The Word

Escondido River. (Tomasito photo, 2009)

Remember: "Mother Nature always has the last word."


...

US Army

Illustrator Flagg's Most Famous Poster

There is a recruiter's office in easy walking distance of our apartment and the other day I stopped to chat a bit with the recruiter--a very polite and soft-spoken California man who has been in the army many years--almost retirement age, he said.

He gave me the above recruiting poster--after all these years, still a potent ad!

This recruiter's office is in a small "mallito"-- we call it-- with a grocery store and a beauty salon and a fast-food place and like that.

You may wonder what in the world an enlistment poster is doing in a blog called "ahimsaland"--but everything is part of "ahimsa"--and there is, more than ever, a need for good soldiers.

And besides, in this depressed economy, who else is hiring kids just out of high school?

There will always be a need, I suppose, for police and warriors--there are messy, hard and dangerous duties to perform even in peaceful times--and it is still true that there is a time for all things. Everything in this world comes and goes--peace as well as war.

So I thought it would be appropriate even here in this peaceful ahimsaland blog on the eve of the Fourth of July, to honor the voluntary military caste of The United States of America.

...

Motto

My Redding Workspace 2009 (tomasito photo)

Sheldon Jackson College (Sitka, Alaska) motto:

"Do the best you can with what you have and do it now."


...

War Environment

Cain's children; Saturday June 20, 2009

In the Genesis story, Adam's son, Abel, was murdered young; his brother, Cain, his killer, lived to father children.

Mythically, we are the children of Cain and, "like father, like son", killers born.

Though we also, like gods, may change our inheritance.

(This notion is brought forward in John Steinbeck's story, East of Eden.)

War Environment

"War is an environment that will psychologically debilitate 98% of all who participate in it for any length of time and the 2% who are not driven insane by war appear to have already been insane, aggressive psychopaths before coming to the battle field."

On Killing by Lt. Col. Dave Crossman


...

Onion Flower

Onion Flower, Decorating a Salad Tray in the Deli Dept. Vallarta Market, Escondido, CA. (Tomasito photo, 2009)

When ordinary people are inspired to make even their daily tasks more beautiful--I believe it makes life a little better for all of us.

Muchas gracias gente que trabajan con spiritu bueno!

...

All Sorts

Magic Hands

"...it takes all sorts of creatures to make a world."

Badger (The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Graham)


Tomasito, 2009


...

Better Back

Me Patiently Waiting. (Tanya Photo)

Hello, all you faithful Ahimsaland People!

I am VERY glad to report that my back is MUCH better!

I am now STANDING at the computer which Tanya arranged on an enhanced table so I don't need to sit--since sitting still hurts--and I have learned a LOT about BACK pain!

There is nothing like serious pain to really grab your attention!

Would you like to get a recommendation for a good program for back pain relief?

I thought so.

The book is Banish Back Pain the Pilates Way (By Anna Selby) and it is excellent.

Real good back pain is a terrific motivator!

Man, I'm BREATHING DEEPLY, I'm working on my "Girdle of Strength" muscles, I'm relaxing out of any stress and all like that! (LOVE that yogic CORPSE POSE!)

Another thing I've noticed is that a good, easy bowel movement is better than a feast! (A cup of hot prune juice does it for me!)

And NO DOCTORS!

Ahimsaland Forever!

Tomasito 2009


...