Yak Attack

Did I fall off the face of the earth?

No.  A few things happened beyond my control.  First, the government of my host country closed access to all blogs.  Then they closed access to all VPN's.  Then, I was encouraged to leave the country.  I did.  I came back to the States on a Sabbatical.  After 14 years in Asia, I had my first Sabbatical.  After 6 months, I decided that I needed to move back to help my parents who had health issues.  I moved back, went to court, as my renter was suing me for an unlivable house.  He had pretty much destroyed the house, had not paid rent for 5 months, ran the oil out of the tank, and pulled the thermostat off the wall.  Needless to say, he did not win the lawsuit, and in his 'negotiations', paid up and moved out, taking many things with him that weren't his, including the washer and dryer and many things in my locked storage room that he had broken into.  Breathe.  Take it one day at a time.  Then my father became critically ill.  I had the great opportunity to be his medical advocate, helping him to have some control over the quality of his life when the quantity was limited. 

So much happened in such a short time.  I really never had a chance to change cultures and centuries after living in Asia for a total of 20 years.  I have so many stories to tell, and so many photos to share.  So I am starting up my blog again, to share stories of a different life.  This is a time of healing.  A time of catching up.  A time of integration.  I hope you will help me integrate my thoughts.

Thank you!

Bonnie

Yak Milk Soap Project

Several years ago, my friend Kathy gave me some of her goat milk soap.  I thought, "Wow!  This is really great!  I would love to have her come and teach the nomad women how to make soap -- from yak milk!"  Since yak milk has 8-12% butterfat, I thought that this could be really great soap, plus it could enhance the livlihood of some nomad women, give them an income, improve their situation, etc.  This dream became a reality this past month.  

The women who learned how to make yak milk soap.

 

The first training session. 

The women are eager to learn, and learned very quickly.

We always had three languages going (English, Chinese and Tibetan), and occasionally four (Mongolian) and even five (Dutch)!

Kathy was a great teacher!

Getting ready for lunch.

The women learned how to use a rubber spatula, as well as a stick blender.

They helped each other to learn and to remember, using good safety techniques.

They mixed the ingredients very carefully, and were very precise in all their measurements.  This was a very foreign concept to them.

 

Preparing juniper boughs to put in the 'Juniper' soap.

The women learned about good hand washing techniques, and also what soft, fragrant soap feels like.

"Oh, my hands are squeaky clean!"

"If it could get my hands clean, then it has to be great soap!" 

"It's so soft, I want to wash my face in it!"

Learning how to cut the soap.

"This is my first bar of yak milk soap!"  The smiles made it all worth while.

The very first bars of yak milk soap made by Tibetan nomads!

The very first bars of yak milk soap -- curing.

More soap varieties -- including Lavender, Tibetan Sky (with rainwater from the Tibetan Sky), Eucalytus, Mint, Holiday Spice and Juniper.

The entire Yak Milk Soap Project team! 

We really wanted to milk a yak, so on our last morning there, we left very early to go to the tent of one of the nomad women. 

She gave us lessons on how to milk a yak.

And we all got to try our hand at it.

This is such a typical picture of a nomad woman, milking her yak, in front of a black yak hair tent.  These black tents are being replace by white factory-made tents, that are lighter weight and easier to put up and take down.

Our friend, with a wooden bucket of fresh yak milk, which we actually had in Tibetan tea that morning.  Couldn't get any fresher than that!

Sweet!

My goat milk soap friends are back in the States, the nomad women have continued to make some good yak milk soap, and I am in my apartment catching up on emails and connecting with friends.  What difference have we made?  For right now, these nomad women have learned a new skill.  They have a new way of making a little extra income.  This is very important, since more and more nomads are being put into urban areas. 

What is the impact on the community?  More yak fat is being sold... more oils are being utilized... etc., etc.  The community economics can only improve when there is a new product sold.  What will the impact be in the future?  We don't know, but this project could impact these families and others for generations to come, and hopefully be one way to transform their lives.

 

 

What's for supper?

Where are all the English teachers???

A Woman's Touch

Doris Day stars in the 1953 movie “Calamity Jane”.  One of the many great songs she sings is “A Woman’s Touch”.  Oh, if only my apartment could be transformed so beautifully and so quickly!   But the reason I am writing about this is that a woman’s touch finally broke through another traditionally male barrier... duct tape!  YES!!!  When I first went overseas, the first item on the ‘packing list’ that was sent to me was “duct tape”.  The list had to have been put together by a man.  Ugly gray duct tape.  Yes, duct tape is very useful and handy stuff.  But not so pretty.  I always keep a roll handy no matter where I live.  Because it is water proof, flexible and super strong, it has been used on Apollo space flights.  In addition, The “Myth Busters” devoted two  episodes to duct tape by lifting a car with it, repairing and making a boat out of it, creating a duct tape cannon, building a bridge from it, preventing a parked car from moving off and attempting but failing to stop a moving car. They also tested the single strip break strength at 67 lbs!  

In mountaineering, one of the joys in making a first ascent of an unnamed peak is that you get to name it -- according to the Board of Geographic Names (there are limits, however, in the naming of it).  In Kyrgyzstan, there is a remote peak called, “50 Years of American Duct Tape”.  I wonder how much they had to use, and in what circumstances...  I know that I always keep some duct tape wrapped around my ice ax when climbing... (seriously).  Anyway, I am glad to say that a woman’s touch has finally broken through the barrier of a man’s product.  And now, we can get duct tape in many colors -- no more gray-silver duct tape for me.  So never underestimate a woman’s touch!

 

 

SS: Curious

For centuries, Tibet has been one of the places that the West has been most curious about -- a closed country high in the Himalayas, monastic-based rulers, the high barren and rugged Tibetan plateau, snow passes year round -- virtually inaccessible.  Foreigners were not allowed in.  Geography and feudalism kept people out.  There was no road leading to the Forbidden City of Lhasa.  The only people in and out were nomadic herders, traveling with their yaks, felt tents and sheepskin coats.  Tibet lay in secrecy until the military occupation of Tibet by the Chinese army in the early 1950‘s... I am not a political person.  Despite the controversy, many positive changes have been made.  I live and work among these people.  I think that they are as curious about us, as we are of them...

 

 

Need I say more?

Computer Death

   

It all started with my cup of tea, when the lid wasn't screwed down right, and with tea and computer in my backpack ready to go to school, I had to bend over to get the garbage...  OK, it was more than just tea... it had some amino acids and other supplements in it, as well.  After 3 days in a sealed bag with rice and silica gel packets, my computer worked!  But the screen was ruined.  A month later, I found out that the DVD player was also destroyed.  Since then, my computer has been in the throws of dying and finally, only two weeks before the end of the semester, the keyboard wouldn't let me type "e's" or "3s", then without touching it, it would only type "ssssssssssss...".  The keyboard finally gave out and I had to lay my computer to rest, since it ceased to function.  At this point, I am borrowing computer access from some good friends -- actually, GREAT friends!  In August, I plan to buy a new computer.  May my old one R.I.P.

 

One week later...

 
One week after the Yushu earthquake, the students in Anhui Province did this in memorial to the victims of the earthquake. 

I have been so busy with things, I haven't really had a chance to post about the earthquake.  Maybe tomorrow...

The Year of the Tiger

The Tiger Roars!

This is the Year of the Tiger on the Chinese calendar (year 4708). People born in the year of the Tiger are to be powerful, gracious, physically powerful, gracious, independent and brave, and they are extremely bold animals. They are friendly and loving but can also selfish and short tempered. Tigers seek attention and power; frequently they are envious in a relation. Tigers live dangerously which often leads to trouble. They are intolerant, take risks and are always searching for excitement. Tigers are also instilled with a good dose of courage.

The Tiger has an overpowering attraction and is very kind and always takes on the character as protector. The Tiger flourishes by power and attention and takes advantage of all circumstances it gets itself into. The Tiger is a natural leader and loves to be the center of attention. As a rebel it goes up against authority and speaks out about wrongs in society, and willingly puts up objections. Even if you don’t agree with the beliefs of the tiger you admire his way to protest.

Just as how their counterparts in the jungle are impulsive, so too are individuals born in the Chinese Year of the Tiger. When people think of tigers, it is their vigor and power that comes to mind first. But it has also been noted that tigers are known to share and are unselfish animals. The reason people admire the tiger is due to the fact that they are ferocious and domineering on the outside, but they are just as noble and distinguished on the inside. These are the same personality attributes that persons will have who are born in the Year of the Tiger.

People that are born in the Year of the Tiger are generally well liked because of their charismatic personalities. Often, failing at a given duty or being unproductive in his personal or professional life can cause a Tiger to experience a deep sense of depression.  A Tiger is always at their happiest when they endeavor to climb the ladder of success.  Attaining the top spot is his foremost purpose; being in a position of power is her ultimate goal. They are quick learners, need to be challenged and often prefer to work alone.  Some Tigers tend to change careers more frequently because they get bored quite easily. They are natural born leaders and perform at their best if working towards positions of power and influence. So once there is no further room for progression, they will often move on to something else.

Anyone that is born in the Year of the Tiger is usually straightforward and outgoing by nature. They will never give up no matter how aggravated they may become. But, they are also full of suspicion and at times will take hasty action. Never lose sight of the fact that Tigers are smart and instinctive.

People born in the Year of the Tiger always take pride in being different from others, and normally demonstrate their originality best in their homes. Their homes are typically filled with exotic possessions. It is no surprise that one of the Tiger’s favorite gemstones is the cat’s eye, but tigers also love the sparkle of rubies and diamonds. They like to spend money, and also to share it. They can be very impulsive spenders because they know they can always make more.

Some famous people born in the Year of the Tiger are Beethoven, Charles de Gaull, Ho Chi Minh, and the Spice Girl, Victoria Beckham.

SS: The Game

The Game. THE Game!  The Civil War Game. The game of all games, happens this Thursday, at 6 pm PST, in Eugene, Oregon. This game will decide which school (Oregon or Oregon State) will go to the Rose Bowl against Ohio State, AND which school wins the Pac 10 Championship. It will even be broadcast on ESPN.

The Civil War Games began in 1894, as the rivalry between the Oregon Ducks and the Oregon State Beavers, but it wasn't called the 'Civil War' until 1929 and that name didn't become common usage until 1937. At this time, Oregon is in the lead in the rivalry 56 – 46 – 10. While the “Civil War” usually refers to the annual football game, it can also refer to men's and women's basketball games. Other significant events and games include:

1910: following a 12-0 Oregon victory in Corvallis, fans of both teams began a verbal argument that escalated into exceedingly rowdy behavior as Ducks fans returned to the train station to leave. The UO's public relations department spread stories of (then) Oregon Agricultural College hooliganism to the statewide press, offending students of OAC and causing the rivalry to be suspended for 1911, and the 1912 and 1913 games being played in neutral Albany, OR.

1937: After defeating Oregon 14-0 in Corvallis, Oregon State fans had a large rally the next evening. The following day, about 2,000 OSU students went to Eugene to have another celebration. State police initially stopped the group, then agreed to lead them through the town if they agreed to behave. However, once Oregon students got out of class, the situation escalated with Ducks pelting Beavers with tomatoes and water balloons, some Oregon State students were thrown into the millrace.

1954: 50-60 UO students went to Corvallis and lit the traditional OSU homecoming bonfire early. It had been done before, but this time OSU students captured 15-20 UO students and held them "prisoner". The captured students had their heads shaved, were painted orange and black and some were forced to do menial labor for OSU fraternities.

1960: an Oregon student 'kidnapped' OSU's homecoming queen. She was returned home 30 minutes later,unharmed.

1972: Oregon tore down the south goalpost after defeating Oregon State 30-3 in OSU territory – a brawl ensued when OSU students tried to defend the north goalpost.

1983: "Toilet Bowl," a 0-0 rain-drenched exercise in futility, which featured 11 fumbles, five interceptions and four missed field goals. Did either team want to win? After this, 'overtime' was instituted.

1998: Oregon State wins in double overtime (the first ever overtime Civil War), 44-41. Beaver fans rushed the field after the first overtime, but a penalty gave the Ducks another chance. It took officials 15 minutes to clear the field, after which the Ducks scored to send the game to a second overtime. The Ducks managed a field goal in their possession, but the Beavers scored again to give them an upset win, their fifth win of the season, and their best record since 1971.

2000: Oregon came into the game ranked #5 in the country, Oregon State #8, the only time both teams have been ranked in the top 10. With a win, Oregon would go to the Rose Bowl; the Beavers needed a win to force a tie between the two teams, and keep alive hopes of going to the Rose Bowl. Oregon State won the game 23-13, but was denied the Rose Bowl, because the University of Washington beat Washington State later the same day. Oregon State went to the Fiesta Bowl instead.

2007: OSU snatching the victory in 2007 (at Oregon) in double overtime.

2008: Oregon returning the favor in 2008, beating OSU 65-38 (preventing OSU from going to the Rose Bowl) and winning the Holiday Bowl bid.

                                      
 
So, will the Oregon Ducks have Beaver Stew this week? Or will the Oregon State Beavers have Duck Soup?

Vaccine Revolt!

Why the swine flu vaccine doesn't add up...

So why is the justification for the swine flu so flimsy? It all comes down to these five crucial reasons being pushed by the vaccine industry... but as you'll see below, each of these five reasons is demonstrably false!

Reason #1) The H1N1 swine flu pandemic is dangerous and deadly!

Why it's flimsy: While the infection rate of H1N1 is currently high, the fatality rate is remarkably low. In fact, it's no higher than a normal, seasonal flu.

Reason #2) The vaccine protects you from the virus!

Why it's flimsy: There is absolutely no scientific evidence demonstrating that the swine flu vaccine offers real-world protection against the circulating H1N1 virus. While there is evidence showing that it produces antibodies, as people who have studied vaccine effectiveness already know, the mere existence of vaccine-induced antibodies doesn't directly translate into functional, real-world immunity! Vaccines are often, in effect, fabricated immunity that often don't provide practical immune defense in the real world.

Reason #3) The vaccine is perfectly safe, even for kids!

Why it's flimsy: This reason is truly laughable. None of these vaccines have been properly safety tested by the FDA or the drug companies. They were approved by the FDA with a waiver, utterly bypassing the normal process of long-term safety testing that the public expects the FDA to enforce. In fact, according to attorney Jim Turner, the FDA's baseless approval of these swine flu vaccines is a violation of federal law.

Reason #4) There's nothing else you can do to protect yourself from the swine flu (therefore you must take the vaccine shot).

Why it's flimsy: This reason is an outright lie. In order to sell more vaccines, the pharmaceutical industry (and all its bureaucratic cohorts at the CDC and WHO) are intentionally keeping people ignorant of far safer and more effective options such as vitamin D and anti-viral herbal remedies.

Reason #5) If you don't take the vaccine shot, you're being unethical by placing the shot burden on everyone else without taking it yourself.

Why it's flimsy: Hilarious! This is marketing by guilt -- trying to arm-twist people into the vaccine shot by making them feel guilty if they don't. The truth is that you're being unethical if you DO get the shot because you're financially supporting a dangerous and highly deceptive vaccine industry that's causing tremendous harm to children, expectant mothers and other innocent vaccination victims.

Hoping to improve your health by handing money to the pharmaceutical industry through the purchase of vaccines is sort of like hoping to create world peace by writing a check to weapons manufacturers.

No good reason to get the vaccine...

Is there any good reason to get the swine flu vaccine? Not based on the current situation, no. Unless you have a strong desire to play Russian Roulette with your health, of course...

Of course, if things dramatically change, there could be increasingly strong reasons for considering a vaccine. If the H1N1 virus mutates into a virus with a very high fatality rate, things might be different. If the vaccine were proven safe with adequate long-term testing, that would be something working in its favor. If the vaccines were scientifically shown to actually protect you from the virus, then that would be different, too.

But to date, none of these things are verifiably true! The vaccines haven't been properly tested at all. There's no honest evidence demonstrating that they protect you from the swine flu. And the flu has such a low fatality rate, why does a vaccine matter in the first place?

Keep in mind that over 2,000 people die each year from taking aspirin. Over 100,000 Americans are killed each year from taking doctor-prescribed, FDA-approved prescription drugs. If the people at the CDC are looking for a pandemic, they should be focusing on the pandemic of disease mongering and pharmaceutical pushing that's taking place across the world right now in the context of the swine flu pandemic. 

This is from NaturalNews.com.  Read the entire article here.