We go to Costco every week, usually on around the same day and time. As a result, we see the same sample servers every week, and we’ve gotten to know some of them a little, if not always through conversation then by observation. Well, there’s this one gentleman that we’ll call Ralph (not his real name) who stands out. Namely, he’s said some peculiar things.

The first incident was when he was doling out some sort of high-caloric treat. Papa took a bite and exclaimed that it was “good, too good in fact” and that he was on a diet. Ralph’s exact words I forget, but it was something that implicated that Papa ate a lot of fava beans… Continue reading ‘“Did you forget your cart again?”’

Prehistoric people made musical instruments out of bone and ivory soon after reaching Europe

A Science News article, Stone Age flutes found in Germany, reports that people living in Europe more than 35,000 years ago made this flute (shown from three different angles) out of a vulture bone. The magnified portion of the flute at the right provides a closer look at two of the flute’s finger holes.

As far as I can make out, it appears to be a simple end blown flute like the shakuhachi. The blowing technique is similar to blowing across the top of a bottle to produce a pleasant resonant tone. By placing holes in it, you can play a melody (or something melody-like in the case of Buddhist Hon Kyoku).

It feels intriguing being connected to a musical tradition (the end blow flute) that predates civilization as we know it by tens of thousands of years. Keeping that image in mind, while I play it, helps me put ‘tao’ into the blowing Zen. I mean, talk about the thread running through the way!

Where is the jungle?

Where’s the jungle?” I thought. Malaya’s beautiful paved roads weren’t what I had expected at all. Still, I had just left Singapore.

While working in Australia in the early 60′s I met folks who intrigued me with their stories of traveling over land through India and Southeast Asia. Instead of returning to US as planned, I decided to set out overland to Europe through Asia. Hitchhiking was a must, in view of my budget, though it felt weird considering I’d never hitchhiked before.… Continue reading ‘Into the Jungle?’