Do Balinese still believe in Black Magic?

The Kulture Kid answers the question. And where's the heart of this stuff - right where we live Banjar Sindhu, Sanur. Yikes! - dc 

The Point

There is no point. - Kabumpkan

A Good Law

Met an American woman on the island of Lembongan who was there for a few days with her family. She and her husband are missionaries in Papua. Papua is an Indonesian province on the western part of New Guinea, the largest island after Greenland. Papua New Guinea on the east side is an independent nation. This couple has been dealing with a primitive tribe for fifteen years. She said that they were much happier and healthier now and women are no longer property. She said that when her husband first came he met a man who used to practice cannibalism. The man was friendly and kind, gave him a pineapple, and told him that human meat was even better than pig. He told how he'd butcher him if he were going to eat him, where he'd cut and so forth. But that, the man said, was long ago. Now days cannibalism is illegal - but the law and outsiders haven't reached everywhere.

Oh yes -

Happy Thanksgiving. Giving thanks all the time and thanks gives back - Thanksgiving. - dc

Lembongan continued

Riding in a Lembongan taxi on the way to the boat back to Bali proper, we met a woman from Iceland. Asked her what it's like there. "Cold," she replied.

"So how do you find Bali?" Katrinka asked.

"Hot," she said.

Lembongan

We just came back from six days at the nearby island of Lembongan, Katrinka's birthday getaway a thirty minute boat ride from here. No cars. Motor scooters and electric carts and small trucks for moving people and things. Lot of boats. More expensive than Bali proper cause everything has to be boated in. Kayaked for miles in the waves and waveless. Strenuous. Amazing to me that a body can keep going like that for hours. Water temperature was sometimes awfully warm in the shallower parts, seemed warmer than same time of year two years ago. It wasn't particularly hot either, lot of clouds. More tomorrow. 

Time to Stand Up:

 An Engaged Buddhist Manifesto for our Earth – The Buddha’s Life and Message through Feminine Eyes – Book Review- thanks John Steiner

From the Gaia man

James Lovelock: 'enjoy life while you can: in 20 years global warming will hit the fan' - in the Guardian.  

RIP

Leon Russell, great songwriter and performer.

Masquerade

Wikipedia

Thanks Oklahoma.

Super Moon from Sanur Beach

On the 14th, Katrinka and I went to nearby Sindhu beach to have dinner and watch the super moon. It was overcast and we doubted we'd see any moon, but twenty minutes after it rose, just after sunset, it appeared through clouds. Here are some shots Katrinka and a woman eating next to us took. Not incidentally, it's only 7% bigger than usual and doubtful the difference is discernible with the unaided eye, but we wanted this on our resume and it happened to be especially butiful. - dc

Farewell America

Bill Moyers on the new order - thanks Gregory

History tells us what will happen next - thanks Katrinka

How to Restore Your Faith in Democracy - thanks Brit

So many good articles. Don't plan to make a habit of linking to them but here are a few to consider. - dc

This Won't Happen because it would cause too much trouble

What about this movement to get the electors to vote for the candidate who won the most votes regardless of how their state voted? That could start now. The founders created a republic with representatives to be a buffer between the public and decisions. Electors were created somewhat to be a last check on an election. They could choose the winner of the popular vote. And then there'd be a civil war so nevermind. So even though there will surely be irreparable long lasting harm and suffering, I think the greatest blow to this menace will come from letting it play out.
And just stumbled on this in an article in the NY Post:

Clinton would need more than 20 GOP electors to go rogue and vote instead for her — a mighty tall order.

Even then, the new, Republican-controlled Congress meets Jan. 6 to approve the electoral college vote, and would certainly vote to void any roguery, handing the victory firmly back to Trump.

Leonard Cohen

RIP - glad he got that last album out. A great career and an inspiration. - dc

Rolling Stone obit

thanks Gregory

Obama said

the sun will still rise.

Louis CK

on this election - Youtube video - on Conan

And just the next island over

Indonesian Pres Jokowi blames politicians for fundamentalist furor

Hand

A person close to me recently stayed in the room of someone who had died not long ago, someone she'd known for years. Out of respect she lit incense and retorically asked the deceased for permission to stay in his room. A few hours later she went to sleep. As she was entering into that half wake half sleep state she felt a comforting hand on her shoulder. She asked herself if she just felt a hand on her shouldner and realized that yes she had for sure. Then she went to sleep feeling most welcome.

Interview with a Values Voter

A DRC video expose.

Mooji's advice for the day

Nothing nothing nothing


thanks Katrinka