My Memory

Here is what I remember about the Korean War/police action.
There was a war between the North and the South.
We wanted the North to lose.
We fought against the North and they beat us off.
Since then Americans have been on that border.
How long has it been?
Where have I remembered wrongly?
How do you think we should decide to join a civil war?

Theravada Buddhism

Theravada Buddhism shows a continuous and ongoing influence in South East Asia from very early times. I believe that people of Burma (Myanmar) were the main SEA influence in the spread of Theravada Buddhism, shared by Sinhalese and others. Theravada was not, and is not the only Buddhism in the area, just as Buddhism has never been the only religion in the region.

Buddhists of what we now call Sri Lanka were not the only Buddhists in contact with the peoples of what we now call Myanmar; though Buddhist teachings an revivals have flowed both ways between these two peoples. One example of an influence on Myanmar Buddhism which was nor Ceylonese may be found in the career of Atisa(AD 982-1054) after the advent of Islam. Atisa probably spent a dozen years in southern Burma before going to Tibet to reform tantric tradition there.

Theravada Buddhism stayed strong through the Mongo evasions and the destruction of Pagan by them at the end of the 13th century. In the 15th century the Mon order Dhammaceti restored the Theravada order.

I hope to write more in this vein soon.

Native California Peoples

Native America peoples of what is now southern California usually had names for themselves other than the ones will I give here. Here are many of the popularized ones I remember. There are many more: Chumash, Alliklik, Kitanemuk, Serrano, Gabrielino, Luiseno, Cahuilla, Kumeyaay, Hoopa.

Of course other native peoples made their presences strongly felt in California. For example: Shoshone, Paiute, Yakee (Yaqui), Mohave, Apache, and many others.

There was cultural and economic commerce between and among these people. Trade was carried on to the Northwest US and beyond, to deep into Mexico, up and down the Colorado and beyond.

Each of these peoples have their stories and their history.

The Chumash, for example, traded up and down the Pacific coast in their well-made, brea-caulked boats. They also were know for introducing new religious ideas to inland peoples.
The Chumash were among those to bear much of the brunt of contact with European explorers and conquerors. They were among the first to contact the Spanish and in very early times had unfriendly dealings with the Russians and their Native allies. It's not surprising that Chumash made these contacts first, as they were a sea going people and the Spanish, Russians, English and a surprising number of others first came by sea. The Chumash may also have traded with Chinese and perhaps Japanese.

The Thunderbirds

The thunderbirds are back, but no thunder.

Seems like October. Must be time for Gary's "birthday."

California Teachers Are Still Losing SS Quarters

Teachers pay into their retirement account. Their pension is not a free benefit. Unlike many corporate workers teachers have been required to pay 8% of their salary into an account with the California State Teachers Retirement System. This is a higher rate than most workers pay into Social Security.Further, by a great travesty of law, teachers lose most of all moneys they earn under
SS. Teachers made and make their monthly contributions in good faith and deserve not to lose the modest pensions they were promised.

I had SS deducted from my pay for forty years. Why must I lose that just because I taught for 20 Years.

Reminds Me

Looking at the photographs on the site below reminds me of the Desert Hot Springs of the late '40s and early '50s.

I don't know of what they are likely to remind you.

http://www.29palmshistorical.com

Bleeding First Aid

If you or another is bleeding in a way that seems to be leading to serious blood loss or just a big mess, here are seven ways you might try to control it:
1. direct pressure on wound
2. pressure wraps
3. icing the area
4. elevating the wound above heart
5. apply a product call Bleed-X or TraumaDEX
6. apply corn-starch directly in the wound and cover with a wrap
7. sugar use as the cornstarch above does a good job of staunching the flow and also acts as a bit of a disinfectant.
8. honey may flow into deep and large and deep wounds to staunch bleeding and also be a better anti-biotic than is sugar
Each of the acts should be considered short term. All wounds should
cleaned and disinfected. Deeper or more serious wounds should be treated by a physician or surgeon.

Ill

I'm still feeling comparatively ill.
I still have something going on in my gut. All my experience points to parasites. I expect the results of some cultures soon.
My right hip is newly very painful. Inversion table is of some help.
Pain in right wrist and thumb have increased.
My blood pressure has gone down a bit, but is still much too high in spite of adding medication and doubling old med.