Miri was born at the foot of the Himalayas, foretold to become shaman of the Adi people, her advice sought often when illness gripped the land. Her hut was east of the Upper Siang valley, found by the natives only when the need was great. That seemed odd since it was hard to miss, of [...]

One ironic moment in life happens when parents are faced with their teenage kids wanting tattoos inked on their young limbs with unregulated paint, often made with lead and used for industrial purposes. A place to pause, evoking a distant memory. Dismayed, gazing oddly at your children saying, “And what have you been smoking?”
Tattoos and [...]

Ga-Gorib sat at the edge of a round deep chasm in the ground. A monster of indescribable proportions. Arrogant and angry, he aimed to taunt all who passed as if he had nothing better to do except seeking over-confident heroes to betray their good sense and cross the line.
Ga-Gorib would growl, “I’m so ugly, throw [...]

Dependencies are tricky, not at all what one imagines until trapped, unable to remember what it felt like to live without the habit. Tolerance of delay in gratification defines behavior and ability to deal with stress wherever addictive personalities are a factor, especially if smoking is only one of many dependencies expressed. Failure is always [...]

“Although there are many examples of ‘matri-focal’ societies, matriarchies are hypothetical. None that exist can be found, past or present except in some insects, spiders, ants and elephants. No reason for its existence can be found other than women replacing roles of men lost to war.”
Von Bralispth

The struggle to understand the differing natures [...]

When riding a roller coaster, there is no way to get off until the end of the ride, unless improperly seated. Whether aristocratically rich or working class poor, personal preference about anything is inconsequential. Only two choices are possible: relax, go with the flow and become one with your seat - a zen moment, or [...]

“Social occasions are warfare concealed,” he said adding, “I see that you let your second in command attack while you sit and watch for weakness!” - a remark articulated with a suave voice and harsh gaze that could kill. [Khan Noonien Singh]
These are revealing words about leadership, diplomacy, adversaries and allies alike. Life expressed in [...]

The US constitution, fairly simple and straightforward is very specific about “things” in some areas and intentionally vague and open to interpretation in others. Often referred to as a living document, it can even “breath” if seen through the eyes of a twenty first century reality rather than understood with a strict conservative sensibility.
It doesn’t [...]

Once, long ago, on the island of Zalu-Za-Had, off the Northern coast of Africa, not far from Sicily, lived a Cyclops. One morning, as the sun rose in the sky, its reflection on the Mediterranean’s surface caused its eye to wink from the glare, as a distant mist arose from sea’s edge from which a [...]

Gazing at the nighttime sky reflects events the way the universe used to be. A window of what was, long gone, since it takes thousands of years for the light of the stars to reach Earth.
If it were possible to travel to one of those distant places by moving towards the past and becoming part [...]