Happy New Year!

Making statement 

By Andrew Cohen

When you look at spiritual life in an evolutionary context, you cannot see yourself and your own development as separate from the entire cosmic continuum of the life process. And this creates a profound moral context for your own spiritual evolution - a moral imperative to transform yourself. Why? Because you and the process are one. 

Think about it - if you are the highest expression, as far as we know, of the leading edge of the entire evolutionary unfolding, then what you do is always a reflection of the process itself. The way in which you engage with the world is a statement about how you see and understand the process that gave life to you. The expression of your own humanity - your greater or lesser degree of inspired moral development, higher virtue, and spiritual enlightenment - is an expression of what the leading edge of the process actually is. Your life - the life you are living right now - is a public event, an evolutionary event, an event that says something significant about Life itself. The way you are, as an individual, is your personal contribution to what evolution looks like here and now. 

If you aspire to live an exemplary life - if you strive to express the most deeply positive capacities in the human soul, and actually succeed, to some degree - then you are making a very positive statement about our shared evolutionary process. But if you choose, consciously or unconsciously, to live a life of mediocrity, then you are also making a statement. Because you are not flourishing, what you're saying, whether you intend to or not, is that the evolutionary process is not flourishing. 

So when you begin to recognize that your own presence here in this world is part of something infinitely bigger than yourself, you feel a sense of obligation awakening within you - a spiritually inspired obligation to be the very best you can be for the sake of the process itself. And the way you respond to that obligation, to that sense of cosmic responsibility, is by demonstrating that the process is profoundly positive, indeed the process is sacred, through your own example, through your own victory, through your own tangible and unmistakable higher development.

In this spirit, wishing everyone an amazing New Year! With Love Light and Laughter - Dominique

Andrew Cohen Official Website

Spiritual Message in Avatar Movie

Genre: Science Fiction, Action, Adventure, Thriller

Directorr: James Cameron

Screenplay: James Cameron

Starring: Sam Worthington, Zoe Saldana, Sigourney Weaver, Michelle Rodriguez, Giovanni Ribisi, Joel David Moore, CCH Pounder, Peter Mensah, Laz Alonso, Wes Studi, Stephen Lang

Soundtrack: James Horner

Length: 162 minutes

Budget: estimated $425 Million 

Plot: Jake Sully, a former US marine confined to a wheel chair, arrives on the moon Pandora on a unique mission as a replacement for his diseased twin brother. Soon, he becomes torn between his duty to follow orders and the need to protect and save the the civilization he was introduced to. 

Avatar - a long anticipated movie by James Cameron opened nationwide on the December 18th after four years of actual production process. Although the plot is not very original and rather predictable and the characters somewhat one-dimensional, the new technology especially developed for the movie takes the viewer into a new dimension. It is a unique, unforgettable cinematic experience, a visual extravaganza, if the film is watched in 3D. Spectacular images almost literally let one directly participate in the enchanting world of the Na'vi civilization.

Avatar is the epitome of James Cameron's creative work. It is the director's Opus Magnum with a powerful environmental message that everything is interconnected. All beings are connected to nature and must respect its wisdom. Materialistic exploitation of nature brings doom to those ignorant of the fact that we can only survive in symbiotic connection with the environment. This is a timely message in the face of the continuous environmental destruction here on our planet Earth, where the need of technological progress and the urge to maximize profits alienated us from the wisdom of the indigenous cultures and that of our own ancestors.

The scenario is set in the year 2154. Most of the natural resources on Earth have been depleted through excessive and ruthless exploitation. A mission is set to use military force to conquer Pandora - a moon roughly the size of the Earth. Pandora is rich in an unique mineral that is desperately needed on Earth. Pandora is inhabited by a wise, peaceful, and nature-loving blue skinned beings who call themselves the Na'vi. They are warriors and ready to protect their habitat. They understand and respect their connection with nature. They worship a pantheistic deity they called Eywa. Their universe is reminiscent of the Buddhist concept of the Jewel Net of Indra as postulated by the Hwa Yen sect. Everything is interconnected. Everything forms an organic unity. Everything contains the Whole and is, at the same time, an inherent part of it. The Na'vi have the ability to transcend their individuality and see themselves as inherent elements of a bigger structure, a Gaia-like organism - the all encompassing global Consciousness. They possess neural connection fibers that allow them to connect to all other living beings on Pandora and thus become ONE with everything that lives. They are able to communicate with every living being on the planet and to access the collective memory of their race. They trust in the healing power of Nature and believe that all their energy is borrowed and has to be returned once they die.

In the Hindu tradition, avatars are the reincarnations of deities sent to save the mankind in times of great peril. In Cameron's movie, avatars are hybrid beings. They are genetically engineered Na'vi who are powered by the human consciousness that is temporarily transferred into their bodies. They were created by human scientists who intended to investigate the Na'vi culture. The project, however, is high jacked by a greedy corporation whose only intention is the exploitation of the planet's resources. A battle ensues and eventually, Jake Sully in the hybrid avatar body becomes a savior for the Na'vi. If we, however, look at this from a different perspective, Jake Sully is our avatar and here to save us, the viewers. He is here to open our eyes and save us as a race, a species, on the brink of self-destruction.

"I've wanted to make this movie from the time I wrote the treatment 11 years ago. I was just biding my time for when it was going to be technically possible. I'm so invested in the 3-D, and I love the challenge of creating an alien culture. We're creating a world from scratch, so it's really fun." James Cameron

James Cameron speaks on many levels. While depicting a fantastic culture, the film addresses a whole spectrum of contemporary issues:

• Profit seeking corporation ruthlessly destroying both, environment and the indigenous cultures - the destruction of the Amazon jungles comes to mind immediately
• Lack of respect for the habitats of other living creatures - urban and agricultural expansion to satisfy the needs of a senselessly uncontrolled growth of Earth's population
• Controversial military expeditions to secure resources

The movie sends a powerful message to contemporary viewers. The senseless expansion and destruction of our environment has a butterfly effect. It affects all life on Earth. The wisdom that once was inherent to all cultures, was destroyed in the West with the onset of the Industrial Revolution. Technological progress has its price as can be seen in the daily news and reports about environmental catastrophes in both, developed and developing countries. We became the invaders destroying our own habitat. Those who accuse Cameron of being anti-technology, anti-progress, and anti-human, missed the point. Our modern technology is a double edged sword. It has enormous potential to create and to destroy. If we as civilization do not collectively reflect on our attitudes and practices, we will have to pay the highest price - self annihilation. And we will not be the first civilization that died out. Cameron does not postulate that we have to give up technology. We have to learn how to use it to "defend" the environment in which we live.

Paradigm change is badly needed and there is a strong tendency to create new awareness. Jake Sully learns about the Na'vi culture and becomes a member of the clan in the body of an avatar - a genetically engineered being in which human DNA is morphed with that of the Na'vi. He undergoes a personal "metamorphose". He has to resolve his own inner conflict and make a choice. His transformation illustrates the evolution of the mind. He returns to the state of innocence integrating at the same time the knowledge and values of a human being. He is the wounded hero who undergoes initiation and emerges as a savior.

There is a lot of optimism in Cameron's message as the good wins the battle against the ignorant. We can only survive as species when we learn to respect nature and the wisdom of our ancestors. And we must remember that we did not only inherit our planet from our ancestors. We borrowed it from our children.

By Dominique Allmon
Image credit here



James Cameron - Spiritual Message in Avatar Movie by Dominique Allmon is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License.

A Cup of Tea

 

Nan-in, a Japanese master during the Meiji era (1868-1912), received a university professor who came to inquire about Zen.

Nan-in served tea. He poured his visitor's cup full, and then kept on pouring.

The professor watched the overflow until he no longer could restrain himself. "It is overfull. No more will go in!"

"Like this cup," Nan-in said, "you are full of your own opinions and speculations. How can I show you Zen unless you first empty your cup?"

"We are cups, constantly and quietly being filled. The trick is knowing how to tip ourselves over and let the beautiful stuff out."

By Ray Bradbury, American Author

Image source unknown but greatly appreciated

The Legend of Mistletoe

"Mystical power of mistletoe and the tradition of kissing under the mistletoe owe itself to the legend of Goddess Frigga and her son Balder. Frigga was the Goddess of Love and her son, Balder, was the God of the Summer Sun. Once, Balder dreamt of his death. He was worried and told his mother about the strange dream. Frigga was worried not only for the life of her son but also for the life on Earth because she knew that without Balder, all life on Earth would come to an end. Thus, she did her utmost to avoid such a mishap and went everywhere and to every being in air, water, fire and earth to extract a promise that they would never harm her son. She was promised safety of her son by every animal and plant under and above the Earth. However, Loki, the God of Evil, who was the enemy of Balder and always had evil designs in his mind, was aware that there was one plant that Frigga had overlooked. It grew on apple and oak trees and was known as Mistletoe. Thus, Loki made an arrow and placed Mistletoe at its tip. He then beguiled the blind brother of Balder known as Hoder, the God of Winter, and made him shoot this arrow at Balder. Balder immediately was poisoned and died. Everybody was worried as the Earth turned cold and life became dreary. Every creature tried to bring Balder back to life for three days but it was finally Frigga who managed to revive her son with the help of Mistletoe. Her tears on the plant became pearly white berries and she blessed the plant anyone who stands under the mistletoe plant would never be harmed and would be entitled to a kiss as a token of love."

Christmas coincides with the Winter solstice which was honored in many ancient cultures. In ancient Rome this day was celebrated as the Dies Natalis Invicti Solis, the birth of the Sun god. Many rituals that are associated with Christmas today derive their origins from Pagan worship and celebrations. 

The Christmas tree is one such example. The tree represents Axis Mundi that connects heaven and earth. It is a symbol common to all cultures of the northern Europe that celebrated the winter solstice. It was a custom to bring evergreen trees into the homes as a reminder that the winter will be over soon and the crops would grow again. Evergreen boughs were often carried as symbols of good luck and were often present at weddings where they represented fertility. The Druids used the tree as a religious symbol, holding their sacred ceremonies while surrounding and worshiping huge trees.

Wishing everyone  a healthy and peaceful Christmas. 
May your hearts be filled with joy!

Dominique Allmon

21st December - Winter Solstice

Michael Kenna

On the 21st December our Winter officially begins. For some of us real, white Winter began already a few weeks ago. It is incredibly cold here, but the world looks so pretty!

Here is an article about the Winter solstice. I hope you will enjoy reading it.

Winter Solstice Tradition

"Winter solstice is the shortest day and the longest night of the year. Traditionally, it is a time of both foreboding and expectancy, as the longest night leads to the revival of the sun. And yet it is a turning point, when the sun reaches its southernmost point from the equator and seems to pause before reversing course. “Solstice” in Latin means “the sun standing still.”

In ancient times, observers watched the sun sink lower in the sky each day, and feared it would disappear completely and leave them in darkness.

People practiced special rituals intended to entice the sun’s return. Bonfires and candles, with their imitative magic, helped fortify the waning sun and ward off the spirits of darkness. These symbols live on in our modern seasonal customs: the candles of Hanukkah and Christmas are kin to the fiery rites of old, which celebrated the miracle of the earth’s renewal.

These traditions reflect our need to come together in times of extended darkness. We celebrate not only the rebirth of the sun, but the community of life on earth."

Quoted from SOLSTICE JOURNEY - PAUL WINTER'S WEBSITE 

The image credit here

Ancient Angel

Ancient Angel by Ofri Cnaani

Angels are the guardians of hope and wonder, the keepers of magic and dreams. Wherever there is love, an angel is flying by. Your guardian angel knows you inside and out, and loves you just the way you are. Angels keep it simple and always travel light. Remember to leave space in your relationships so the angels have room to play. Your guardian angel helps you find a place when you feel there is no place to go. Whenever you feel lonely, a special angel drops in for tea. Angels are with you every step of the way and help you soar with amazing grace. After all, we are angels in training. All we have to do is spread our wings and fly...

Author unknown but greatly appreciated

Image credit here

The First Snow

It was snowing for the whole day... And it looks like we are going to have real nice, white Christmas over here. To share the joy with you, here is a poem The first Snow by James Russell Lowell

The snow had begun in the gloaming,

And busily all the night

Had been heaping field and highway

with a silence deep and white.

Every pine and fir and hemlock

wore ermine too dear for an earl,

And the poorest twig on the elm-tree

Was ridged inch deep in pearl.

From sheds new-roofed with Carrara

Came Chanticleer's muffled crow,

The stiff rails were softened to swan's-down,

And still fluttered down the snow.

I stood and watched by the window

The noiseless work of the sky,

And the sudden flurries of snow-birds,

Like brown leaves whirling by.

I thought of a mound in sweet Auburn

Where a little headstone stood;

How the flakes were folding it gently,

As did robins the babes in the wood.

Up spoke our own little Mabel,

Saying, "Father, who makes it snow?"

And I told of the good All-father

Who cares for us here below.

Again I looked at the snow-fall,

And thought of the leaden sky

That arched o'er our first great sorrow,

When that mound was heaped so high.

I remembered that gradual patience

That fell from that cloud-like snow,

Flake by flake, healing and hiding

The scar of our deep-plunged woe.

And again to the child I whispered,

"The snow that husheth all,

Darling, the merciful Father

Alone can make it fall!"

Then, with eyes that saw not, I kissed her;

And she, kissing back, could not know

That my kiss was given to her sister,

Folded close under deepening snow.

National Cupcake Day

 

Here is a sweet recipe to celebrate the National Cupcake Day. Enjoy! 

~ Chocolate Cupcake Recipe ~

Ingredients:

• 2 cups all purpose flour
• 2 cups sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 cup shortening
• 3/4 cup water
• 2 large eggs
• 3/4 cup milk
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 4 ounces melted unsweetened  baking chocolate

Directions:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Line cupcake pans with paper liners.
• Combine all ingredients into large mixing bowl.  Mix at low speed for 30 seconds and scrape the bowl.  Mix at high speed for 3 minutes.
• Fill liners 1/2 to 2/3 full with batter.  Bake 20 to 25 minutes or until toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
• Cool for 10 minutes, then remove from pan and place on wire racks to cool completely.
• Frost and decorate when chocolate cupcakes cooled completely. Enjoy in good company!

Recipe source here
Image credit here

Winter Landscape, With Rooks

Winter landscape, with rooks

by Sylvia Plath

Water in the millrace, through a sluice of stone,
plunges headlong into that black pond
where, absurd and out-of-season, a single swan
floats chaste as snow, taunting the clouded mind
which hungers to haul the white reflection down.

The austere sun descends above the fen,
an orange cyclops-eye, scorning to look
longer on this landscape of chagrin;
feathered dark in thought, I stalk like a rook,
brooding as the winter night comes on.

Last summer's reeds are all engraved in ice
as is your image in my eye; dry frost
glazes the window of my hurt; what solace
can be struck from rock to make heart's waste
grow green again? Who'd walk in this bleak place?

Image credit here

Happy Bodhi Day!

Buddhists all over the world celebrate the Bodhi Day on the 8th December. This day honors the enlightenment of Siddhartha Gautama Buddha.

As Shakyamuni strove for final enlightenment Mara saw that if this would be accomplished his hold over men would be broken and the Buddha would be able to show men the WAY that liberates from suffering. Mara tried to distract Shakyamuni by sending hordes of demons to torment him but he did not fear them.

When that failed Mara sent his most beautifull daughter to seduce him but as she stands before Shakyamuni she is seen to be a ugly hag, where-upon Mara admits absolute defeat.

Shakyamuni moved his right (bhumisparsa mudra) hand from his lap to touch the ground, stating "the earth is my witness". This act of unwavering resolve caused Mara and his army of demons and temptresses to disperse, and Shakyamuni then experience his great enlightenment."

Happy Bodhi Day to all of you!

Image credit here

Karol Bąk

Jantar cycle, Karol Bąk 2008

Karol Bąk is a painter, illustrator, graphic artist. He was born in 1961 in Kolo, Poland. He studied at the Academy of Fine Arts in Poznan and graduated in 1989.  Since then he has had 17 solo exhibitions and taken part in 10 group exhibitions. He paints using oil on canvas and  often works on a few paintings at the same time. Karol Bąk creates realistic canvasses with many of his figurative works being inspired by myth and mythology. He works and lives in Poznan, Poland.

Image credit here

Artist's website  Karol Bąk Art

Quote of the Day

What if you gave someone a gift, and they neglected to thank you for it? Would you be likely to give them another? Life is the same way. In order to attract more of the blessings that life has to offer, you must truly appreciate what you already have. -  Ralph Marston

Image credit here

Thanksgiving

Red Pumpkin by Thomas J. Story

For the beauty of the earth
For the glory of the skies,
For the love which from our birth
Over and around us lies.

Lord of all, to Thee we raise,
This our hymn of grateful praise.

For the beauty of each hour,
Of the day and of the night,
Hill and vale, and tree and flower,
Sun and moon, and stars of light.

From the traditional Thanksgiving hymn
"For the Beauty of the Earth" by Folliott S. Pierpoint, 1864

Wishing everyone a very happy and healthy Thanksgiving!

Dominique 

Image credit here

Philip Glas' Opera "Kepler"

The U.S. Premiere!

Minimalist pioneer composer Philip Glass turns to science with a new opera based on the life and work of Johannes Kepler, the founding father of modern astronomy. The opera "Kepler" was commissioned  by the city of Linz in Austria and saw its world premiere there in September. Linz is the European Cultural Capitol for 2009.

Johannes Kepler lived in Linz from 1612 on where he was a professor of mathematics at a district school. During this time he developed his work "Harmonices Mundi"as well as his planets charts.

To read more about the premiere at BAM click the link

Quote of the Day

In every forest, on every farm, in every orchard on earth, it's what's under the ground that creates what's above the ground. That's why placing your attention on the fruits that you have already grown is futile. You cannot change the fruits that are already hanging on the tree. You can, however, change tomorrow's fruits. But to do so, you will have to dig below the ground and strengthen the roots. - Harv T. Eker

Gentle Breeze

Angel wings made of clouds

Today I felt an angel

As the wind gently blew

Though I couldn't see her

In my heart I simply knew

That the Lord had sent her

To wipe away my tears

And gather up my heartache

And carry away my fears

And as that wind gently blew

I felt a presence around me

It was one of God's angels

Filling my heart with peace...

Image by Jónína Guðrún Óskarsdóttir
Image source here

Light of the Muse

Two Philosophers by Philip Rubinov Jacobson

What I learn and feel, and what I artistically express all reflect an underlying spiritual quest. My work is concerned with the mysteries of life and the perennial questions that arise from such a pursuit. Art is a spiritual practice that casts aside the fallacies of dogma and tenet, expresses Goodness, Beauty and Truth and is never satisfied with anything substitute or counterfeit. - Philip Rubinov Jacobson

Philip Rubinov Jacobson  is an artist, writer, teacher, philosopher and traveler and recognized as a central figure in both the Fantastic and Visionary genres’ of art. To visit his website, please click here

Quote of the Day

The only place
where dreams are impossible
is in your own mind.

- Bob Proctor

Image by Martin Stranka
Image source here

Quote of the Day

This is the beginning of a new day. You have been given this day to use as you will. You can waste it or use it for good. What you do today is important because you are exchanging a day of your life for it. When tomorrow comes, this day will be gone forever; in its place is something that you have left behind... let it be something good. - Author Unknown but greatly appreciated

Image credit here

The Power of Positive Quitting

Employ the power of positive quitting. Most of us view quitting as something negative, but it's not. 'Winners never quit,' we're told, when, in reality, winners quit all the time: choosing to stop doing things that aren't creating the results they desire. When you quit all the things that aren't working for you, when you quit tolerating all the negative things that hold you back, you'll create a positive 'charge' in your life as well as create the space in your life for more positive experiences. - Jim Allen

Magdalena Abakanowicz

Polish sculptor Magdalena Abakanowicz

When examining the man, I am in fact examining myself ... My forms are the skins I strip off myself one by one, marking the milestones along my road. Each time they belong so much to me and I belong to them so that we cannot exist without one another. Soft, they contain an infinite number of possible shapes of which only one can be selected by myself as the right, meaningful one. I create space for them in exhibition rooms where they radiate the energy I have given them. They exist with me, they depend on me, I depend on them … Without me they make no sense, like discarded body parts separated from the torso. - Magdalena Abakanowicz

Image credit here

The Shift of Identity

When the evolutionary impulse is manifesting in our experience as either an inspired act of creative genius or as a surge of spiritually illuminated wisdom or insight, it temporarily becomes the self, the Authentic Self of the individual. In those moments, we become animated by that same inspired energy and intelligence that initiated the creative process.

This is when the ego is displaced by the presence of a higher consciousness and the self becomes illumined by that consciousness. When this shift of identity occurs, the Authentic Self becomes the driver of the personality and the personal self takes a back seat. In Evolutionary Enlightenment, first awakening to the evolutionary impulse and then striving wholeheartedly to become a living example of its expression, which is the Authentic Self, is both the path and the goal. - Andrew Cohen

Quote of the Day

Your time is limited, so don't waste it living someone else's life. Don't be trapped by dogma -  which is living with the results of other people's thinking. Don't let the noise of others' opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow already know what you truly want to become. Everything else is secondary. - Steve Jobs

Halloween

Spooky cookies

On October 31 once again we are celebrating Halloween. This holiday has its roots in the Celtic festival of Samhain that marked the end of Summer and the beginning of the dark season. Halloween also coincides with the Christian holiday of All Saints and is very popular with children in the Anglo-Saxon world, especially in the USA.

"The celebration has some elements of a festival of the dead. The ancient Celts believed that the border between this world and the Otherworld became thin on Samhain, allowing spirits (both harmless and harmful) to pass through. The family's ancestors were honored and invited home whilst harmful spirits were warded off. It is believed that the need to ward off harmful spirits led to the wearing of costumes and masks. Their purpose was to disguise oneself as a harmful spirit and thus avoid harm. In Scotland the spirits were impersonated by young men dressed in white with masked, veiled or blackened faces. Samhain was also a time to take stock of food supplies and slaughter livestock for winter stores. Bonfires played a large part in the festivities. All other fires were doused and each home lit their hearth from the bonfire. The bones of slaughtered livestock were cast into its flames. Sometimes two bonfires would be built side-by-side, and people and their livestock would walk between them as a cleansing ritual.

Another common practice was divination, which often involved the use of food and drink." 

(Source: Wikipedia)

Wishing you  sweet and spooky Halloween - Dominique

Image source here

The Dollar Dilemma.

The World's Top Currency Faces Competition

"The economic crisis is hurting the world's top currency. But the pound, the yen, the euro, the renminbi, and the IMF's accounting currency are no match for the dollar. At least for now." Click the link below to read the article published in Foreign Affairs Magazine.

"Legions of pundits have argued that the dollar's status as an international currency has been damaged by the great credit crisis of 2007-9 -- and not a few have argued that the injury may prove fatal. The crisis certainly has not made the United States more attractive as a supplier of high-quality financial assets. It would be no surprise if the dysfunctionality of U.S. financial markets diminished the appetite of central banks for U.S. debt securities. A process of financial de-globalization has already begun, and it will mean less foreign financing for the United States' budget and balance-of-payments deficits. Meanwhile, the U.S. government will emit vast quantities of public debt for the foreseeable future. Together, these trends in supply and demand are a recipe for a significantly weaker dollar. And as central banks suffer capital losses on their outstanding dollar reserves, they will start considering alternatives."

The Dollar Dilemma - Foreign Affairs
Image credit here

Picasso and the Allure of Language

Dog and cock, Pablo Picasso 1921

oil on canvass

Today is the anniversary of Pablo Picasso's birthday. He was born on 25 October 1881 in Málaga, Spain. The Nasher Museum of Art at the Duke University in Durham, North Carolina presents a very interesting exhibition exploring Pablo Picasso's lifelong relationship with writers and the influence of language and the written word on his work.  

Click the link below to read more.

Picasso and the Allure of Language / August 20, 2009 - January 3, 2010

Posted using ShareThis

Image credit here

Carrot Coconut Soup

The days are getting shorter and colder. The Summer is over and we begin to crave warming and comforting foods. What could be better than a bowl of tasty soup on a foggy afternoon?

My favorite food store in the US, the Whole Foods Market, has a list of interesting recipes. You can substitute pumpkins or butternut for carrots and add parsnips to this recipe. There is no limit to your creativity. Enjoy in good company. Serves 4

Ingredients:

• 1 large onion, chopped
• 1 TBS + 3 cups chicken or vegetable broth
• 2 TBS fresh ginger, sliced
• 4 medium cloves garlic, chopped
• 1 tsp curry powder
• 2 cups sliced carrots, about 1/4-inch thick
• 1 cup sweet potato, cut into about 1/2-inch cubes
• 5 oz canned coconut milk
• salt and white pepper to taste

Method:

• Chop onion and let it sit for at least five minutes to bring out its hidden health benefits.
• Heat 1 TBS broth in a medium soup pot. Healthy Sauté onion in broth over medium heat for about 5 minutes, stirring often.
• Add garlic and ginger and continue to sauté for another minute.
• Add curry powder and mix well with onions.
• Add broth, carrots, and sweet potato and simmer on medium high heat until vegetables are tender, about 15 minutes.
• Add coconut milk.
• Blend in batches making sure blender is not more than half full. When it's hot, and the blender is too full, it can erupt and burn you. Add salt and pepper to taste.
• Return to soup pot and reheat.

Carrots are an excellent source of antioxidants and the richest vegetable source of the pro-vitamin A. Carrots' antioxidant compound, the beta-carotene, helps protect against cardiovascular disease and cancer and also promotes good vision, especially at night. Carrots are also rich in vitamin C, vitamin K and potassium. 

Purchase organic vegetable whenever you can.

Recipe source here

Green Tea Time!

Tea - the leaves of Camelia sinensis,  is the most widely consumed beverage in the world, second only to water. The Chinese have known about the medicinal properties of green tea since ancient times and used it to treat everything from headache to indigestion and fatigue.  Green tea leaves seem to be more beneficial to health than the fermented black tea. The list of conditions and diseases that are believed to be improved or prevented by the consumption of green tea include cancer, rheumatoid arthritis, and cardiovascular disease. Drinking green tea is said to lower blood cholesterol levels and fight infections of the gastrointestinal tract.

An ongoing scientific research in both Asia and the West, is providing evidence for the health benefits long associated with drinking green tea. For example, in 1994 the Journal of the National Cancer Institute published the results of an epidemiological study indicating that drinking green tea reduced the risk of esophageal cancer in Chinese men and women by nearly sixty percent. 

A Chinese study of more than 18,000 men, published in 2002, found that green tea drinkers were about half as likely to develop cancer of the stomach or the esophagus than men who drank little or no green tea at all.

University of Purdue researchers recently concluded that a compound in green tea inhibits the growth of cancer cells. There is also research indicating that drinking green tea lowers total cholesterol levels, as well as improving the ratio of good (HDL) cholesterol to bad (LDL) cholesterol.

The secret of green tea lies in the fact it is rich in catechin polyphenols - epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) in particular. EGCG is a powerful anti-oxidant. It inhibits the growth of cancer cells and kills cancer cells without harming healthy tissue. It has also been effective in lowering LDL cholesterol levels, and inhibiting the abnormal formation of blood clots. This is of great importance when you consider that thrombosis or the formation of abnormal blood clots,  is the leading cause of heart attacks and stroke.

New evidence is emerging that green tea can even help dieters. In November, 1999, the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition published the results of a study at the University of Geneva in Switzerland. Researchers found that men who were given a combination of caffeine and green tea extract burned more calories than those given only caffeine or a placebo.

Green tea can even help prevent tooth decay. Just as its bacteria-destroying abilities can help prevent food poisoning, it can also kill the bacteria that causes dental plaque. Meanwhile, cosmetic industry is exploring the antioxidative and antibacterial properties of green tea. Anti-aging skin preparations containing green tea extract are starting to appear on the market.

Green tea contains amino acid L-theanine which produces calming effects in the brain by increasing levels of the neurotransmitters serotonin and dopamine and blocking the binding of L-glutamic acid to glutamate receptors. 

The calming, anxiety reducing and mood-enhancing effects are achieved by helping to increase alpha-brain waves, electrical brain activity commonly present when a person is very relaxed, literally putting one in a better mood.

Green tea also contains the stimulating caffeine, but in much smaller quantities than coffee, something that has to be considered if one is taking green tea in the late afternoon or evening. Caffeine stimulates the nervous system and may interfere with the sleep pattern. 

While brewing green tea it is vital to remember that boiling water should be avoided.  Green teas taste best when brewed at temperatures between 140°F - 185°F. The best results are achieved with pure spring or filtered water. 

For best results, purchase pesticide-free organic green tea whenever you can.

Man Ray - African Art and the Modernist Lens

Noire et Blanche, Man Ray 1926

Man Ray at the Phillips Collection Washington, DC
October 10, 2009-January 10, 2010

Man Ray (Emmanuel Radnitsky, 1890–1976) was an artist in many mediums, but he is probably best known as an avant-garde photographer. His Noire et Blanche (1926), showing a white model with a black mask, is an icon of modern photography. Born in Philadelphia, Man Ray lived in ultramodern circles in Paris, from 1921 until the German occupation of the city in 1939. There he produced experimental photographs, fashion photographs, and celebrity portraits. He also produced a large body of photographs featuring African artifacts. In the wake of French colonial exploits, objects of a kind that he had previously encountered in museum or gallery settings in New York were widely accessible to him in Paris, appearing in flea markets, curio shops, as well as in private collections.

The photographs in Man Ray, African Art and the Modernist Lens include well-known photographs by Man Ray, as well as recently discovered documentary images by him, and the work of other photographers. Over 100 photographs, more than half of them by Man Ray, the rest by his contemporaries, including James L. Allen, Cecil Beaton, Walker Evans, and Alfred Stieglitz, are presented alongside many of the objects they depict. Among these are over 20 masks, carved figures, and utilitarian objects, the majority from diverse West African cultures. The photographs themselves give no indication of the purposes the objects served in their original contexts, and by presenting images and objects together Man Ray, African Art and the Modernist Lens offers a rare opportunity to understand exactly how lighting, camera angle, and cropping manipulated the objects to serve Western ideas of beauty and art. The exhibition also documents the histories of the objects and explains their uses. 

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A Robot in Every Home

Band of Brothers by Chris Wren

oil on canvas

Although the article below appeared in Scientific American January 2007 issue, it did not lose its actuality. 

By Bill Gates

Imagine being present at the birth of a new industry. It is an industry based on groundbreaking new technologies, wherein a handful of well-established corporations sell highly specialized devices for business use and a fast-growing number of start-up companies produce innovative toys, gadgets for hobbyists and other interesting niche products. But it is also a highly fragmented industry with few common standards or platforms. Projects are complex, progress is slow, and practical applications are relatively rare. In fact, for all the excitement and promise, no one can say with any certainty when - or even if - this industry will achieve critical mass. If it does, though, it may well change the world. 

Of course, the paragraph above could be a description of the computer industry during the mid-1970s, around the time that Paul Allen and I launched Microsoft. Back then, big, expensive mainframe computers ran the back-office operations for major companies, governmental departments and other institutions. Researchers at leading universities and industrial laboratories were creating the basic building blocks that would make the information age possible. Intel had just introduced the 8080 microprocessor, and Atari was selling the popular electronic game Pong. At homegrown computer clubs, enthusiasts struggled to figure out exactly what this new technology was good for. 

But what I really have in mind is something much more contemporary: the emergence of the robotics industry, which is developing in much the same way that the computer business did 30 years ago. Think of the manufacturing robots currently used on automobile assembly lines as the equivalent of yesterday’s mainframes. The industry’s niche products include robotic arms that perform surgery, surveillance robots deployed in Iraq and Afghanistan that dispose of roadside bombs, and domestic robots that vacuum the floor. Electronics companies have made robotic toys that can imitate people or dogs or dinosaurs, and hobbyists are anxious to get their hands on the latest version of the Lego robotics system.

Isaac Asimov’s Three Laws of Robotics

Isaac Asimov’s Three Laws of Robotics are one of the earliest examples of proposed safety measures for Artificial Intelligence. The laws are intended to prevent artificially intelligent robots from harming humans.

1. A robot may not injure a human being or, through inaction, allow a human being to come to harm.
2. A robot must obey orders given to it by human beings except where such orders would conflict with the First Law.
3. A robot must protect its own existence as long as such protection does not conflict with the First or Second Law.

Later, Asimov added the Zeroth Law: "A robot may not harm humanity, or, by inaction, allow humanity to come to harm".  The remaining laws were modified sequentially to acknowledge this addition.

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Bryce Widom - The 1000 Views of God

 Return To Zero by Bryce Widom

mixed media

Bryce Widom was born in Denver, Colorado and raised in both Colorado and Alaska. His parents were professional artists who always returned from work with armfuls of recycled paper and he had no lack of inspiration or material to draw on. He won awards and recognition for his artwork throughout his childhood, but when planning his collegiate future, he focused on architecture and then physics before majoring in both psychology and creative writing. Years later while cooking and waiting tables in a brewpub, Bryce stepped into the role of chalk artist for the pub's chalkboard menus. Soon local bands were commissioning Bryce to create illustrated posters, shirt designs, and album covers and he was able to devote his full attention to illustration, design, and fine art. Bryce's current project 1000 Views of God spans one thousand paintings, with a projected completion date of 2013.

" I’ve long admired such collections as “Thirty Six Views of Mt. Fuji” (by both Hiroshige and Hokusai, in the 1800’s), and the more extensive “One Hundred Views of Mt. Fuji” (Hokusai). In the past, when I’ve committed myself to an art project defined by similarly strict parameters, I’ve always been floored by the swell of creativity that rushes forth to fill the container.

By painting 1000 Views of God, I’m consciously marrying my work as an artist with my spiritual path. Each painting becomes a meditation, a prayer, a moment of turning all my attention toward the divine with an open body, mind, and heart.

In this exploration, no subject is off-limits, for there is no limit to the domain of the divine. This includes both the “shadow” terrain of my inner landscape, as well as the brightest aspects of Spirit." - Bryce Widom

Click here to visit artist's website

The Autumn

The Autumn by Elisabeth Barrett Browning

Go, sit upon the lofty hill,
And turn your eyes around,
Where waving woods and waters wild
Do hymn an autumn sound.
The summer sun is faint on them
The summer flowers depart
Sit still - as all transform'd to stone,
Except your musing heart.
How there you sat in summer-time,
May yet be in your mind;
And how you heard the green woods sing
Beneath the freshening wind.
Though the same wind now blows around,
You would its blast recall;
For every breath that stirs the trees,
Doth cause a leaf to fall.

Oh! like that wind, is all the mirth
That flesh and dust impart:
We cannot bear its visitings,
When change is on the heart.
Gay words and jests may make us smile,
When Sorrow is asleep;
But other things must make us smile,
When Sorrow bids us weep!
The dearest hands that clasp our hands,
Their presence may be o'er;
The dearest voice that meets our ear,
That tone may come no more!
Youth fades; and then, the joys of youth,
Which once refresh'd our mind,
Shall come - as, on those sighing woods,
The chilling autumn wind.

Hear not the wind - view not the woods;
Look out o'er vale and hill
In spring, the sky encircled them
The sky is round them still.
Come autumn's scathe - come winter's cold
Come change - and human fate!
Whatever prospect Heaven doth bound,
Can ne'er be desolate.

What is Happiness?

Happiness can mean many different things to different people. Generally, happiness is understood as a state of mind that is associated with feelings ranging from satisfaction and comfort to bliss and intense joy.

People often believe that they will become happy when a particular event occurs in their lives: when they make enough money, meet the right partner, or get the right job...

It cannot be denied that things can make our lives more pleasant and less stressful. They can give us some degree of satisfaction and we may derive pleasure from things that we wanted very much and finally received, but such pleasure is momentary and never really lasts long enough to keep us perpetually happy. As the joy and excitement wear out, we experience the need for something that would give us at least as much satisfaction. We are in a hurry to replace the old things with new. We search for a new gratifying experience. This process repeats itself over and over and we end up in a vicious cycle always wanting more, but never receiving enough.

Unless we realize that things do not really make us happy, we may never be able to achieve genuine happiness. It is a predicament to expect happiness "out there" or to bind it to conditions. Things come and go and with them, more often than not, our "constructed" happiness.

Genuine happiness depends on our attitude. It is the way we think about life, the way we interpret our world and what is happening to us. It is the way we value more profound aspects of our existence that sets us apart from those looking for happiness outside of their own being.

Genuine happiness can be realized when we commit ourselves to making it our priority. We can learn to change our patterns of thought and the behavior that prevents us from being genuinely happy. It takes courage to look inside one's heart and to define ourselves anew. But without a thorough introspection we will never know who we really are and what things really mean to us.

It is up to us to learn "control" our attitude to life, the way we see ourselves or interpret what is happening in our lives. And unless we understand that we are responsible for our own happiness, we may never experience the bliss and joy that come with it.

By Dominique Allmon

what is happiness by Dominique Allmon is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License.