Something Old, Something New, Something Borrowed, Something Blue
Something/Someone Old
My Something Old today is Meteora, Greece:
So, once upon a time a long time ago, in the 9th century, some Eastern Orthodox monks decided to climb up these rock formations and live in the caves there. People had been living in the caves from about 50,000 to 5,000 years before the monks got there. The rock formations themselves came about
60 million years ago because earthquakes fractured the underlying sandstone and pushed rock upward. The rock then weathered over the millenia to form these beautiful, delicate, and treacherous spires.
About five hundred years after the monks first started living in caves in Meteora, they decided to build monasteries high on the spires. They were inspired by waves of Turkish soldiers to find somewhere relatively inaccessible to live (I actually love what I know of Turkish culture, but it's undeniable that they had one of the most hated empires on the face of the earth, and some of that was probably warranted.) For a long time, there weren't even any steps; you had to get up by ladder or being winched up in a basket. That must have been terrifying, but it certainly prevented the Turks from gaining access to the monks.
After the Turkish military ceased to be a threat, the spires presented good opportunities for pilgrimage. In the 1920s, they carved steps into the mountains for that purpose.
In the 16th century, Meteora was at its peak. There were 24 monasteries and convents there. Now, only 6 remain in working condition, two for women and four for men. The total monastic population of the Meteora monasteries in 2015 was 56, comprising 15 monks in four monasteries and 41 nuns in two monasteries. The monasteries are now tourist attractions.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meteora
I'm surprised that there are more nuns than monks left. Usually convents decline before monasteries; they are traditionally less well-funded.
Can I confess that, despite the faults of various Christian monastic traditions, I am sorry to see their decline? In my opinion, monastic communities were one of the better things accomplished by Christianity--and yes, I know sometimes, as in all closed communities, horrific abuses abounded. However, a community that works and lives together, grows its own food, provides healing and spiritual counsel and sometimes even defense for the surrounding people, is no bad thing.
https://www.visitmeteora.travel/the-meteora-monasteries/
https://monkeysandmountains.com/meteora-monasteries/
Something New
I've recently been playing the game Rimworld.
Rimworld is a base-building game by Ludeon Studios that got released in 2013 in an alpha state (in other words, highly unfinished and needing lots of game-testing). It only got released in November of last year in its beta state, though, so I guess it can still count as "new."
Your story is that your spaceship crash lands on a world on the galactic rim. You and two others manage to make it to escape pods. Now you three and your randomized pet have to establish a base and survive on this alien world. From time to time you get incursions from maddened animals (including tortoises and hares and squirrels, which do ludicrously silly things like break your jaw), incursions from hostile people who crashed here before you, outbreaks of disease, and various obnoxious behavior from your own colonists--which is the very hardest thing to deal with. In fact, it's the main business of the game to get your colonists to do the work you want them to do without breaking down, starting a fight, or doing something stupid.
Here's what it can look like when it goes well:
Here's what it can look like when it doesn't:
It's an endlessly compelling and frustrating game. Still haven't gotten very far, but I'll keep y'all posted.
Something Borrowed
I seem to be on a monastic kick today.
This is the Sagano Bamboo Forest, also known as the Arashiyama Bamboo Grove (I tried to find out what Arashiyama means to no avail. Anybody here speak Japanese?)
This grove, which is about 16 square kilometers, or just under 10 square miles, was planted, and paths built, in the 14th century, by a Zen Buddhist monk named Muso Soseki. Apparently this monk was quite renowned in his time, and was a poet and calligraphist as well as a garden designer:
Holy moly, one source says he founded the Zen art form of the rock garden!
“When a garden is used as a place to pause for thought, that is when a Zen garden comes to life. When you contemplate a garden like this it will form as lasting impression on your heart.”
— Muso Soseki
So why is this borrowed?
Well, the type of bamboo, Moso bamboo, comes from China. The characteristic that distinguishes it from other bamboo is how fast it grows:
The fact is that it takes only one month for the plant to reach 20-meter height. The diameter of the tree at the same time may reach 20 cm. The largest bamboo stalks grow up to 40 meters in height and 35 cm in diameter.
https://feel-planet.com/sagano-bamboo-forest-japan/
I'm glad that Senseki-sama borrowed the Moso bamboo. The grove is beautiful. The sound the bamboo makes in this place is a protected national treasure of Japan.
Something Blue
My Something Blue this week is Bora Bora, a Polynesian island group. Man, it's beautiful:
The interaction of colonialism and tourism makes me somewhat uncomfortable (Bora Bora is still located in "French Polynesia); there are similar reasons why I'm uncomfortable going to many parts of the Caribbean. But it's ravishingly beautiful.
How are you all doing today?
Comments
Where do they garden or raise farm animals?
Fortresses are beautiful but somewhat impractical today. School buses? Fire trucks? Bucket brigades from what water source?
Why has not tRump considered ordering the Lazarus poem erased from the Statue of Liberty? That is his intent. Bull in a china shop.
Hey! my dear friends or soon-to-be's, JtC could use the donations to keep this site functioning for those of us who can still see the life preserver or flotsam in the water.
@riverlover I'm guessing that food
I'm guessing that food and supplies are provided from outside in the case of Meteora, but most monasteries combined a model of donated goods and their own orchards, farmyards, animals, and, in fact, medicines (this was back in the Middle Ages, when the monks often had the best medicines available to the vast range of people).
It seems to me that there are two traditions in monastic life, one much more secluded than the other. Being an anchorite walled up in stone or a desert father or old man of the mountain is one path; life of service in community--and to a different, surrounding community--is the other. I like the second better, but some humans need a hermit's life. It is a small, but significant and persistent trend throughout history--there always seem to be a few of us monkeys who need to get away from most of the other monkeys. John Muir would be a non-religious form of that.
"More for Gore or the son of a drug lord--None of the above, fuck it, cut the cord."
--Zack de la Rocha
"I tell you I'll have nothing to do with the place...The roof of that hall is made of bones."
-- Fiver
@riverlover As for the poem, that
As for the poem, that would be right in line with the ongoing dismantling of American civilization from within. There is a movie clip that expresses what I feel about that, but it's so gruesome I hesitate to post it.
It's wise not to let an alien life form implant its young in your chest cavity. That's all I'm saying.
"More for Gore or the son of a drug lord--None of the above, fuck it, cut the cord."
--Zack de la Rocha
"I tell you I'll have nothing to do with the place...The roof of that hall is made of bones."
-- Fiver
Good morning, CStMS! Hope you are doing well.
I love your history lessons. The ancient architecture is incredible! Wonder how many unfortunates fell to their deaths building those places in the cliffs? I've never been a video gamer but the constant tech upgrades are something in themselves. Bora Bora is drop dead bee-yoo-t-full. I sure hope it is nowhere near that floating maritime nightmare of human trash. Rec'd!!
Inner and Outer Space: the Final Frontiers.
@riverlover Ah. On the cusp
Ah. On the cusp answers your questions below. Bugs. Jeez. Well, that's one way to do a vow of poverty.
I visited a Spanish monastery on a Women Mystics Pilgrimage in my early twenties. We arrived on the feast day of their patron saint. First came a massive dish involving prawns. I thought "What a nice meal." Then they brought out a rough-cut steak for each person.
Afterwards, over brandy and cigars, one person said, "If this is poverty, I want to see chastity!"
For feasting, go to Southern Europe and Northern Africa. Those people know how to eat, boy howdy.
"More for Gore or the son of a drug lord--None of the above, fuck it, cut the cord."
--Zack de la Rocha
"I tell you I'll have nothing to do with the place...The roof of that hall is made of bones."
-- Fiver
@orlbucfan I hadn't thought about
I hadn't thought about the people building it. Phew. All in a day's sacrifice for the monks, I suppose.
"More for Gore or the son of a drug lord--None of the above, fuck it, cut the cord."
--Zack de la Rocha
"I tell you I'll have nothing to do with the place...The roof of that hall is made of bones."
-- Fiver
I visited Meteora a while back.
The guide said the first monks survived on bugs.
The art and mosaics are beautiful, but I found artistic renderings of the various torture methods used to kill Christians was so ghastly that I just walked outside for fresh air.
There is no place quite like it.
Bora Bora is on my travel list.
Thanks for the gorgeous pictures!
"We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false." ---- William Casey, CIA Director, 1981
@on the cusp Jesus. I guess that was
Jesus. I guess that was uppermost in their minds, given that they were in the middle of a religious war.
Like I said, I really like the Turks. But their empire was pretty ghastly in its treatment of enemies and those it was trying to colonize (often the same people, but I have a hard time putting the slaughter of monks in the same basket with fighting an enemy army). Some say that the original Dracula learned his torture methods during his time of captivity with the Turks. Don't know if that's true.
"More for Gore or the son of a drug lord--None of the above, fuck it, cut the cord."
--Zack de la Rocha
"I tell you I'll have nothing to do with the place...The roof of that hall is made of bones."
-- Fiver
@Cant Stop the Macedonian Signal Dracula did learn the
Dracula did learn the value of torture from the Turks. He later employed a group of Chinese torturers who lived in splendor at his castle.
"We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false." ---- William Casey, CIA Director, 1981
Here is my something old:
[video:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xygUXauKEY0]
Modern education is little more than toeing the line for the capitalist pigs.
Guerrilla Liberalism won't liberate the US or the world from the iron fist of capital.
@The Aspie Corner Thank you so much for
Thank you so much for this, AC! I am very interested lately in socialist and anarchist movements from about 1870-1940. I'm ashamed to say it's the show Ripper Street that has inspired this. The portrayal of various socialist speeches in the show has made me wonder if the movements of the time focused on the State in the way it's portrayed in the show. Though obviously there are pressing reasons to focus on the State, it's important not to let it get too important. The primary enemy is international. You'd think that people whose anthem is the Internationale would get that, but it does seem that some were successfully distracted from capital by the state.
One of the vexing things is the relationship of the fight against colonialism to internationalism.
"More for Gore or the son of a drug lord--None of the above, fuck it, cut the cord."
--Zack de la Rocha
"I tell you I'll have nothing to do with the place...The roof of that hall is made of bones."
-- Fiver
Here's another recommendation:
[video:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i0ljxQsgUM4]
Modern education is little more than toeing the line for the capitalist pigs.
Guerrilla Liberalism won't liberate the US or the world from the iron fist of capital.
bamboo
..is a really interesting grass. Surprise, there an organization devoted to bamboo...
http://www.bamboo.org/index.php
Back in my student days, I read an agronomist work (? Starkey), detailing paper making experiments with bamboo production vs pine tree. Lot's of advantages - cut with a chipper, and it grows back...no replanting...higher net production/acre. Never caught on though. He was also one of the turn of the century agronomists that pushed for the use of kudzu (another invasive but useful plant).
Walked through a bamboo stand last month in S. Alabama
We have a few stands around the mountain. I like it for bean poles...last for years too.
Never been to the S. Pacific, but have enjoyed the Mexican Caribe. Thanks for the OT and have a good day all.
“Until justice rolls down like water and righteousness like a mighty stream.”
@Lookout Now I need to look at a
Now I need to look at a map of Alabama. I think of Alabama as being, well, like Montgomery and Biloxi: flat, warm, near the Gulf. Obviously Alabama is more than its Gulf Coast; what a Floridian view of your state I have!
EDIT: Not Montgomery, darn it. I'm not that stupid. Misspoke/typed. Mobile is what I meant. Sheesh.
I view the kudzu guy somewhat ruefully, as I grew up with great mounds of it presenting a problem round town.
It's a hell of a lot better than hydrilla, though. At least it does have uses.
I am all in favor of using bamboo rather than planted pine, as long as it's the clumping kind; you'll have to convince the Koch brothers of that, though (they bought Georgia Pacific a long time ago, as I understand it.)
"More for Gore or the son of a drug lord--None of the above, fuck it, cut the cord."
--Zack de la Rocha
"I tell you I'll have nothing to do with the place...The roof of that hall is made of bones."
-- Fiver
@Lookout Have now looked at a map
Have now looked at a map of your state, and my, it's tall.
The Gulf Coast and environs are only a very small part of your state; looks like more of it is like Appalachia than like where I live. (Lucky you; I'd put the SE U.S. mountains up against any mountains in the world for beauty).
"More for Gore or the son of a drug lord--None of the above, fuck it, cut the cord."
--Zack de la Rocha
"I tell you I'll have nothing to do with the place...The roof of that hall is made of bones."
-- Fiver
That bamboo forest
in Japan is staggering. Thanks for that link. I would love to see (and hear) the Sagano Bamboo forest. Bamboo is a fascinating plant, there are many varieties some of which can grow in my neck of the woods. They can be invasive so you have to be careful though. Bamboo has a whole bunch of practical uses including being a food source from its edible shoots. It grows fast and is a renewable/sustainable material. It's a great plant for people interested in resilience. On my long list of to-do's is researching bamboo to see what I can grow here.
Thanks for the bit of virtual travel. I will never make it to Bora Bora, but I'm glad there is a place so incredibly beautiful. I've been missing your OT's lately and want to go back to see them when things aren't so hectic for me.
@randtntx I won't get to Bora Bora
I won't get to Bora Bora either. I admit to having an odd view of the South Sea Islands, and Pacific islands in general. It unnerves me to be so far away from any mainland. I know I'm Floridian, and I grew up on a barrier island, but it just ain't the same. I like to know I can flee to the mainland if things get too bad (never been one to ride out the storm, though I have a mild admiration for the island macho of those who do--it's both brave and foolhardy in my opinion).
"More for Gore or the son of a drug lord--None of the above, fuck it, cut the cord."
--Zack de la Rocha
"I tell you I'll have nothing to do with the place...The roof of that hall is made of bones."
-- Fiver
@randtntx It's nice to see you,
It's nice to see you, randintx.
It's always encouraging to me when people pop back in and make a comment here and elsewhere on the site after long silence. One of the screwy things about virtual relationships is that, when someone stops talking, they have effectively disappeared, and you never know whether you will "see" them again.
This comment not intended as a guilt trip on anybody who has, for whatever reason, stopped commenting. Nobody is obligated to speak. But it's nice when they do.
"More for Gore or the son of a drug lord--None of the above, fuck it, cut the cord."
--Zack de la Rocha
"I tell you I'll have nothing to do with the place...The roof of that hall is made of bones."
-- Fiver
I always enjoy your OT's
and I know what you mean about disappearing. "Real" life can get so crazy, that it can be hard to keep up with all the fantastic writing here. I do feel guilty about that though, because I regard this as an important place.
Lookout, I just saw your post
after I wrote my comment. Your bamboo link looks interesting....will need to check it out, thanks. I love the stand of bamboo in S. Alabama you showed, nice. Bean poles. I would get a kick out of growing my own bean poles and trellis-type structures with bamboo.
In Canada broken hockey sticks get recycled as poles/posts
in gardens. Tres amusant!
Hey! my dear friends or soon-to-be's, JtC could use the donations to keep this site functioning for those of us who can still see the life preserver or flotsam in the water.
That's great.
Very Canadian heh?
LOL, I am NOT Canadian, but
I believe what you may mean is "EHHHH." LOL
Do I hear the sound of guillotines being constructed?
“Those who make peaceful revolution impossible will make violent revolution inevitable." ~ President John F. Kennedy
How fun,
following your link Lookout...http://www.bamboocentral.net/
This is definitely something I could do.
Monasteries, bamboo, and the South Pacific
All interesting topics for me. Whatever the bad side was, there were always a few enlightened folks off in monasteries, convents, etc. Too bad most of modern day christianity does not follow them.
I badly want to grow bamboo, but where ever I look it is about $60 a plant. Randtntx, do you have a Texas source for bamboo that is affordable?
My favorite musical is "South Pacific" . . . haunting beautiful cinema. Always thought I would travel the world, but now it is doubtful. Thank you so much for your photography that can still take me there.
Have a great day all!
Marilyn
"Make dirt, not war." eyo
@mhagle Hey, Marilyn! I'm
Hey, Marilyn! I'm starting to wonder about travel too. Hoping I'll be able to get a few more places before either I or the planet make it unfeasible. Bunch of assholes up there messing up a wonderful world.
"More for Gore or the son of a drug lord--None of the above, fuck it, cut the cord."
--Zack de la Rocha
"I tell you I'll have nothing to do with the place...The roof of that hall is made of bones."
-- Fiver
I don't have a source.
And am just starting to entertain the idea of planting some. I have a lot of research to do before I get to that stage though. If I invest $60 in one plant I want to be as sure as possible that I will benefit/get a return on that investment. I'm not at that stage yet but I noticed in Lookout's link there is an organization out of Austin that could help with questions regarding planting bamboo. I plan to start my research there. I Will let you know!
Blue Monk
[video:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_40V2lcxM7k width:400 height:240]
We wanted decent healthcare, a living wage and free college.
The Democrats gave us Biden and war instead.
The monks and nuns
appear to be very close to heaven
question everything
Off topic, if that is okay
I have been following a video series that is being posted on Niko House's channel. Niko has not produced the videos, but is allowing Brandon DeGraff to post them on Niko's channel.
The series is called RIGGED. It is about how our elections have been and are continuing to be rigged. So far 20 vdeos have been produced with the latest one posted today. Below is a link to the first video in the series. The format for each video is relativelly short so that they are easily digestible.
[video:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x9eCWQDRqsA]
Do I hear the sound of guillotines being constructed?
“Those who make peaceful revolution impossible will make violent revolution inevitable." ~ President John F. Kennedy
Now there's something everyone needs to see;
the perfect illustration, short and bitter-sweet.
Edit: speak out while we can - this came up on my notifications:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u3o2X9bI1Fo
Naturally, this means anything offensive to TPTB...
Psychopathy is not a political position, whether labeled 'conservatism', 'centrism' or 'left'.
A tin labeled 'coffee' may be a can of worms or pathology identified by a lack of empathy/willingness to harm others to achieve personal desires.
@gulfgal98 Gulfgal, this is an OT,
Gulfgal, this is an OT, despite the way it looks. Anything you want to say is fine by me.
"More for Gore or the son of a drug lord--None of the above, fuck it, cut the cord."
--Zack de la Rocha
"I tell you I'll have nothing to do with the place...The roof of that hall is made of bones."
-- Fiver
I have family living in Japan at the moment.
A couple of weeks ago they visited Kyoto for a week. I have a photo of my daughter and grandchild under that very bamboo. What a coincidence!
There is an entry in Wikipedia for Arashiyama, which, I am informed means, “Storm Mountain.” “Shima” I believe means “Mountain.” So there you are!
"The object of persecution is persecution. The object of torture is torture. The object of power is power. Now do you begin to understand me?" ~Orwell, "1984"
@Lily O Lady How wonderful, Lily!
How wonderful, Lily!
Thank you for the translation. Google fail; personal connections for the win!
"More for Gore or the son of a drug lord--None of the above, fuck it, cut the cord."
--Zack de la Rocha
"I tell you I'll have nothing to do with the place...The roof of that hall is made of bones."
-- Fiver
BTW since we do have family in
Japan, I have been watching the NHK (Japan’s network) on public TV. A story about Buddhist monks keeping an ancient statue from public view gave me pause. I understand the desire to conserve historical objects, but it does run counter to the Buddhist concept of impermanence.
"The object of persecution is persecution. The object of torture is torture. The object of power is power. Now do you begin to understand me?" ~Orwell, "1984"
My understanding
Keep your antennae up, Caucusers.
I have heard that a story is about to come out about Robert Mueller and why he was chosen to investigate Trump. And there is one thing we know he won't find.
Mueller is attached, mostly as a prosecutor, to many of the major scandals of our intelligence services. He was the head of the FBI and did nothing to prosecute the 2008 swindle that Wall Street pulled. He was head of the FBI when 9/11 happened and didn't notice all the connections with the House of Saud or the CIA. He ran the prosecution of Manuel Noriega and somehow overlooked the CIA's money-laundering, arms smuggling and drug-running through Panama. Likewise, when Pan Am 103 went down he didn't investigate why that team of intelligence officers, the McKee Team, was on the plane. And he moved the investigation away from the original target of Palestinian terrorists in Frankfurt and the man who allegedly supplied the bomb. That would be Monzer al-Kassar, an arms dealer involved in Iran-contra. He also was at the time the biggest heroin exporter to the US.
He prosecuted the "drug tug" case in the Northern California federal prosecutor's office. Again, drugs with CIA fingerprints, plus the drug tug case had tentacles extending to other CIA misfeasance like the S&L bustouts.
I'm not sure what role he played in the Patty Hearst/SLA saga besides turning down Hearst's pardon request. The SLA psyop was an offshoot of the Phoenix Program in Vietnam. And speaking of the CIA's Phoenix Program, Mueller was an aide-de-camp of a Marine general in the late sixties in Vietnam, and so he was clearly aware of it.
Reaching way back, in 1966 he married Ann Cabell Standish. Yes, that Cabell family. Her grandfather was Charles Cabell who, along with Allen Dulles, was fired by JFK for the Bay of Pigs okeydoke. Her grand uncle was the mayor of Dallas at the time that JFK was assassinated.
You could say that Robert Mueller has overlooked just about every CIA scandal of the past half-century, so you can guess what he won't see in his investigation of Donald Trump.
@Bob In Portland Thank you very much for
Thank you very much for this info. I had no idea of any of Mueller's history.
"More for Gore or the son of a drug lord--None of the above, fuck it, cut the cord."
--Zack de la Rocha
"I tell you I'll have nothing to do with the place...The roof of that hall is made of bones."
-- Fiver