A Myanmar Connection

Phongyi

My understanding at the moment is that in M a phongi is much like a bando monk. Bando is and ancient Hindu Buddhist system of non-violence. It is also a system of empty-hand self-defence sometimes used in defense of Buddhist temple schools. The discipline may not always be empty-handed.

Still the bando monk system, well pursued, is based on principles of non-violence and is used as a way of developing the body, mind, and spirit to achieve harmony with oneself, with others, with nature.

Bando monks are storied to have disarmed an opponent with a naked blade while the monk's sword remained sheathed. their high purpose was to do minimum damage to an opponent.

Belts

With so many talking of tightening their belts, I find myself having to let mine out.

Lost Childhood

When I heard the news of Micheal Jackson's death, I shed a tear and a half for my own lost childhood.

Click in a New Place

Move your mouse marker around the pages to find hot spots on which to click that will open opportunities for new discoveries.

Around Camp Thunderbird

Animal natives note, but seem little disturbed by, the construction going on.
Right now, there are four ravens drinking at my cooler water drain as they casually keep a persistent half grown road runner from doing the same.
Handsome desert iguanas use piles of rubble or materials as lookout posts during mating season.
Round-tailed ground squirrels use everything for shade or hang outs as though it were made specifically for them.
Jack rabbits check out each change with a concentration that reminds me of a house cat.
Cotton tail hop around in the here and now as though nothing has changed.
Removing a shed discovered snakes and geckos.
A side-winder left its distinctive trail along the berm to which new bit and hunks of broken concrete had been added.
Quail lead their well-grown chicks around seeming to use the changes as a teaching opportunity as they snack on newly uncovered bits.

Earned SS Benefits Should Be Paid

California teachers do not receive the same Social Security benefits when they retire as others with the same contribution history.
Why?
I admit that I don't know the history of this situation. I do know that California is one of the 15 states where this injustice prevails.
I do see that a combined CalSTRS pension and this penalized Social Security benefits makes it very difficult to retire with dignity. It does seem to me that earned Social Security benefits should be paid to individuals who have earned those benefits.
If you find yourself interested you could check out HR 235, S 484, AJR 10.
You might contact your local representative.
You might contact Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi at
http://www.house.gov/pelosi/contact.html or
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid at
http://reid.senate.gov/contact/index.cfm

Pretty Little Flower

Our national policy concerning the growth of opium poppies in Afghanistan seems to be improving;
doesn't it?

It is better than punishing the poorest and weakest for our addiction, isn't it?

Brown Cow Meditation

Power corrupts.
Absolute power corrupts absolutely.

You have probably heard something very like the above.
What does it have to do with you and me?

There are examples.

What kind of power is our opening sentence most likely about?
What might the corruption be like there?
What might be the nature of that corruption?

How do you detect corruption?
How do you avoid corruption?
How do you handle your power?

What has mankind tried to do about the corrupting influence of power?

You know that power is 'good' in that it can be helpful and useful.
You know that power is 'bad' in that it can be hurtful and destructive.

There is power potential in fire or in a hammer. What rules have we developed to support the good and limit the bad in hammers and fire?

There is a power potential in military and political organizations. what rules has mankind developed to potentiate the good in such organizations and limit the bad?

We give (delegate) power to others every day. What rules do we have for limiting the corrupting influences to which they are exposed?

Where might a corrupting influence be at work?

What rules do we have for keeping ourselves good?
Accentuate the positive, eliminate the negative.
How now?