Snake Fruit Seed Necklace

Kelly collected the salak seeds while in Bali and made this.

Kelly Chadwick cuke page

Voting for Survival

I'm used to voting for whom I see as the best leader over our expansive empire even though I am appealed at much of what we do. I'm sure I'll vote for her but I worry about Hillary's hawk. Read this in Common Ground about the grimness reaped.

Seems to me that being on as friendly terms with Russia as possible is of great importance as is reducing our nuclear weapons to below higher species including us-terminating levels. We're always on the verge of a catastrophic nuclear war and we including our leaders don't seem to be able to keep that in mind. So to me we're insane and getting to a place of nuclear sanity is the most important goal.
Even though Trump is now the most Russia friendly candidate, obviously that could quickly change to furious with and want to destroy and many are worried about an unstable Trump getting the nuclear codes - and that's an area he can act in unilaterally (read this), but the very existence of the codes and civilization and biosphere as we know it ending bomb levels, is the primary mistake when we consider the enormous gamble we're taking,
I've been in Germany and Switzerland this month and some of the politically aware people I've talked to are more worried about Hillary's hawks pushing on Russia's periphery leading to a nuclear war with Russia - which would kill all of them and everyone else as collateral damage.But I think there's more hope with her and who knows what with him. Seems to me he's not emotionally mature or stable.

When the Bible talks about people becoming evil and being destroyed by an angry god, to me it's just a metaphor for people getting involved in harmful, suicidal behavior that led to their demise and often that of others. There has never been any situation this evil with a promise of such enormous harm. Our violent foreign policy will create and attract more violence and makes us accident prone. A nuclear war between the US and Russia would most likely be an accident that was preventable had we taken sane precautions. There wouldn't be anyone around for long to point out how stupid that idea of defense was. I pray that our leaders take another course. If we don't demand that then to me we're co-destroyers. But I don't know what to do other than tiny actions like writing this and then tend to the trivia of my life.

Species Threat #1: Nuclear War (a cuke page)

George Lakoff

Understanding Trump

Insightful and useful.

Don't worry. Nothing can go wrong.

H Bombs in Turkey - Eric Schlosser in the New Yorker - thanks Michael Katz

cuke page for Species Threat #1 - Nuclear War 

Big Demonstraition near our place

Here's a piece Katrinka wrote on the demonstration at the beach we mainly go to.

Tolak Reklamasi  Benoa

Sanur Bali Demonstration

Sunday 17 July 2016

South Bali is known for i its charming rice terraces, white sand beaches, abundant fresh coconut water and tropical fruits, but underneath this brave exterior lie huge environmental issues on this island of the Gods and Goddesses. The overload of plastic and trash litter is simply the beginning. Overbuilding is king and foremost in this realm is the reclamation plan in the area of Benoa Bay,

now declared  sacred  by Balinese high priests. This duel between Governor Mangku Pastika and the voice of the people regarding the reclamation plan of Tanjung Benoa has been going on for quite some time.

Banners and T shirts were seen from east, west and south Bali on Sunday, 17 July, 2016 in Sanur haling from Negara, Kesiman, Klungkung, Legian, Kuta, Denpasar and Sanur to name a few were seen.  Maybe 1000 or more mostly young Bali men but some young women formed a human shield blocking the Bypass at Jalan Buyan and carrying large flags declaring TOLAK REKLAMASI as far as the eye could see for several hours beginning at 2 PM. The rally called for the revocation of former President Yudhoyono’s Presidential Decree No. 51 of 2014 that authorized the development of lands once declared as a protected nature reserve. Leading was a traditional baleganjur orchestra.  Balinese offerings were made to the ocean and Hyang Baruna – the Lord of the Seas.

The procession then marched to Segara Beach for music ranging from Reggae and then the hard rock sounds of Superman is Dead set up on a stage at the end of Segara Jetty.  It was low tide so the scene was complete with Mosh pit. The air was fllled Infectious energy. The event was sponsored by the traditional village of Sanur, and involved the villages of Sanur, Intaran and Penyaringan.

The protestors introduced a new element to their cause by carrying a 70-meter-long trail of cloth to symbolize the 700-hectares that will be reclaimed by the project.  A village official proclaimed that the people of Sanur will oppose the proposed reclamation project “until their last drop of blood is shed”.

The police presence was heavy but friendly. Their staging area was at the football field in the old Maisionette Area on Inna Grand Beach Bali property. The peace reigned. No alcohol was seen, contributing to this atmosphere. May this spirit prevail.

Big Demonstraition near our place

Here's a piece Katrinka wrote on the demonstration at the beach we mainly go to.

Tolak Reklamasi  Benoa

Sanur Bali Demonstration

Sunday 17 July 2016

South Bali is known for i its charming rice terraces, white sand beaches, abundant fresh coconut water and tropical fruits, but underneath this brave exterior lie huge environmental issues on this island of the Gods and Goddesses. The overload of plastic and trash litter is simply the beginning. Overbuilding is king and foremost in this realm is the reclamation plan in the area of Benoa Bay,

now declared  sacred  by Balinese high priests. This duel between Governor Mangku Pastika and the voice of the people regarding the reclamation plan of Tanjung Benoa has been going on for quite some time.

Banners and T shirts were seen from east, west and south Bali on Sunday, 17 July, 2016 in Sanur haling from Negara, Kesiman, Klungkung, Legian, Kuta, Denpasar and Sanur to name a few were seen.  Maybe 1000 or more mostly young Bali men but some young women formed a human shield blocking the Bypass at Jalan Buyan and carrying large flags declaring TOLAK REKLAMASI as far as the eye could see for several hours beginning at 2 PM. The rally called for the revocation of former President Yudhoyono’s Presidential Decree No. 51 of 2014 that authorized the development of lands once declared as a protected nature reserve. Leading was a traditional baleganjur orchestra.  Balinese offerings were made to the ocean and Hyang Baruna – the Lord of the Seas.

The procession then marched to Segara Beach for music ranging from Reggae and then the hard rock sounds of Superman is Dead set up on a stage at the end of Segara Jetty.  It was low tide so the scene was complete with Mosh pit. The air was fllled Infectious energy. The event was sponsored by the traditional village of Sanur, and involved the villages of Sanur, Intaran and Penyaringan.

The protestors introduced a new element to their cause by carrying a 70-meter-long trail of cloth to symbolize the 700-hectares that will be reclaimed by the project.  A village official proclaimed that the people of Sanur will oppose the proposed reclamation project “until their last drop of blood is shed”.

The police presence was heavy but friendly. Their staging area was at the football field in the old Maisionette Area on Inna Grand Beach Bali property. The peace reigned. No alcohol was seen, contributing to this atmosphere. May this spirit prevail.

Rootin for the Home Boys

The Homeless World Cup is happening in Glasgow now and my bud Danu, best man at my wedding a year ago, is on the Indonesian team. Posted about Danu here on June 28. Going to the page for the Indonesian team, there's Danu's whole name: W Danu Hendro Prasetyoko. I see the team name is Rumah Cemara which means Pine House though I don't know if there's some other meaning or implication. I see on their page they've won more games than lost - beat Scottland and beat Costa Rica yesterday. Katrinka watched it online. I'll ask her when the next game is and maybe I can catch some of it. - dc

Giant Kite

July and August are great months in Bali with a lot of kites. Sorry I missed this one not far from where we live. 

Johanneshof 20th

This is the main building of Johanneshof, Dharma Sangha's German retreat. Here's the page it came from with more (the zendo photo is the prior location). Just celebrated 20th anniversary. Couple hundred people came for the weekend. Shunryu's son Hoitsu Suzuki and his wife Chitose came for a week and joined Richard Baker in officiating the excellent brief preliminary ceremony installing the new zendo which is quite usable but not yet with raised tans being boated over from Len Bracket's shop. Lots of festivities, feasting, dancing, engaging. Good vibes. - dc

From Japan

Andrew Atkeison has some neat recent posts on his Iron Flute blog.

Read the Instructions

A woman who said she had a professor in the states who gave a test with several pages of questions. Students rushed through trying to answer all the questions as fast as they could trying to complete the test in the time allotted. When that time came the prof told them to go back and read the instructions. Most had skipped over that. The instructions said not to answer any questions. A few students passed that test. Wonder what subject they were studying.

In the Air

On the way to Zurich, an hour or so from Dharma Sangha's Johanneshof in the Black Forest for their 20th anniversary and Zentatsu Richard Baker's 80th birthday. Will return in a month. First time out of Asia since early December 2013.Great photo of Johanneshof and surrounding area on their site in German. - dc

Forgot most important thing in world

Forgot to link to the Jerry Brown Article on the imminent danger of nuclear weapons disaster yesterday but it's there now. Was obviously distracted by one of the multitude of less important things. - dc

cuke page for Species Threat #1 - Nuclear War 

Most important thing in the world

A Stark Nuclear Warning - by CA gov Jerry Brown, a review in the NY Review of Books.

cuke page for Species Threat #1 - Nuclear War