculars
• Maps, compass, field guide, guidebook

DBW – "Useful and Good"

// October 18th, 2006 // No Comments » // Uncategorized

DBW – "Brightly Shining Mind"

// October 17th, 2006 // No Comments » // Uncategorized

The brightly shining mind is never absent but is colored by the thoughts and emotions that people put upon it. If you were to see the luminous freedom of this mind, you would cultivate it before any other, keeping it free from all attachments.

-Anguttara Nikaya

Daily Insight — Slump No More

// October 16th, 2006 // No Comments » // Uncategorized

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October 16, 2006
Slump No More Every day, millions of people walk into their offices, sit down in front of their computers, curl their fingers over their keyboards, and assume an all-too-familiar posture. Computer slump—shoulders hunched toward the keyboard, back rounded, neck jutting out—isn’t exactly an ideal posture. If you spend a lot of time in this position (eight hours a day, perhaps?), your body probably holds parts of the shape even when your computer is out of sight and mind. One great way to counteract computer slump is to consistently practice gentle, chest-opening backbends. Try this: Lying back over a prop that extends along your spine will elongate the serratus, the pectoralis major, and the biceps. If you’re stiff, use a rolled sticky mat; if you’re more flexible, put two yoga blocks in line, separating them by a few inches so the support is about two feet long and six inches high. Lie back so one end of the support is near your lowest rib and the other supports your head. (If the back of your neck is compressed and your chin sticks up, place a pillow or folded blanket under your head.) Open your arms out to the sides, at about 90 degrees to your torso, and rest them on the floor. Keep your elbows straight to get some stretch in the biceps while you open your chest; to increase the pectoralis major stretch, bend your elbows to 90 degrees so that your lower arms rest on the floor alongside your ears. Practice this every day to encourage your spine to move back toward neutral.

DBW – "Agitation"

// October 16th, 2006 // No Comments » // Uncategorized

The image of an extinguished fire carried no connotations of annihilation for the early Buddhists. Rather, the aspects of fire that to them had significance for the mind-fire analogy are these: Fire, when burning, is in a state of agitation, dependence, attachment, and entrapment?both clinging and being stuck to its sustenance. Extinguished, it becomes calm, independent, indeterminate, and unattached: It lets go of its sustenance and is released.

-Thanissaro Bhikkhu, “Mind Like Fire Unbound”

From “365 Buddha: Daily Meditations,” edited by Jeff Schmidt. Reprinted by arrangement with Tarcher/Putnam, a division of Penguin Putnam Inc.

Don't saw your legs off…we like you the height you are at!

// October 13th, 2006 // No Comments » // Uncategorized

I get a news aggrandizing service which deposits news feeds on my homepage all day long. When I saw an entry about “ China warns about dangers of height-enhancing surgery” I was curious. I didn’t remember issuing any such warnings.

When I clicked, I learned that in the Country of China many wealthy young salary-men are electing to have a long and drawn out surgical process done to increase the length of the long leg bones up to am per day. The process involves something akin to sawing off the lower leg s and then applying this strange traction device so that new bone is encouraged to grow in between the gap. Over and over again.

Yipes!

Now I’m not squeamish in the least about cosmetic surgery or body modification. I know plenty of people who have done stuff to their bodies. I know beauty-conscious females who feel the need to have repeated cosmetic procedures in the pursuit of some ideal form of “beauty.” But most of these process, although they can be painful are mostly superficial. Sanding off layers of the skin. Hacking off or suctioning out excess fat and then sewing you up all nice and tight. But sawing off your legs???

What happened to elevator shoes? Vertical stripes? I’m pretty short but I’m NOT SAWING OFF MY DAMN LEGS…

Anyways…I found a clinic that actually does this, so if you want to see how they market this, check it out. Anyone remember the movie Gattaca?

I then wanted to know a little bit more about the process and who undergoes such a long and painful ordeal and I learned that it can be considered “medically conducive” if not “necessary.” I ready this story of a woman in my own home state of Ohio who spend two years in the process. It contains the wonderful quote: “ seven inches would accomplish so much more“.

Good, good. I’m really happy this is available. But I think I’m going to be happy with my height for a while, or at least I hope so. Leave my legs attached!

Daily Insight — Herbs for Your Dosha

// October 13th, 2006 // No Comments » // Uncategorized

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October 13, 2006
Herbs for Your Dosha Ayurveda teaches that the healing power of herbs is based more on their energetic nature than on their chemical nature. To utilize Ayurvedic herbs, you must understand the energetic nature of your own conditioned imbalances—as well as the energetic nature of herbs and foods—in order to restore balance. Herbal healing involves a complex interaction between two elements: the energetic nature, or prakriti, of the herbs; and the patient’s condition, or imbalance, otherwise known as the individual’s vikriti. Herbs are products of nature and store within themselves unique patterns of energy (prana), which reflect the nature of their surrounding environment, including the amount and quality of sunlight, soil nutrients, temperature, moisture, and dryness. These energies create the taste of the herb; its heating or cooling ability, its virya; its prime attributes, or gunas (whether it is sattvic, rajasic, or tamasic); and, most importantly, its post-digestive effect on the patient’s three doshas (vata, pitta, and kapha).

DBW – "Reasoning vs. Wisdom"

// October 13th, 2006 // No Comments » // Uncategorized

The king said: ‘Nagasena, he who escapes reindividualization [rebirth], is it by reasoning that he escapes it?’

‘Both by reasoning, your Majesty, and by wisdom, and by other good qualities.’

‘But are not reasoning and wisdom surely much the same?’

‘Certainly not. Reasoning is one thing, wisdom another. Sheep and goats, oxen and buffaloes, camels and asses have reasoning, but wisdom they have not.’

‘Well put, Nagasena!’

-Milindapanha 32

From “365 Buddha: Daily Meditations,” edited by Jeff Schmidt. Reprinted by arrangement with Tarcher/Putnam, a division of Penguin Putnam Inc.

DBW – Experience of Nirvana

// October 12th, 2006 // No Comments » // buddhist, wisdom

The experience of nirvana is beyond the scope of human concepts, including our reified ideas of existence and nonexistence.

Death-row prisoner gets pregnant in solitary

// October 12th, 2006 // No Comments » // Uncategorized