Tomasito, 2008 (Tanya photo)
Tomasito
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Tomasito
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Saturday, December 20, 2008
Friday, December 19, 2008
Power Cables
Powerlines from the Sacramento River dams. (Tomasito photo)Power Cables
There are two immense dams very near our apartment: Shasta Dam, which is a colossal structure and Keswick Dam--much smaller than Shasta, but very large.
These dams have changed the ecology of the Sacramento River in ways so fundamentally destructive that it is difficult to understand why they were built--except that the work was done in the days when Americans actually believed that they were godlike in their power to change nature for the better--to serve the needs of man as it were--more efficiently than nature could do it.
These huge blocks of concrete will, no doubt, be here as ruins for many, many, many human generations--if indeed humans continue to thrive on this planet which becomes more doubtful day by day.
The purposes for which the dams were made--the generation of electric power, flood control and, perhaps, recreation--are all becoming obsolete, while their destruction of habitat and general upset of nature are becoming more apparent all the time.
These dams have changed the ecology of the Sacramento River in ways so fundamentally destructive that it is difficult to understand why they were built--except that the work was done in the days when Americans actually believed that they were godlike in their power to change nature for the better--to serve the needs of man as it were--more efficiently than nature could do it.
These huge blocks of concrete will, no doubt, be here as ruins for many, many, many human generations--if indeed humans continue to thrive on this planet which becomes more doubtful day by day.
The purposes for which the dams were made--the generation of electric power, flood control and, perhaps, recreation--are all becoming obsolete, while their destruction of habitat and general upset of nature are becoming more apparent all the time.
Tomasito, 2008
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Thursday, December 18, 2008
Hoop of Nations
The "hoop of nations", painted papier mache by Tomasito, 2008.The Hoop of Nations
Some years ago I read a book called "Black Elk Speaks" by John Neihardt.
The book was a very interesting read and really caught my imagination.
The book is an autobiography of an Oglala Sioux holy man who lived at the time of the Ghost Dance and the Indian Wars in North America.
The book is currently in print and easy to obtain. I recommend it.
One of the most powerful visionary images recounted in the book is that of a "hoop of the nations"--a circular hoop crossed by two roads one good red road and one bad black road. Where these symbolic roads cross--in the center of the hoop stands a "stick" which becomes a blooming tree.
I have used this image as an inspiration for a model of this vision. A photo of this artwork heads today's blog.
The book was a very interesting read and really caught my imagination.
The book is an autobiography of an Oglala Sioux holy man who lived at the time of the Ghost Dance and the Indian Wars in North America.
The book is currently in print and easy to obtain. I recommend it.
One of the most powerful visionary images recounted in the book is that of a "hoop of the nations"--a circular hoop crossed by two roads one good red road and one bad black road. Where these symbolic roads cross--in the center of the hoop stands a "stick" which becomes a blooming tree.
I have used this image as an inspiration for a model of this vision. A photo of this artwork heads today's blog.
Tomasito, 2008
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Wednesday, December 17, 2008
Sleep Warm
Warm blankets--good sleeping! (Tomasito, photo)Thanks for the warm, woolly serape, Bro Jack, and thanks for the $3.00 warm blanket "The Attic" shop!
Sleeping Warm
Sleeping warm is Very Good.
I have pilgrimmed a lot in my life--and sometimes that meant sleeping rough--sometimes very rough.
I have slept outdoors miles from any shelter in cold and driving rain.
Once---only once, thank goodness--I slept in a frozen field in snow as more snow fell with only an old coat for warmth.
I have slept in barns with cows--Very Nice!
And I have slept under freeway bridges--Noisy.
But when I am not pilgrimming and when I have a choice--give me a warm, dry bed with lots of warm covers.
That's what I REALLY like!
The Dalai Lama--who ought to know--says the purpose of life is to be happy and life yields quite a few possibilities for happiness.
But for me--NOTHING, absolutely NOTHING--beats waking up on a freezing cold morning--the kind where your breath is visible as steam--in a nice, warm bed.
I have pilgrimmed a lot in my life--and sometimes that meant sleeping rough--sometimes very rough.
I have slept outdoors miles from any shelter in cold and driving rain.
Once---only once, thank goodness--I slept in a frozen field in snow as more snow fell with only an old coat for warmth.
I have slept in barns with cows--Very Nice!
And I have slept under freeway bridges--Noisy.
But when I am not pilgrimming and when I have a choice--give me a warm, dry bed with lots of warm covers.
That's what I REALLY like!
The Dalai Lama--who ought to know--says the purpose of life is to be happy and life yields quite a few possibilities for happiness.
But for me--NOTHING, absolutely NOTHING--beats waking up on a freezing cold morning--the kind where your breath is visible as steam--in a nice, warm bed.
Tomasito, 2008
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Tuesday, December 16, 2008
Merican Pie
As Merican as Apple Pie! (Tomasito photo)
That's about as GOOD as it GETS!
Tomasito, 2008
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Home baked apple pie!
Home Baked apple pie!!
Home Baked Apple pie!!!
Home Baked Apple Pie!!!!
Home Baked apple pie!!
Home Baked Apple pie!!!
Home Baked Apple Pie!!!!
That's about as GOOD as it GETS!
Tomasito, 2008
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