Donkey Food - Flavor of the season

It seems that our sweet persimmon has taken over as flavor of the moment. It is in candles, lotions, all over the farmers market in San Francisco. Vova says that in Georgia Persimmons are fed to the donkeys. I say that they are lucky little devils aren't they.

Persimmon: such an inocuous little fruit yet surprising

The most surprising thing happened to me today when eating a persimmon. I believed it to be ripe, or at least mostly ripe, and alas that was not the case. Upon taking a bite, it seemed as though all moisture from my mouth disappeared and everything turned to rubber. It seems to paralyze those parts of the mouth rendering it numb. At first I thought it was poisonous but with putting more liquid in the mouth, the sensation subsided. It is a strange strange strange feeling. I think I am going to stop now. This website said some can be sour. The author didn't mention, that some numb your mouth. Obviously this one is not ripe.

Ken and Barbie want government accountability

Even Barbie Dolls Protest in Washington

Ramadan: Clarity in Fasting

Reflecting upon my first fast, you would be surprised how much energy you have with only drinking healthy "lemonade" (a concoction of lemons, molasses, honey, cayenne, mint and warm water). I swam over 2500km and have been active all day. For some reason, I seem to be able to see things more clearly. I was contemplating on one of my moments of meditation during the day about what fasting is and how it is different from anorexia. I mean fasting is not eating at all where anorexia is eating quite little. The only difference is perhaps the mental state and the duration of time you perform your action. Having just looking up the words on Websters, one would be much more confused not understanding the terms otherwise. It says fasting is "to abstain from food" and anorexia is "loss of appetite". I was thinking the difference is in the morality.

Fasting is abstaining for purpose, either clarity, detoxing, worship, suffer (if that is how your religion views it). Anorexia for me is at least, self-induced deprivation from food due to mental instability. I don't think it is as easy to pin down as "loss of appetite". Having known several anorexic people in my life, and no I could never be one of them. I enjoy cooking and tasting food too much. Fasting is different. It is refreshing to feel light and that you can bend for yoga without feel like you are compressing food. It is amazing how much weight is lost in fasting as well. Not that I was doing it for weight reasons, but that is proof that people need to fast more often to cleanse their system so that food can be processed. Especially if you are of the ayurvedic constitution of kapha. Apparently we can fast for days. For me this first time, one is enough. I awoke this morning to find an ambulance and firetruck in front of my house, not for me, also to find that today marks Ramadan. Having been to several Muslim countries, and one during Ramadan, I have great respect for people who fast all day. It is an amazing experience to watch, especially as it is not just only food but cigarettes, sex, and other "impure" things.

I will never forget waking up in the medina of Fez in Morocco to the sound of the thirty mosques around me calling people to prayer and the orange sky dotted with minarets greeting the people to prayer. It was one of the most powerful moments of my life. Hearing and understanding that type of power and devotion encompassed all into one moment. Like a muted soft but suddently ever clear understanding of the world, while you are still in a some what dream like state.

As I broke fast this morning with my beloved thoroughly appreciating the sweet red papaya and nuttiness of buckwheat, I pass my energy out the cosmos and the individuals who will be fasting this month.

Salaam

Flip FLOP?

For anyone who has been listening to Bush's diatribe against Kerry, please reference the following website to arm yourself in your defense: http://seanbonner.com/flipflop/

It is an excellent advertising campaign of the new line of sandals for all different occasions from stomping on human liberties to finding WMD. ;)

Sex Slaves in US prisons?

So after you eat your candy bar in the Washington subway system, try to stay out of jail as guards are selling female inmates last year as sex slaves to male prisoners. The settlement they received? $500,000.

Number of the 9 prison employees named in the women's lawsuit, charged with selling the women as sex slaves to male prisoners, who were charged with a crime: 0

Isn't this a great "democracy"? I think what bothers me most about this fact is the simple truth that humans don't seem to respect other humans in the USA. Perhaps this is the case around the world but at least here it is true. The fact that prison guards don't value their authority really undermines the simple fabric of democracy. For some reason, this does not seem like a threat to national security but a Pakistani American with a "illicit" library reading list is.

So it goes.

Woman arrested for eating candy bar in Washington DC subway

As I continue living here in Washington with cowboys and authoratative robots trying to impose their version of "civil liberties" on the metropolis, I try to explain to foreigners and outsiders to this surreal reality of Washington. I usually start off with, try to avoid Dulles if possible as the airport security attempt to degrade you and are paid to have no sense of humor. Then continue on to the metro system needs to produce a manual so that people of all sizes and places learn etiquette on passing on escalators since traffic jams of people is a constant problem. It would probably be safer to say, go to New York, as the metro police have decided they want to be human rights abusers as well. Granted, you are not supposed to eat/drink/be happy in metro system, but still, there is always a fine line in enforcing those rules isn't there.

As a pregnant woman is thrown to the grown for cursing on a mobile phone and another is arrested for eating candy in the metro, it is clear to me why there is little democracy in the US. A lot of people would be out of their bureaucratic jobs...

More than 5 times, have I seen police officers drive with mobile phones in hand, despite the introduction of the obligatory use of hands-free devices while driving in DC. For some reason everyone thinks the law doesn't apply to them. As everyone is human, humans are imperfect, and power tends to lead to corruption. It is safe to say, learn the facts and question authority and laws before we are really find ourseles with little yellow stars or big "I"'s on driver's licenses for "illegal" aliens or "H" for homosexual or whatever. The Illegal thing really was on the ballot in California. They proposed giving foreigners trying to get green cards who were here without visas driver's licenses but identifying themselves as "I" illegal. Very progressive, right?

So, be respectful, learn the laws, and charmingly challenge what you deem not to be just. They can't put ALL of us in jail...can they? ;) maybe if the loony cowboy stays in town.

Unity

Unity



Contemplation



Biking at sunset

A new meaning of happiness

As a yoga practioner, philosopher, artist etc, I have often pondered the concept of what is happiness. Some say a beautiful sunset, world peace, harmony with nature. All of that is true, but nothing compares to taking off a big feathery headress digging into your forehead and removing the string which causes pantyhose to cut lines across you legs. I have finally been indoctrinated into the secret world of how to dress in those cute beaded bikinis that sambistas wear. I will be in better shape for the next show. I had almost forgotten how much fun it is to feel like you are going to take flight. i do prefer wearing the cute wings with feathers on the back but you can't really walk in them. So many memories of London carnaval and not daring to drink too much water for A. finding a bathroom was hard in carnaval route B. you'd be lucky to not destroy your costume getting to the bathroom and C. managing to get out and back into it in under 20 minutes. Yes, boys it is THAT complicated. Somehow it is still so much fun.

It has been awhile since I have last wrote, so much new has happened. I am living in my own apartment with my lovely beau and started bringing justice and money to the world with my new job. It will indeed be exciting. We have yet to have our housewarming, as the house is still cold and not warm and ready yet. :) This new job in tobacco control has put a damper on going out anywhere as DC is not smoke free yet.

That will hopefully be soon.

The lightness of early afternoon on U St.

Sweet Afternoon