Beware! Vampires in Malawi

Apparently, no joke, "Angry people in Malawi stoned a government official for his alleged role in harboring vampires, who many Malawians believe are collecting blood for international aid agencies." As reported on Harpers

Is it me or has the world gone crazy?

Not my president

Inauguration day - huge crowds of people all congregating on opposite ends of the spectrum. So many chants, 1000 of coffins commemorating the thousands dead in Iraq over oil and the pursuit of "democracy". Democracy of course would be choosing to have the war. Referendums are so underused in this "free" country. Freedom of course is nothing that you are a slave to. But enough philosophy. There was a group passing out free herbal tea and chili/soup after the march to the white house. There is so much to be said for random acts of kindness and minimalization of consumerism. This was my first real protest. It was shortly followed by many many more. So far it has been a good year ;)


I guess it is four more years of the non-Zen nothing...

Saudade - longing for the past

Saudade

Cars are such funny things that we love to hate. If you don’t have one you want one, if you have one, you can’t find a place to park it. I guess a scary part of human nature is that people don’t value what they have while they have it. These days no one seems to live in the moment, they are always thinking about the future. That is everyone who isn’t a politician or corporate business tycoon. They never seem to think about the consequences or Osama Bin Laden would never have been heard of and instead some other aspiring militant leader would take his place of fame. I’m beginning to ask myself do I live in the moment? For the most part I do, in the past I was always thinking about the next holiday period, the next year, always tomorrow and never today. One day I woke up and realized how ridiculous I was being. One should stop thinking something better will come along. Seize the moment! Live in it!

But anyway, the past and the future are powerful concepts. The future is full of opportunities, aspirations – something to hope for and look forward to. The past as well plays a sweet tune. One always seems to look more favorably on things in retrospect. What was once painfully annoying ends up being longed for. I remember living in London in a large inter-university residence hall, Lillian Penson Hall, and there would always be loud music coming from somewhere. Pakistani, Middle-eastern, usually from a car. It was somewhat difficult to concentrate when the music came by (I swear it was like a mini-discotheque). Through all my yoga and meditation I have learned, if the distraction comes, well I guess it is time for a break or you are not concentrating enough on the moment. Acknowledge the distraction and then go back to what you need to. It is strange that I somehow miss the strong blasts of music. On Irving Street in Washington DC, it was the el Salvadoran bachata playing telling a guy that the love would not last. It is always so much more amusing when you understand the music. I still need to brush up on my Urdu.

Saudade is the Brazilian Portuguese (maybe Portuguese too, but it is in all the samba songs) the love and reminiscing of times past whether they be good or bad and looking fondly on the events.

I must end the post as I have reminisced enough and must seize the day. The moment is now, the past should be held on to with a nice rope that can be cut if it starts to injure you. Be kind to yourselves this year.

Schizophrenic weather

The world really has gone haywire. After the tsunami, there was snow in New Orleans, Los Angeles and other places it doesn't usually snow.

Today, the gods can't decide if they want to put on the spring or winter costume. There are dead crumpled leaves on the trees but it is sure nice and warm out. It is still is January last time I looked. I'm sure this isn't it, but it's crazy if Bush really doesn't believe in global warming...