David Russell plays Bach’s “Prelude, Fugue and Allegro in E-flat major”

You might notice that Russell’s version adds some ornamentation two minutes in that most performers of this piece don’t use, but it seems to well up in him as an outflowing of his being genuinely connected to the music. He’s really enjoying it! The ornamentation is consonant with Baroque style, his “fingerings” are truly masterful, and his interpretation works (in my humble opinion)!

Poet Gary Snyder, ‘Circumambulation of Mt. Tamalpais, 2005 (photo credit: Swill Bucket (Dan R and Shawn Hamilton)

Gary Snyder, Beat Poet

While on this trip, when I arrived in the rendevous spot in Marin County, my car was overheated and a nice person stopped by to see if he could help. Later I realized this good samaritan was Peter Coyote

道德經 The Tao de Ching explains the United States

61

When a country obtains great power, it becomes like the sea: all streams run downward into it.

The more powerful it grows, the greater the need for humility. Humility means trusting the Tao, thus never needing to be defensive.

A great nation is like a great man: When he makes a mistake, he realizes it. Having realized it, he admits it. Having admitted it, he corrects it.

He considers those who point out his faults as his most benevolent teachers. He thinks of his enemy as the shadow that he himself casts.

If a nation is centered in the Tao, if it nourishes its own people and doesn’t meddle in the affairs of others, it will be a light to all nations in the world.

Darryl Jefferson speaks on being homeless in Sacramento

One morning, as my wife’s Buddhist group was engaged in its weekly food distribution to the houseless residents of north Sacramento, I decided to interview a few of those who were willing to talk. I didn’t have much luck until Darryl Jefferson rode by on a bike and asked him if he’d considered telling a little about his world.

Please listen to what Darryl has to say about homelessness and living on the street:

(Click Here) DARRYL JEFFERSON

Immunities don’t exist, and of course the government always does a better job at protection

Repeatedly, police and their apologists insist that police are held accountable regularly, and in fact are held to a “higher” standard than ordinary people. This simply isn’t the case, according to the law (and don’t police and their supporters care about the law?) Below are several provisions of the California Government Code, which are relevant to the police state, governmental lack of accountability, and why government services in this area are so poor. Similar provisions likely exist in other jurisdictions, and are supported by Supreme Court case law.

Let’s start with the police –

(Entire story here)