Wordless Wednesday

Cuban Scarcity vs. American Plenty

Silent Sunday

Job Training

Yesterday I stumbled across the National Able network website about job training programs sponsored by the US government. I was just in time to join a webinar.

I learned that this program has two kinds of training programs. Trainees learn tech skills in a program that’s federally funded.

I’m going to look into their 10 week Data Analytics program. It’s intense, but you’re certified quickly and its free. I’m not rushing into it, but I do want to explore this possibility.

Sculpture Saturday

Taipei, Taiwan

Saturday Sculpture encourages bloggers to share photos of any and all kinds of sculptures.

To join, you need to:

1. Share a photo of a sculpture on your blog.

2. Link or ping back here to No Fixed Plans, the new hub for the challenge.

It’s a fun challenge. Give it a try.

Next month I plan to host this challenge from my new blog nofixedplans55.blogspot.com.

Poem of the Week

The daisy follows soft the sun

By Emily Dickinson

The daisy follows soft the sun,
And when his golden walk is done,
Sits shyly at his feet.
He, waking, finds the flower near.
“Wherefore, marauder, art thou here?”
“Because, sir, love is sweet!”

We are the flower, Thou the sun!
Forgive us, if as days decline,
We nearer steal to Thee, —
Enamoured of the parting west,
The peace, the flight, the amethyst,
Night’s possibility!

Word of the Week

Four-flusher: (n.) One who deceives or bluffs. 

The phrase comes from poker, in which a “four-flush” is a meaningless hand. (One needs five, not four, cards of the same suit in order to have a flush.)

You can’t believe a word that fool says—he’s a real four-flusher.

• Sometimes you’ll see fourflusher and that’s fine. There’s more than one spelling.
• I came across this researching the 1914 municipal election.

Cee’s Fun Foto Challenge

White

White Temple complex, Chiang Rai

Each week Cee of Cee’s Photography challenges bloggers with a fun prompt. This week we’re to share photos with lots of white. 

How about the small wat at Chiang Rai’s The White Temple?

What will you choose to share?

Click here to see more fun photos, click here.

FYI – I’m phasing out this blog as I’m approaching my limit for images. You can see more photos of The White Temple at my new blogging home.

Silent Sunday

Monk with a Camera

The documentary Monk with a Camera chronicles the spiritual journey of Nicholas Vreeland, whose grandmother was famed Vogue editor Diana Vreeland. Early in his life Nicky was a stylish, well-heeled, privileged boy. He became fascinated by photography in high school and after graduating college became a professional. While traveling the world he photographed the Dalai Lama and became fascinated with Tibetan Buddhism. At the age of 31 Nicky went to India, knowing no Tibetan, where he joined a Tibetan monastery. 

The 2014 film recounts his life with interviews of Nicky and of his family, old photos and film of his monastery and trips around the world. Richard Here pops up a lot with commentary. He went from jet setting youth to an abbot of a Tibetan monastery. Much of the film concentrates on his effort to raise money to build a new monastery since the community had grown and was bursting at its seams. Reluctantly, Nicky decides to fund the building by selling his photos in world capitals.

I enjoyed the colorful landscapes and the beautiful photos. Nicky, his mentor and his family were insightful and kept my interest. I do wish the film delved more into the details of Tibetan Buddhism. I was left with questions about the daily life of Tibetan monks. I wondered if Nicky had any “dark nights” of the soul and if so, how’d he overcome them. Unconsciously, I guess I wanted a Buddhist Seven Story Mountain. Still I enjoyed and recommend this documentary.