Never Forget

September 11, 2001 - September 11, 2026

 

Image: 2,977 Lights Over New York Harbor 

Information about the lights project here  

Happy 250th Birthday America!

We The People 

"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness."

Happy Birthday America! 

 

AI Image by wirestock from magnific

Aloka And The Buddhist Monks' Walk For Peace

“Let us walk with open hearts, with respect for every life, every path, every faith. May every footprint we leave behind bloom into flowers of peace, so that wherever these steps have touched the earth, there remains a quiet fragrance of loving kindness.” - Tue Nhan Bhikkhu known as the Rev. Nguyen, the vice president of the Huong Dao Vipassana Bhavana Center 

In a Buddhist tradition of peace activism, on October 26, 2025, a group of Buddhist monks in Fort Worth, Texas embarked on a 2,300 mile (3,700 kilometers) long journey for peace. The pilgrimage leads through ten states and Washington, DC is set to be the final destination. The monks are accompanied by a dog named Aloka. On route to the US Capitol the monks will be stopping at state capitols, historic landmarks and community centers to share their message of peace and invite people to join them for prayer and reflection.  

Aloka - an Indian stray Pariah dog that marches with the monks became a social media sensation in his own right. In India the dog followed a group of Vietnamese-American wandering Buddhist monks for one hundred days. He was with them despite the hardships he experienced. He was injured when a car hit him and was very sick, but rejoined the monks over and over again. Eventually, the monks adopted him and brought him with them to the United States. Now he bravely and cheerfully follows them on their journey through the United States. The puppy has a distinctive heart shaped mark on his forehead, wise eyes and very cheerful disposition. His name Aloka is quite fitting. In Sanskrit it means light, brightness or radiance and symbolizes knowledge and enlightenment. This name is often associated with hope and guidance suggesting a bringer of clarity and joy to all around them. 

Accompanied by Aloka, the monks will be following the practice of self-discipline that involves humility, endurance and spiritual focus. They will be eating one meal a day and sleeping outdoors in tents pitched on public or private grounds provided by churches, temples, private persons or local communities. Some of the monks walk barefoot. Some are over sixty years old. No community and no individual that comes in contact with the monks will remain unaffected by their motivation, wisdom, humility and serenity. Their pilgrimage will end on February 13, 2026, with a message of healing, compassion, mindfulness, renewal, and peace. 

"The Walk for Peace is a simple yet meaningful reminder that unity and kindness begin within each of us and can radiate outward to families, communities, and society as a whole.” - Venerable Bhikkhu Paññākāra

The Walk for Peace is a journey that is meant to bring blessings to individuals and communities in a world that is filled with restlessness and uncertainty. 

Our world was never a perfect place but there were at least some short periods of peace in some regions. The new millenium began with a beautiful vision for the planet but the New York attack on September 11, 2001, destroyed our hopes for a better, more enlightened world. Belligerent ideologies seemed to be spreading around the world and by 2025 there were more regional conflicts than ever. Many people feared the possibility of another world war. The never ending conflict in the Middle East and the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine gave us little hope for peace on Earth in 2026.

In the United States and in many European countries citizens experience extreme violence on daily bases, often perpetrated by people of different cultural backgrounds that were once invited to live in their communities. Cultural incompatibility and different moral values make harmonious coexistence impossible. Rape, murder, robberies, arson, vandalism, and violent attacks seem to dominate the daily news cycle in mamy urban centers. Many people live in fear. 

At the same time, the social fabric, the respect for life or property, the respect for individual rights and the right to one's own opinion, are completely disappearing in so many places. This process began with totalitarian measures imposed on many societies during the 2020 pandemic. The decline of civility is appalling. Social media allows the spread of verbal aggression never seen before and allows that aggression to spill out to our streets. The belligerence and intolerance seem to be spreading through our societies like cancer and that "cancer" is often exploited for political reasons. Many tormented souls live their aggression out in the real world. Mental disease and drug abuse are prevalent and often remain untreated. Financial instability and lack of perspective aggravate the situation. 

Can this downward spiral be stopped? Is there hope for our societies? Is there any hope for the world?

A practicing Buddhist would understand the current conditions as a reflection of inner chaos and suffering. Buddha himself believed that true peace comes from within when the mind is free from greed, anger and delusion. It can only be achieved by profound introspection and the practice of mindfulness. This however is difficult if not impossible in a world where people are slaves to their electronic devices; in the world where people have time to insult and abuse others but have no time for introspection and self-reflection; in the world where people demand respect for their opinions without acknowledging that others have the same right. People no longer agree that it is all right to disagree and demonize others for having their own mind. 

Peace is not a mere idea. It is a practice. The path to peace begins with a single step within. 

Mindful walking and a quality time spent in nature might be the first step to inner healing. There is a beautiful practice in Japan called Shinrin-yoku or forest bathing where a practitioner consciously relaxes and engages with nature focusing all the senses on the experience. The practice is known to improve mood and reduce stress. Quality time spent away from electronic devices and the noise of discord and argument may help calm the troubled souls, induce inner peace and a completely new outlook on things that matter. 

Our societies, our world will not change overnight and suddenly become peaceful but each of us has the potential to bring peace to our immediate surroundings, to our homes and the workspace. We can refuse to get triggered, we can refuse to get angry and judgmental and instead, lead by example. Mindful detachment, mutual respect, loving-kindness (mettā), and the understanding that we all are on a journey, is a good place to start. 

"What we think, we become" - Buddha 

By Dominique Allmon

Post scriptum

On November 19, 2025 a car slammed into the escort vehicle that accompanied the monks. One of the monks, the Venerable Maha Dam Phommasan, abbot of the Wat Lao Buddha Khanti in Snellville, Georgia, was seriously injured and taken to hospital. The damage was very serious and the bhikkhu's left leg had to be amputated. He is no longer able to continue the Walk For Peace in person but follows the monks in spirit. 

Today, on January 12, Aloka underwent surgery at the Charleston Veterinary Referral Center (CVRC) in South Carolina for a flare up of an old injury he sustained to one of his legs back in India. In order to heal the veterinarians, who performed their services free of charge, advised the monks that Aloka should stay in the clinic until he has healed completely. This sweet puppy needs some rest in order to heal. He will be taken care of for at least one week and as soon as it is safe for him, he will join the monks and walk with them again. 

On January 17, 2026, after 84 days on the road, the Venerable Samma Maggo, 68 years old Vietnamese monk from France terminated his pilgrimage and will be returning to his temple in France. 

"The Venerable never spoke of endurance, yet that solitary figure along the long road became a teaching in itself - quiet, unheroic, without drama - simply walking on, and enabling those who followed to stand more upright within their own lives." - Venerable Baro Beso

I wish I could be there to meet these monks on the road. Since this is not possible I follow their progress online. It is very touching to watch these men walking with such determination, dispensing blessings to all and sharing the message of peace. We can only hope that all the people who meet the monks will have the strength to hold on to the wisdom imparted on them. 

"May you and all beings be well, happy and at peace." 

Dominique Allmon©2026 

To learn more about the Walk For Peace and to support the monks in their endeavor please click here 

Follow Aloka the Peace Dog on Instagram 

A "gofundme" page was set up for the Venerable Maha Dam Phommasan.  

Images source X 

Brigitte Bardot Dies at 91

"I gave my beauty and my youth to men. I am going to give my wisdom and experience to animals." - Brigitte Bardot

Brigitte Bardot, an icon of French cinema and an avid animal rights activist passed away on December 28, 2025 at her home in Saint-Tropez, France. She was 91 years old. 

Bardot began her acting career in 1950 and rose to stardom in the 1960s with movies like "And God Created A Woman" directed by her then-husband Roger Vadim, "Le Mépris" (Contempt) by Jean-Luc Goddard, "LaVérité" (The Truth) by Henri-Georges Clouzot, or "Viva Maria!" by Louis Malle. 

Bardot's involvement with animal rights began in 1962 when she saw pictures from slaughter houses. The actress left her cinematic creer behind in 1973 and dedicated her life to the protection and welfare of animals. After receiving a letter from the French writer Marguerite Yourcenar, Bardot publicly denounced the massacre of baby seals and the ignoble fur trade. In 1977 she traveled to Canada and was filmed on an ice floe with baby seals. The images went around the world. Her action would lead to a ban of trade in seal skins. 

Bardot, a vegetarian, opposed the use of animals in laboratory experiments, fought against whaling, bullfight and fur trapping. She abhorred fox hunting, the consumption of dog meat in Korea and horse meat in France, the exploitation of wild animals for circus shows, and the ritual slaughter of animals. She fought tirelessly to end suffering and animal abuse. She believed that animals were some of the most defenseless and vulnerable victims of the cruel, and often barbaric, practices in modern societies.  

In 1986 she established the Brigitte Bardot Foundation dedicated to the protection of animals and a few animal sanctuaries. She auctioned her jewelry and personal belongings to raise the money for the foundation. Between 1988 and 1992 Bardot led a French television series "S.O.S. Animaux" that exposed animal cruelty. Her activism was not meant to be comfortable for her audiences. The shock treatment was meant to influence public opinion and set a change of attitude in motion. Animal welfare became her moral imperative. 

"In a democracy one must have the right to express oneself and that's what I do, even if it displeases." - Brigitte Bardot 

Bardot's political views were subject to controversy. She openly opposed mass immigration and the islamisation of France and was associated with the French far right movement. 

Despite her radical political views most people will remember B.B. for her love of animals and her devotion to animal welfare around the world. 

A beautiful, courageous, caring woman went over the rainbow bridge...

Dominique Allmon 

 

Thank You For Arguing

The Death of Socrates - Jacques Louis David, 1787

Insults are the arguments employed by those who are in the wrong. - Jean-Jacques Rousseau

The lack of civility in public space nowadays is appalling. There is so much abuse on social media that it is almost impossible to make a statement or discuss anything intelligently anymore without being insulted by those who disagree with you. Once the barrier of civility is broken, there is no end to the flow of epithets derived from human anatomy and physiology or from the animal kingdom.

An intelligent, knowledgeable, eloquent person is in full command of the language he or she uses and does not have to resort to insults, cursing, vulgarities, and such. Intelligent arguments are based in grammar, logic, and rhetoric and are backed by knowledge, imagination, and experience. Unfortunately, modern students are not taught the art of rhetoric anymore. The arguments are won in verbal fistfights whereas everybody must agree or else. Any divergent thought is bullied out in a totalitarian manner. But, but, but! One does not really win an argument because of a large repertory of insults.

Unfortunately, everywhere you look, on social media, in the press, on television, people are unable to truly discuss or debate anything anymore in a civilized manner. The intellectual immaturity is appalling. People get offended because you do not think like them. As soon as you present a different view people start calling you names no matter who you are. 

What happened to "we agree to disagree?" What happened to civility? What happened to tolerance and respect? As with anything, one would normally assume that both sides have the right to their own opinion. This, unfortunately, seems not to be the case any longer. 

Name calling, insults and intimidation do not work at all with me, but an intelligent argument based in logic might. If you managed to convince me that my way of thinking was wrong, I would gladly reconsider my viewpoint and accept your argument, grateful that I have learned something new.

I do not subscribe to politically correct views or the view of a majority unless, of course, the majority is well informed and has a valid opinion I can logically agree with. But rest assured, I would never accept a view simply because it is the preferred view of a majority. I would rather have a sip of hemlock!

Dominique Allmon

Dominique Allmon©2024

 

80th Anniversary of the D-Day

Eighty years ago in the morning on June 6, 1944, 150,000 Allied soldiers landed on the heavily guarded beaches of Normandy and burst through the German defenses. Thousands of these soldiers died. Many more were wounded. We cannot even imagine the carnage they faced.

Code-named Operation Neptune, it was one of the most daring military operations undertaken during World War II. The landing is considered to be the largest seaborne invasion ever executed, and it was probably the bloodiest one. The secretly prepared operation was a turning point in the war against the Nazi Germany.

As every year, the celebrations that commemorate the bravery and sacrifice of so many will take place in Normandy with the participation of World War II veterans, including those who fought in France on D-Day, heads of state and dignitaries from around the world. 

The heroes of the Longest Day will be remembered and honored forever.

In gratitude - Dominique Allmon

Image: world wide web

Happy Earth Day 2024!

The apocalypse is not something which is coming. The apocalypse has arrived in major portions of the planet and it’s only because we live within a bubble of incredible privilege and social insulation that we still have the luxury of anticipating the apocalypse. - Terence McKenna

The current climate change narrative causes climate anxiety in many people, especially among the younger generation. Unusual weather patterns, instant reporting and the 24/7 news cycle are not helping at all. Manufactured fear is counterproductive.

On this Earth Day 2024 I do not want to talk about the climate change preaching hypocrites flying from one conference to another in their private jets. I also do not want to talk about the very profitable carbon emission trading. Instead, I'd like to talk about the destruction of nature and the scandalous abuse of people and resources happening every day behind our backs.

Some of my readers might be aware of child labor in African lithium mines. Some may even know about the child labor in the carpet industry in Nepal or Pakistan, or the children working in the cotton industry in cotton producing countries. Many are aware of the slave labor in China and the human trafficking happening in so many countries. But did you know that children are being sold to farmers in West Africa to work on cacao plantations? Maybe next time you are buying a bar of chocolate you will make sure that the raw materials for the product come from fair trade with no child labor involved. 

To save the planet we are told that the animal farms must go because of the devastating amounts of CO2 and methane they produce, but did anyone tell you how detrimental to nature are the mono-cultures of soy or corn. Or how much water is being used to produce the almonds for your vegan almond milk or the avocados for your avocado toast? How about the tons of pesticides used in conventional farming that are destroying not only the fragile balance of life in the soil but also polluting our groundwater supply? 

Enormous profits are being made by the agribusiness conglomerates. At what coast? And who is actually paying the price? 

How about the fast fashion and the senseless mountains of textile trash and pollution this business model produces? What about the people working in the sweatshops to satisfy the ever growing demand for cheap goods?  

How about the built-in obsolescence that keeps the "engines" of capitalism running? It is actually scandalous that the products we buy "die" on us short after their warranty expires, forcing us to replace them with new ones. In many cases the new product is cheaper than the repair of the broken one. Worse even, in many cases the repair option does not even exist. On the other hand, it would be extremely naive to believe that we could slow, or even stop, the endless production of goods and return to the standards of the pre-industrial era.

I have no answers to these questions. However, I believe that each of us should do some research. We should take responsibility for our own actions, reconsider our choices, and hold the companies responsible for pollution accountable. We probably will never be able to stop the mindless consumerism so prevalent in our societies, but we could at least start in our own backyard and try to educate others. 

 

Burning issues such as the destruction of natural habitats, deforestation, topsoil degradation, environmental pollution, potable water scarcity on our planet, and the mountains of trash that we produce every day - to name only a few - should be our main concern right now. The Earth will survive without us but we will not survive without the Earth. Unless we increase our environmental consciousness, we as a species will not make it.

With this sentiment I wish you all a very happy Earth Day 2024!

By Dominique Allmon

Dominique Allmon©2024

Death by Conventional Medicine

"Did you know that the 3rd or 4th largest cause of death in the US & Canada is iatrogenic death? Iatrogenic disease is rampant and we are virtually kept blind to it. In fact, you are desensitized to it... its normal... because you hear about it at the end of commercials all day long... " - Melanie Milletics

Death by medicine - conventional or alternative, may not always be easy to prove. The post mortem autopsy is a way to determine the exact cause of death, but may not tell us whether the patient would have lived a little longer, or died a little healthier if, for instance, a particular treatment wasn't administered. 

I am not a medical doctor and I would never assume that I have all the answers. A human being is more than just a sum of his or her organs. Unfortunately, the holistic view of a patient is not encouraged in conventional medical schools, nor is the importance of nutrition. A body is often understood as a machine that needs repairs. When the systems break and there is nothing more to repair, the patient dies.

Statistics are not very flattering to the medical profession. Too many patients die from unnecessary procedures, adverse drug reactions, medical errors, negligence, or as a result of surgery and hospitalization.

If you are lucky to realize early enough that the treatment will eventually kill you, you might be able to save yourself. Unfortunately, most people trust their doctors and are often ignorant about their own bodies and the origin of their disease. In most cases disease forms over a long period of time and may have multiple causes, including lifestyle and genetics.

Wrong diagnoses, diagnoses for profit, wrong treatment, and over-medication are incredibly prevalent. The Hippocratic oath does not prevent many doctors from seeing their profession as a money making business. Who can blame them? 

Healthy, or relatively healthy patients who need only little medication or none at all, are very bad for business, but once a symptom is "decoded" a patient may become a real gold mine. This is true in countries like the United States, where the healthcare system still has to undergo necessary reforms; this also is true in countries like Austria or Germany that are proud of their socialized medicine. 

Have you ever met a person who started his or her medical odyssey with one prescription drug, but ended up taking five, six, nine, or more, and seems to be doing worse than ever before? 

I know of many such cases and might have even become one myself. A few years ago a company I enjoyed working for for twenty eight years, implemented a major change in my job description. Rules were changed to my disadvantage and my whole life changed overnight. I will not go into details but the changes were drastic. Few of my colleagues who shared the same fate ended up frustrated and eventually left the company.  

 

The stress, distress, anger, and disappointment were the cause of an extremely elevated blood pressure. My blood pressure went from low to pathologically high. The chance of heart attack or stroke in an otherwise healthy person did not seem like something I wanted to even consider, but things were turning from bad to worse and I had to see a doctor. I received a sample pack of a blood-pressure reducing drug. After a week my blood pressure went down - a clear sign that the drug was working - and I felt better. No negative side effects.

As much as I hate drugs, I agreed to take it till my condition improved. I got my prescription filled and started taking the drug. It was not exactly the same drug as the sample I tried before but my doctor informed me that this particular one was sort of generic drug and even better than the sample I tested. It was just as effective, and that he himself was taking it and had no problems with his blood pressure whatsoever. Wouldn't you trust your doctor in such a case? 

I put my skepticism on the shelf and started taking the medication. No more than one week later I developed horrible joint and muscle pain, as well as a rash all over my body. I could not walk, sit or lie down without pain, I could no longer climb the stairs without horrible pain in my knees. My condition deteriorated so fast I could not believe my very eyes. Naturally, I went back to see my doctor. He refused to acknowledge my symptoms as a result of that particular medication he prescribed, and suggested another drug for the pain and inflammation I now suffered from. I got a new prescription and went home. Smarter this time, I did some research online and found out that the suggested drug could help me with the pain, but could increase my blood pressure and would possibly also cause damage to my liver. The great news, I would be spared a heart attack or stroke if I agreed to taking two drugs pharmaceutical together. Oh, I almost forgot. Since the rash on my skin was getting worse, I would have had to see a dermatologist to take care of it.

Blood pressure medication, an anti-inflammatory drug, and soon something else to mitigate the elevated liver enzymes, plus whatever the dermatologist would have prescribed for the rash on my skin. And if any of the new pharmaceuticals caused kidney damage or pancreatitis, there would be a new prescription for me. And so on, and so on. 

As far as I was concerned, that was it! Against my doctor's advice, I stopped the blood pressure medication altogether and never bought the drug that was supposed to mediate the inflammation. Naturally, the blood pressure went up again but the inflammation in my body subsided. I started supplementing with magnesium and B vitamins. A few months later I quit my job and went on a long vacation. In no time everything turned back to normal: my high blood pressure, the joint inflammation, the skin rash simply disappeared completely. I now know that if I did not refuse to take the prescribed medication, today I might have been on four, five or more pharmaceutical drugs, one treating the negative side effects of the other and making me sicker and sicker. I never went back to see that doctor. In fact, I hardly ever needed to see any doctor at all.

I had a neighbor who wasn't strong enough to say no to her doctor and was, only a few years into her treatment, completely unable to take care of herself. She lost most of her teeth due to inflammation. She had to use a rollator, if she walked at all, and had to rely on nursing services. All this started with blood pressure medication her doctor convinced her she needed. She trusted her doctor and accepted her rapid degeneration as a natural consequence of aging. Turning into a cripple at the age of 63 should not be an option to anyone but she believed that this was natural.

Another of my neighbors has an even more terrible story to tell. She underwent surgery for a kidney tumor. After initial improvement, she developed pain and the left side of her body, where the surgery was performed, swelled up enormously. Her doctor "diagnosed" another tumor, suggested another biopsy and a possible cancer treatment that would include chemotherapy. Horrified of cancer and the chemotherapy, the poor woman changed her lifestyle and nutrition, but as the pain and swelling grew, she had a feeling, an inkling, that there was "something" within her body that was causing this swelling and discomfort and that it wasn't the tumor. After more than a year of suffering and countless visits to different doctors, including the surgeon who performed the original surgery, only one medical professional agreed to take her seriously. After a CAT scan, to everybody's horror, they found out that the woman wasn't simply a hypochondriac. The enormous, tumor-like swelling was caused by a small surgical clamp that was left in her body by mistake or neglect during the original tumor surgery! 

 

I have one more story to tell... 

My husband receiving his first immunotherapy infusion in January 2022, wearing a face mask because of the pandemic regulations

A few weeks ago I lost my husband. He was diagnosed with stage IV renal cell carcinoma in Fall 2021 and underwent four different treatments. The side effects of all four drugs were horrifying, but he managed to improve considerably. The immunotherapy infusions he received were quite promising. The tumor was shrinking. In July 2023 he was still very energetic and glowing, and people were surprised how well he looked. 

 

Before I continue with my husband's story, I want to mention that he was a rather healthy man for most of his life. He despised medications and hardly ever went to see a doctor, that is, till the blood showed up in his urine at the age of 68. For the first time, after the cancer diagnosis, my husband trusted a doctor - an oncologist. For the first time, he was not only taking the cancer medication but also multiple drugs to mitigate various side effects of his cancer treatment. 

 

In August 2023 he had a dental procedure where the hygiene standards were rather questionable. Just in case, Jim received two different antibiotics  to prevent possible infection. He felt that something went horribly wrong while in that dentist's office. The dentist opened the door with a gloved hand, touched her chair and the computer keyboard. That very hand ended up in his mouth and the dentist did not even change the glove. It was too late for him to object. She did not change or remove the glove after the procedure and opened the door for him, still wearing the same glove she had on when performing the procedure. 

 

By the end of August my husband developed a serious cough and was given two more antibiotics and a cough syrup. When this did not work, more drugs, including Z-Pak and two other cough medications with serious side effects, were prescribed by his oncologist in September. James was stressed and distressed. Nobody checked his lungs! In October the oncologist informed him that his tumor became more aggressive and that there was nothing else she could do for him. The cancer treatment was terminated and palliative care suggested. Unfortunately, at this point, my husband completely depended on his oncologist and did not even seek a second opinion or consider alternative cancer treatments. 

 

In the beginning of November he felt weak but could still move around and take care of himself. His cough, however, intensified and the breathing was getting more difficult. On Thanksgiving Eve, after a quarrel with his daughter because he felt too weak to travel 70 miles to have dinner with her in Carlsbad, physically and mentally exhausted, my husband collapsed and had to be flown by helicopter from Roswell, New Mexico to El Paso, Texas. He ended up in an intensive care unit with internal bleeding and a seriously compromised immune system. He had to be treated for ulcers and pneumonia, and received three blood transfusions within only three days.

 

When nothing worked, they realized that he did not actually have pneumonia but rather pleural effusion (water in the lungs) that required a very different treatment. More drugs were administered and multiple tubes inserted to his body to drain the lungs. He was heavily sedated. By December 13, he was only a shadow of himself, his lungs damaged so completely that he could not breathe on his own anymore. He passed away on December 15. He did not die from cancer. He died from the impact of the treatment on his system and from the horrible side effects of countless drugs administered without proper diagnosis. 

When one hears stories like that, one can only get very angry. The trust we put in people who are supposed to save our lives blinds us so completely that we are unable to think clearly. It's the white coat syndrome, some people say.

Just imagine, how many lives could be saved if people sought a second or third opinion. How many lives could be saved if people changed their lifestyles and understood their bodies a bit better? How many lives could be saved if doctors did not prescribe dangerous, often unnecessary, medication so freely?

Disease prevention is still largely a domain of alternative medicine. Nutrition, stress control, detoxification, and various fitness programs, are often suggested to patients by naturopathic doctors. In many cases, such solutions work, but for some patients it may be too late for treatment of any kind. My thoughts go to a dog park acquaintance who was "eaten up" by cancer because she refused any treatment whatsoever. This happens sometimes when guilt and wrong beliefs interfere with the will to survive. A visit to a doctor, when she first noticed a growth in her breast, might have saved her life, but she believed that her disease was a sort of punishment she absolutely deserved. If she was to live, the prayers would take care of it. Her tumor was growing fast. She started wearing bulky sweaters to cover it up. Dog park visitors who knew her wondered why she was dressing up like that when the temperatures went up to 98°F and more that summer. She passed away and her dog was adopted by a family who owned her dog's mama.

This whole subject is very difficult and often, emotionally loaded. I have no intention to denigrate the entire medical profession, but something definitely is not right. When we look at the history of medicine, we are often shocked at the barbarity of medical treatments and procedures that were common only a hundred years ago. Will the people of the future cringe at our cancer treatments or surgical procedures that seem so advanced to us today?

Technological progress, new diagnostic tools and growing knowledge open the way to new therapies. Many more lives will be saved in the future, but unless we change the way we live, eat, and relax, there will be many more sick people, and doctors will prescribe drugs that don't necessarily work. Chronic disease develops over many years, yet we can prevent it and, to some degree, even reverse the symptoms when we change the way we live. Ignorance probably kills more people than the medical profession ever will, but the whole healthcare system has to be revised if we really want to save lives.

Dominique Allmon

 

Images taken by the author. 

 

1. Picture of some of the medication my husband was prescribed to mitigate the side effects and to repair the damage caused by the botched dental procedure.

 

2.  My husband receiving his first immunotherapy infusion in January 2022. 

 

Dominique Allmon©2024 

 

 

Post scriptum

 

August, 2026

 

One more, a truly tragic, story... 

 

I recently lost a friend. She had her colonoscopy seven years ago. Everything went well. About five years ago she started experiencing pain in her digestive tract and diarrhea. Without any additional testing, her GP diagnosed her with IBS and prescribed medication to mitigate the discomfort. Nothing worked. She believed that it must have been the stress that prevented her from getting well. 

 

When things got worse and really bad, she eventually learned that she had two rare stage IV cancers, one of which was the colorectal cancer. She started her cancer treatment in January and went through the whole process that involved surgery, chemotherapy and 28 radiation sessions. At the end of May, a shadow of her former self, she was declared cancer-free but in July a CAT scan showed a different story. The cancer was back and she was given no more than three weeks to live. She passed away in a hospice in mid-August, aged 66. 

 

My friend's story is all the more tragic because a simple, inexpensive stool test, the fecal occult blood test, could have detected the real reason for her digestive tract problems. Additional tests and another colonoscopy performed early on could have discovered polyps, precancerous or cancerous lesions that could have been treated and removed. If the cancer in its initial stage was detected at that time, her life could have been saved. She trusted her GP, an ignorant doctor who was arrogant enough not to give her a referral to a gastroenterologist or do the proper lab work. Not all details are known to me but the moral from my friend's story is simple: You always need a second opinion. Doctors are not infallible. They are human, they make mistakes. A wrong diagnosis could cost you your life!  

 

Dominique Allmon 

 

*Information in this article is for educational purposes only. It is not meant to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. It is not here to denigrate or malign the medical profession. It is not here to accuse nurses or doctors of mistreatment or malpractice. I published this article to make a point that sometimes a second and even third opinion might be life saving. Doctors are human and not necessarily infallible and not all prescribed medications or treatments are effective for every patient.  

Also of interest:

• Table of Iatrogenic deaths in the United States. Article link here
• Death by “alternative” medicine: Who’s to blame? Article link here
• Johns Hopkins Study. Article link here
• Conventional Medicine Is the Leading Cause of Death. Article link here
• Death by Medicine. Article link here 

Happy Science Fiction Day!

Fragment of a Roswell mural by Larry Welz

“Science fiction stories are extraordinary voyages into any of the infinite supply of conceivable futures.” - Isaac Asimov in “Asimov on Science Fiction”

Why Do We Love Horror?

With Halloween upon us and the recent release of "The Exorcist: Believer" movie by David Gordon Green, there is a little horror everywhere you look. Haunted mansions, spooky pumpkins, scary black cats, and kids running around in ghastly costumes, not to mention the daily news cycle that brings a horror of a different kind to your home. 

 

A gruesome horror movie or a dark story read from a well worn book at the end of the day will for sure give us the nightmare we are not quite sure we want to experience. And yet, so many people love the the chilling thrill.

Monsters, witches, werewolves, zombies, homicidal dolls, vampires, ghosts, vicious clowns, unnamed supernatural evil, cruel people, violence, and bloody terror, all exert incredible fascination on the lovers and haters of the genre alike.

If you have watched the Exorcist, Rosemary's Baby, Shining, Omen, or the Frankenstein, you might have experienced genuine fear with all the physiological symptoms that we normally experience in fearful real life situations. The heartbeat changes, blood pressure goes up, body temperature drops, and the palms begin to sweat. The story we are reading or watching might be completely irrational, but the brain interprets the fear-inducing stimuli as real.

So, why do we love horror?

Already in Antiquity people seemed to have indulged in horror. Greek mythology is full of monsters, but Greek tragedies that translated human condition into an incomprehensible terror also provided emotional release, or catharsis. The modern reader or viewer is not much different in this regard. Horror movies give us the chance to release pent up aggression and suppressed negative emotions.

Many of the horror movies, especially the older ones, explore the unconscious. Postulated by Freud, this is a terrain of secret desires and suppressed emotions that are deeply hidden in our psyche, but drive our motivations.

The dark side is a part of our psyche, if you prefer the Jungian interpretation, and should be embraced. The ominous, the obscure, the morbid, witchcraft, black magic, and satanism, are very old phenomena and our modern society is no different that the societies of the past. This fascination becomes problematic only when it takes pathological dimensions.

Morbid fascination, adrenaline rush, curiosity and thrill of excitement, might be the reasons why some people love the horror. Sensitive viewers, however, might be scarred for life with the visual imagery of horror movies. Young children, especially, might be deeply affected by the explicit violence of the genre. The effects are not benign and should not be treated lightly.

A little horror on Halloween is a completely different story, so enjoy and have fun!

By DominiqueAllmon

 
Image: Black Cat on Vegvísir by Dominique Allmon©2023

Alien Threat

 

"Can we and all nations not live in peace? 

 

In our obsession with antagonisms of the moment, we often forget how much unites all the members of humanity. Perhaps we need some outside, universal threat to make us recognize this common bond. 

 

I occasionally think how quickly our differences worldwide would vanish if we were facing an alien threat from outside this world. 

 

And yet, I ask you, is not an alien force already among us? What could be more alien to the universal aspirations of our peoples than war and the threat of war?"

 

- President Ronald Reagan in an address to the United Nations General Assembly on September 21, 1987. 

 

Image source unknown but greatly appreciated.

 

 

A Gentleman In Moscow And The Soul Of Russia

"A Gentleman in Moscow" by Amor Towles. I had this book on my bookshelf for more than four years. It was awaiting its turn to be read. The purchase was a result of a serious affliction called tsundoku where a person purchases more books than she or he can ever read and simply lets them sit on a bookshelf. A long intercontinental flight was a perfect occasion to finally read it.

It's a brilliant, very well written, intelligent, witty novel written by a man of great talent and erudition. This is a book you need to savor like a glass of the rarest Bordeaux or a piece of the finest Belgian chocolate. 

The main protagonist, Count Alexander Rostov, reflects on his past and lives through his memories. Like Swan in Proust's novel, Count's memories become vivid at the scent, sound or taste of things past. 

 

In 1922 Rostov, an unrepentant aristocrat, was sentenced by the Bolshevik court to house arrest. For the rest of his life he had to remain confined within the walls of the Hotel Metropol in Moscow. His physical world shrunk considerably, but the confinement opened the door to much richer regions of intellect and emotions.

This book evoked in me memories from the past long gone. Just like the Count, I suddenly remembered things I thought I forgot. Having studied Russian language, literature, and history in the mid 1970s and early 1980s, and having visited Russia, or rather the Soviet Union, for the first time in December of 1980 - a trip that started in Moscow and ended in Kiev but took us with a special permit to the restricted area of Irkutsk in Siberia where I met the descendants of Polish victims of Stalin's forced deportations; a trip to the Baikal Sea on a sunny winter day at -52°F; the Silk Road republics of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, and Turkmenistan; Christmas Eve in Baku, Azerbaijan; and Tbilisi in Georgia - I had many memories of my own. 

I was able to recall so much of that Russian soul that permeates every aspect of this book. I remembered the taste of thinly sliced, garlic marinated pork fat I had in Irkutsk, the fragrant lamb dishes in Tashkent, or the Georgian red wine I drank in Tbilisi. I remembered the taste of caviar I ate in Moscow and in Baku. I remembered the Olivier salad I had in Kiev, and of course, all the horrible hotels, restaurants, and airports, the unfriendly waiters and floor ladies in hotels, but also the art and music, and the cordiality and curiosity of Russian intellectuals so eager to find out who we were.  

 

No visitor to the Soviet Union liked the fact of being watched and never free to go wherever one wanted. The tour guide would answer all your questions in accordance with the ideology of the communist party that held the Russians in a very tight grip. And there was always at least one commissar attached to the group, carefully watching the tour guide. No amount of vodka would ever relax his ideological hold he had on that person. 

 

Everything in the Soviet Russia appeared almost surreal. It seemed that people actually believed the nightmarish tale of the "good life" they had in the system that deprived them daily of their dignity. Empty stores, long lines everywhere, overcrowded city buses, bad food and the air so polluted you could not breathe.

Despite all this, the Russians were full of pride and admiration for their own culture, especially their classical music and literature. The Kirov or the Bolshoi ballet companies were the jewels the Soviets displayed proudly. And who in the West did not hear of Tolstoy, Pushkin, or Gogol? 

When the Soviet Union collapsed in 1991, the Russians searched for a new identity. The embarrassment of poverty, backwardness and corruption, the loss of territory, the loss of power, came as a shock to a nation that collectively believed in the success of the communist ideology. Dissent existed in the Soviet Union but was squashed and severely punished. The indoctrination wasn't just skin deep. People accepted as true what they were told.

 

Is it a wonder that the search for a new identity produced even more poverty, more corruption, more crime? Is it a wonder that power hungry dictators would rule in an absolutist manner? Is it a wonder that the new Russia wants to reintegrate some of its lost territories and regain the importance it once had?

The tsarist Russia was a dangerous neighbor. So was the Soviet Union and so is the Russia of today. In the past, Russia swallowed and subjugated its neighbors. The Soviet Union did the same to the countries in Eastern Europe. No one in Poland, Czech Republic or Hungary has ever forgotten this. Amid the largest military buildup in Europe since the Cold War, people in these countries are watching the war in Ukraine in fear and disbelief. 

 

The war with Ukraine must be seen not only from the geopolitical perspective, but also from the historical and cultural one. There seems to be no resolution to the conflict as animosities are deeply rooted in the minds and hearts of peoples so similar and yet so different. Diplomacy has failed completely. Neither party is willing to make concessions to the other.

In his monumental "War and Peace" novel, Leo Tolstoy said that "if everyone fought for their own convictions there would be no war." But isn't this the very root of the current conflict in which nobody is winning? The belligerent gentleman in Moscow must understand that if he wants to save the Soul of Russia he must end the war. The leadership of Ukraine must be open to compromise if it wants to save the lives of the Ukrainian people.

By Dominique Allmon

Dominique Allmon©2023

Happy Year of the Rabbit!

On January 22, 2023 Chinese people all over the world celebrate the beginning of a Lunar New Year - the Year of the Water Rabbit also known as the Black Rabbit, since color black corresponds with the water element. As every year geomancers and fortune tellers are busy devising fortunes for countless clients who want to make sure that everything goes according to the laws of Heaven and Earth.

The Chinese believe that people born in the Year of the Rabbit are articulate, talented, and ambitious. They are virtuous, reserved, and have excellent taste. Rabbits are also admired, trusted, and are often very fortunate.

 

Rabbit is the fourth animal that arrived at the feast given by the Buddha. This animal is associated with the Moon because of the mythical Jade Rabbit that is believed to reside there. Rabbit symbolizes grace, mercy, beauty, and good fortune, but also intellect and caution. 

The year of the Rabbit is traditionally associated with home and family, artistic pursuits, diplomacy, and peace. 2023 is expected to be a much calmer year than 2022, so maybe there is hope for a diplomatic resolution of the conflict between Ukraine and Russia, and the end of so many other violent confrontations in many countries around the world. 

 

Individuals will become more introverted, secretive, and family oriented. Nations will become more insular and increasingly protect their borders against the unwanted "intruders". 2023 will also bring amazing creativity in all areas of life, notably in business and in arts. The water element suggests that it would be wise to move with the flow and avoid impulsive decisions.

People born in the Year of the Rabbit as well as people compatible with the Rabbit sign - those born in the years of the Sheep, Dog and Pig - will experience great financial and professional success. People born under other signs may have a bit more difficult ride in 2023. Everything depends on their flexibility and the ability to adopt to ever changing circumstances. 

But no matter what your fortune for the Year of the Rabbit may be, remember that you are the master of your fate. 

Wishing everyone a Happy and Auspicious Chinese New Year  - Dominique

新 年 快 樂 !

Dominique Allmon©2023

Britain's Queen Elisabeth II Dies at the Age of 96

Queen Elisabeth II in 1953 (February 6, 1926 - September 8, 2022)

Queen Elisabeth II passed away peacefully on September 8, 2022, at the Balmoral Castle. She was 96 years old. 

She was Britain's longest serving monarch with a reign spanning over seven decades. She ruled over United Kingdom and fourteen Commonwealth realms. Her oldest son, Charles, inherited the throne and will be known as the King Charles III.

Elisabeth II ascended to the throne on February 6, 1952, after her father, King George VI, died. Fifteen Prime Ministers, from Winston Churchill to Liz Truss, served Her Majesty during her reign that was at times filled with political turmoil, personal sorrow, jubilation, scandal, and controversy.

Her death filled many hearts with sorrow. She was known for her strong personality, wisdom, charm, and wit, and will be greatly missed by people in Britain and all over the world. 

The Queen's funeral was scheduled for September 19, 2022. That day was declared a bank holiday in the United Kingdom.

By Dominique Teng

Image source unknown but greatly appreciated

75th Anniversary of the Roswell Incident

Happy 75th Anniversary of the UFO Crash in Roswell! 

As every year, Roswell, NM, celebrates the alleged event with a colorful three-day long  festival.  Alien parade, costume competition, night sky watch, live music, and other activities fill out the weekend.

For three days UFO enthusiasts from all over the world descend on this small desert town. There is something for everyone there, even for the UFO deniers and skeptics. Leave your Serious Hat at home and join the jolly crowd! 

Dominique Allmon

Image: Alien on Main, Roswell by Dominique Allmon©2022

Year of the Tiger

On February 1, 2022, millions of people all over the world celebrate the Lunar New Year. The year 2022 is the Year of the Water Tiger. The water element adds fluidity and flexibility to the tiger's energy and prowess.

Tiger is one of the twelve animals in the Chinese zodiac. Chinese Buddhists tell the story of a feast given by the Buddha. They believe that tiger was the third animal to arrive at the feast.

Tiger represent the strength, ferocity, tenacity, and courage. People born under the sign of tiger are self-assured, love adventures and competition, and have great sense of justice. They are well respected by people around them. 

Geomancers and astrologers in Asia and in Chinese communities elsewhere are busy to compile horoscopes and predict the future. They expect a very dynamic year full of opportunities, innovation and progress. It will be a great year for learning, new projects, and accomplishments, but also a year of possible chaos and unpredictability, political conflicts, social unrest, and natural disasters.

Everything happens quickly and dramatically in a Year of the Tiger, so be ready or you will miss your opportunity. Be courageous enough to grab your chances to improve and advance professionally, but exercise a little caution to avoid mishaps and financial mishaps.

Chinese New Year is the most important holiday for the Chinese people and it gives families the opportunity to gather around sumptuous banquets and to exchange gifts. An obligatory visit to the local Taoist or Buddhist temple is made to place offerings to the gods or to the Buddha. Fruit and incense are offered and countless prayers said.

For those who forgot to make their New Year's resolutions in January, here is another chance.

Wishing everyone a very happy and prosperous Year of the Water Tiger - Dominique

新 年 快 樂 !

Dominique Allmon©2022