Monday, June 28, 2004

I went to a Hindu Temple on Sun. It was a very interesting experience. They cleaned the idol of a god who's name I can't pronounce, but was told it was the same as Vishnu just under a different name (not an avatar, more an alias, of sorts). Being of a religion that frowns on idol worship, this was a whole new world for me, (I'm not wholly unfamiliar with idols. Any real Jew would be aghast if they saw my Buddha shrine, but I don't actually worship the Buddhas.) but I am completely fascinated by Hinduism. The basic concept of the religion is the same as any western tradition, they just have more deities to teach the same moral lessons. It's very cultural. The Dalai Lama says one should always practice the religion of their culture, a statement I didn't fully comprehend until now. I don't think a westerner could ever truly understand Hinduism. Anyway, the whole service was in Sanskrit. It was cool to listen to, but made it impossible to actually understand what was happening. If you've never seen this service, it is worth checking out. They pour water over the idol, followed by milk, buttermilk, yogurt, honey and orange juice. Then they clean all that off, block the idol from view and dress it. It's a bit of a shock for the more fundamentalist practitioner out there, but a cool experience for the open minded!

Wednesday, June 23, 2004

In case you've been living under a rock, this is an election year. If you're not aware, there is a new coalition called November 2 whose mission is to remind everyone to vote. It's non-partisan, which is the only reason I mention it here (I'm already sick of campaign season and it's not even in full swing yet). You can read about it on AlterNet. Whether we like the choices or not, we have to make a decision about the future of our country on Nov. 2, so please vote!

Tuesday, June 22, 2004

Learn about the administration's proposal to drill for oil in Otero Mesa. You can send an email to your congressperson to oppose this plan.

Thursday, June 17, 2004

I think I'm officially open for business. Before yesterday I had no experience with html, so I had fun learning how to post links. I will add more links as this blog continues to unfold, but so far I am happy with what I've done.

This past month has been such a whirlwind. The semester from hell finally came to an end. I went to the Slayage Conference on Buffy the Vampire Slayer, which was one of the best experiences of my academic life. I moved into the dorms as a supervisor (so at least I have a sweet apartment: 2 bed/2 bath, rent-free, all utilities included). Now that the whirlwind seems to be slowing down, I finally feel like I have time to breathe again. Maybe I'll even find time to read a book.

Wednesday, June 16, 2004

Well, I finally got around to doing something with this blog. I like it better than myspace. I have more freedom to customize. I still have to question my motivation in doing this since I know it doesn't actually get read, but it keeps me entertained. With any luck, it will keep the occasional reader entertained as well.