Echoes in the Mist

This video is about a capped heron in Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil.

Green Honeycreeper, male, Trinidad

In this fresh new year — try to find a spark of  joy in every day.

It could be a spot of bright nature;

Azure Kingfisher, Australia

or something new you’ve never seen before;

Male Kudu, Botswana, Chobe River

Conversely, joy could appear in something you see every day, but never stopped to appreciate.

Monarch Butterfly, Horicon Marsh, WI

Twelve-spotted Skimmer Dragonfly, California

We can find joy in remarkable human engineering feats;

Sydney Opera House, Australia

or inspiring people;

Gandhi Statue, The Ferry Building, San Francisco

Lincoln Memorial, Washington, DC

or art, so many forms of art.

Ancient Kangaroo Rock Art, Kakadu NP, Australia

Chihuly Sea Star, Seattle, WA

Some of the most cheerful joy comes in simple forms.

American Robin nest, Wisconsin

California Honeysuckle, lonicera

There will be times, however, in the new year when difficulty or despair take over.

Joy might not be readily accessible…

Spending the holidays with family in Santa Cruz California,

and spied this young egret on Christmas Day.

He had romance on his mind,

but his timing was all wrong.

He expected affection,

prior to,

fine dining!

Live and learn.

He got the dinner,

but not the date!

Cheers to you from sunny Santa Cruz~

Wading Birds like this oystercatcher are fascinating to watch. I photographed this American Oystercatcher in South America.

This Black Oystercatcher, near The Holler, was a rare sighting.

California has about 668 species of birds. The Holler, and nearby environs alone, account for approximately 500 of them, including a variety of waders. Little Blue Herons can be found near the coast, and are seen less often, closer to The Holler.

Majestic Great Blue Herons are common.

They sometimes show up at our front door!

Sandhill Cranes stand over four feet tall and are further afield.

They winter at The Salton Sea.

Snowy Egrets are everywhere. This guy was near the coast.

His green crab lunch was a bit crabby and hard to swallow!

Cheers to you from The Holler’s wonderful waders~

(According to Hindu Mythology. These are only the summary versions. I will write up the details in another blog post!)

There is no single but many versions of the story of creation of the Universe in Hinduism. It is up to the people what they want to believe because every version seems convincing to some extent.  

But if one really wants to know the truth they must fix up a meeting with Rishi Markandeya because he is the only one who has the privilege to see the creation and destruction of the universe every time. He received a boon from the Devi to watch the whole process. (But there are many stories on exactly who gave him the boon!!)

Version 1:-

I will start with the most popular version which is related to Lord Vishnu.

In the beginning that is after the destruction of the universe there…

This November 2018 video is about the exhibition Gods of Egypt in the antiquities museum in Leiden, the Netherlands.

I saw that exhibition today.

The museum site says about it:

Gods of Egypt: until 31 March 2019

This winter, the mystical world of the ancient Egyptian gods comes to life in the Rijksmuseum van Oudheden (National Museum of Antiquities). The large exhibition Gods of Egypt is entirely devoted to the ancient Egyptian pantheon and brings numerous treasures to the Netherlands. More than five hundred imposing sculptures of gods and goddesses, magical papyri, gold jewels and richly painted mummy cases, from museums in the Netherlands and abroad, demonstrate the enormous influence of the gods on the lives of the Ancient Egyptians.

Partnership with European museums

For Gods of Egypt, the National Museum of Antiquities is working together with the Egyptian Museum in Torino, which has the second largest Egypt…

Dehing Patkai Wildlife Sanctuary, Assam

The 1920 Treaty of Sevres promised Kurdistan for the Kurds, but the promise was never fulfilled. After they have proved their effectiveness at fighting ISIS, something which Trump has recognized, he is abandonning them to slaughter by Turkey. To keep his name on Trump Towers Istanbul? Or some other deal?

Inside the hideous Trump Towers Istabul Turkey

From VOA News:
“Who Are the Kurds? December 19, 2018 8:08 PM, by VOA News

The Kurds’ involvement in the conflict in Syria is difficult to understand because of their own troubled history that spreads across several regional borders. Here is a look at the current Kurdish crisis and how it came to be: 

Who are the Kurds? 

The Kurds are one of the indigenous people of the Mesopotamian plains and the highlands, areas that today are contained within southeastern Turkey, northeastern Syria, northern Iraq, northwestern Iran and southwestern Armenia.

Estimated…

Only a dozen heritage objects came back between 1947 and 2014, but since 2014, over 27 have returned. This figure may be minuscule, but its symbolic value is immeasurable, perhaps more important than the heritage items recovered. – Prof Makarand Paranjape

Years ago, I was stunned to see a beautiful 17th century Ganesha on display at a famous museum in the US with kumkum and chandan (vermillion and sandalwood) clearly visible marks on it.

I mentioned this to one of the curators, pointing out how a statue so recently worshipped was likely to be illegally acquired, if not stolen.

Thankfully, in their zeal to maintain authenticity, both the traffickers and the curators had preserved the tell-tale signs of its possible theft.

The curator shrugged and said, “We can’t say; all I know is that we bid and paid for it.”

Restoring heritage

That used to be the fate of many an Indian…

The little Indigenous American girl, Jakelin, who died in US custody was reportedly Mayan from Raxruha, in Alta Verapaz, Guatemala. In that area there is agriculture, mining, and oil drilling. In particular there are new oil wells and associated infrastructure planned, being built, or recently finished. An oil pipeline passes near or through her village. There is an oil pipeline pumping station there, as well. Apparently her father was seeking work. Why he brought his young daughter with him, when she has a mother at home, is another question to be asked.

Why are people being forced off of their land in Guatemala, especially people who are indigenous to the Americas? Why does no one point out that people should not be forced off of their land in the first place?
Nonetheless, if the US is going to continue to have temporary or permanent legal immigration, then priority should…