Monday, July 21, 2025

HELP: Ekaterina Sky's Altadena Fire Mural

Contact (ekaterina-sky.com) || Contact | (ekaterina-sky.art)
Seven and I met to discuss what form the mural should take...a diamond, golden sun?
    Ekaterina Sky - Impact Artist - Muralist (@ekaterina.sky.art) • Instagram

    Help wanted: We need your participation!
    Altadena Mural Project is planned for Thursday, July 24, 5:00 pm through Saturday, July 26, 9:00 pm, on Lake Ave. in Altadena, LA County. RSVP to see full location details.
    Full Project Overview
    I paint by inspiration, downloading visions.
    YOU are invited: Be part of the Prayer for the Earth Mural Project in Altadena. This is a community art offering for healing, hope, and reconnection.

    Through the invitation of John Hopkins and Sev Dhar of Oh Happy Day Vegan Café and Grocery in Altadena, we welcome you to join the creation of Prayer for the Earth — a mural that honors grief, inspires renewal, and reminds us of our deep connection to nature and one another.

    This project is a space for community healing, artistic expression, and collective visioning.
    ✨ How You Can Participate
    (Final schedule to be confirmed — all events will take place during the weekend of July 25–27)
    Ekaterina Sky, a contemplative and inspired artist | Les Belles et les bêtes

    Prayer for the Earth Mural Weekend: July 24–27, 2025
    Final schedule to be confirmed
    FULL PROJECT OVERVIEW
    🔨 Wall Building and Assembly - Thursday, July 24th (4:00-9:00 pm): Help construct the mural wall (building and assembly of portable wall) — the physical and symbolic foundation of this prayer for the planet.

    🎨 Background Painting Days - Friday, July 25th (3:00 pm base painting begins: Join in painting the mural’s first layers. No experience needed — just bring your heart and hands.

    🕊 Intention and Prayer Writing - Saturday, July 26th (all day, taping and painting the background): Gather with us to write personal and collective prayers for the Earth and Altadena — adding soul to the mural’s core.

    🌿 Final Reveal and Community Celebration - Sunday, July 27 (3:00 pm intentions, prayer writing; 5:00-9:00 pm, sealing prayers and community celebration): Join us for a closing ceremony with sound healing, community talks, spoken word poetry, and music as we unveil the finished mural together.

    Next Zoom meeting: Wednesday, July 23
    🌍 Supported by:
    We welcome more partners, volunteers, and local community members to help bring this vision to life. If YOU care about Altadena post Eaton Fire, the Earth, or the power of collective healing — this is your invitation. Whether you build, paint, pray, or simply witness, your presence will leave a mark.

    With care and gratitude,

    Ekaterina Sky (ekaterina-sky.com)
    Visual Artist and Creator of Prayer for the Earth

    Jon Stewart on Trump, Epstein, Colbert...

    Molested child Jeffrey Epstein victim urged FBI to look at Trump twice: Maria Farmer

    Jon Stewart reacts to Colbert's cancellation and Trump's "bawdy" Epstein doodles | The Daily Show

    Donald sent me. - What? - Dilemma. - You're in!
    (The Daily Show) July 21, 2025: Jon Stewart dives into Trump’s crude sex birthday card to Jeffrey Epstein and his desperate attempts to distract MAGA [from the Pedo Files] with Hillary Clinton's emails, the release of the MLK Jr. files, and the return of racist football mascots. Plus, Jon reacts to CBS cancelling "The Late Show with Stephen Colbert" and calls upon corporations, advertisers, and institutions to "sack up" with the help of the “Go F**k Yourself” choir. #DailyShow #LateShow #StephenColbert #Trump #Epstein


    My Chemical Romance: MAGA or WOKE?
    • Sammy Obeid, July 21, 2025; Jon Stewart, July 21, 2025; RA Media; Pfc. Sandoval, Ashley Wells (eds.), Wisdom Quarterly

    10% Happier with Beth Upton (Dan Harris)


    Beth Upton as Brit Buddhist nun in Burma
    Friends, at the beginning of the year, I made a commitment to write more. Since then, I have actually done a little writing every single day. Five gold stars!

    Writers tell me it is important to keep up the habit, that practice makes progress. Obviously, it’s the same with meditation, so I am humbly practicing what I preach, trusting that if I just keep writing, eventually something good will come of it.

    At the same time, it would be a huge help to know what readers actually want to read about.

    Awesome enlightened teacher Pa Auk Sayadaw
    My strength, if I dare say so myself, is attending and attuning to the person sitting in front of me. I’ve never been great at addressing a large or anonymous audience. It’s never quite clear what’s being requested of me with such an audience.

    So when I sit down to write, I’m often left with a sense of well, What do readers want to know?

    A few weeks ago, I recorded a podcast (see above) with the charming Dan Harris. As one can see, I enjoyed the conversation. He asked great questions and did a wonderful job of playing proxy for the average viewer who doesn’t know too much about the world of advanced Buddhist meditation.
    The first time Pa Auk Sayadaw came to America, he was invited to California in Napa
    .
    For me, it was my first real foray into addressing an audience I do not know. The same issue crops up here. Of all the precious and hidden gems the Dhamma (the Buddha’s Teaching) has to offer, which of them should I give this hour to? Again, instinct prompts me to ask, What does anyone want to know?

    Podcast interview
    Venerable Sayadaw Ashin Revata
    Dan and I touch on past lives, absorption (jhana), science, and its relationship to the Buddha’s “Doctrine in Ultimate Terms” (Abhidhamma), eventually landing on a topic dear to my heart: the skillful and wholesome (kusala).

    But the topic choice from my side was basically just a series of guesses. I don’t really have a clue what the average viewer of Dan’s podcast, or the average reader of my newsletter might want to know more about.

    So please let me know at bethupton.com. Let me know in our next one-on-one meeting, or on a group call, or better still, in the comments below.

    Also, if anyone would like for me to do more podcasts like this one with Dan Harris, please take a moment to like the video and leave a comment there.

    Let us know in the comments which kinds of things the world would want to hear more from me in future videos.

    Another successful Western female student of Pa Auk Sayadaw: Dr. Nikki

    Where is the Buddhist hermitage they mention?
    And for those of wondering where the button is to book one-on-one time with me, I am sending out monthly newsletters, interspersed with these ones that are just me writing about things. Open and read them all, just in case it’s the one with the button. 🌝

    All of my work is done on a donation basis, which means that all of this is only possible because of generous voluntary support. Support this work at bethupton.com.

    With much metta and gratitude, Beth Upton

    What is the “Happiness Recipe,” Dan?
    Recipe for happiness: unpacking kusala
    There are two kinds of happiness, ecstatic (piti, rapture) and extended (sukha, blissfulness).
    .
    Imagine a happiness independent of sensuality
    Key takeaways: Kusala states = happy states: Kusala, drawn from the Buddhist psychology of the Abhidhamma—a system that breaks down experience into its most granular mental and emotional components—refers to a constellation of virtuous, skillful mind states.

    Beth Upton calls it a “Buddhist happiness cake,” made from ingredients like generosity, mindfulness, uprightness, loving-kindness, and more.

    One entry point unlocks the rest: We don’t need to cultivate them all at once—because focusing on just one quality (like loving-kindness, integrity, or gratitude) invites the rest to arise. These mental states are “best friends” who tend to show up together.

    Letting go feels better than giving in: Our culture glorifies small, fast pleasures—like scrolling, snacking, and checking out—but deeper, more lasting happiness comes from subtle, wholesome states.

    Letting go of ego and craving isn’t a sacrifice; it’s a relief. It’s not just for monastics: We don’t need a cave or a meditation cushion. Kusala can be woven into daily life—as we parent, commute, chop vegetables, or write emails. More

    Can yoga mantras help simplify life?


    Can this mantra simplify our lives?
    (Yogmantras) July 21, 2025: Ever feel overwhelmed by life’s chaos and wish for a smoother, more peaceful journey?

    What is the primordial sound, the shabda? OM
    Dive into the timeless wisdom of the Rigveda 1.41.4, a profound Vedic verse that reveals the secret to a life free of obstacles and filled with clarity.

    In 2025, as mindfulness (Sanskrit smirti, Pali sati) and spiritual growth dominate digital platforms, this video offers a fresh take on aligning with truth and purpose to create a fulfilling life.

    This mantra teaches us how to walk a path of ease by embracing truth, righteousness, and the guidance of wise souls. Learn practical ways to apply its teachings, from choosing honesty in daily decisions to surrounding ourselves with uplifting company.

    Let’s go through a guided and powerful meditation practice, combining breathwork and visualization to clear mental clutter and foster inner calm.

    With the rise of YouTube #shorts for quick spiritual insights, this video taps into the growing demand for meaningful content.

    Try this 5-minute daily routine to connect with the mantra’s energy and experience a stress-free mindset.

    Ready to make life’s path smoother? Watch now and share in the comments how this wisdom inspires a more satisfying life!

    Subscribe to Yogmantras for more transformative Vedic insights and mindfulness tips! Connect with Yogmantras: YouTube: Yogmantras Instagram: @yogmantrasg Facebook: YogmantrasG Twitter: @Yogmantras. Email (collaborations/queries): dharmasyatv@gmail.com. Music: Aqua Euphoria (with Lucentia) (432 Hz) by Spheriá | spheriamusic. Music promoted by chosic.com/free-music/all. Creative Commons CC BY-SA 3.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses... #Rigveda #VedicWisdom #Spirituality #Yoga #Meditation #SpiritualAwakening #Yogmantras #AncientIndia #VedicMantras #InnerPeace #DivineWisdom #SpiritualGrowth #CosmicOrder #DivineGrace #PathToLiberation #MantraMeditation #SpiritualJourney #VedicTradition #KarmaAndGrace #YogicWisdom
    • Yogmantras on YouTube; Dhr. Seven, Ananda (Dharma Buddhist Meditation) (eds.), Wisdom Quarterly

    'Pornography Wars' in US history (video)


    Letters & Politics: The Pornography Wars
    Assoc. Professor Kelsy Burke, U of Nebraska
    (KPFA Radio) Streamed live from Berkeley, California, on June 23, 2023 (rebroadcast on July 21, 2025, in Los Angeles):

    Host Mitch Jeserich with guest Associate Professor of Sociology of Religion Kelsy Burke at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. She is the author of The Pornography Wars: The Past, Present, and Future of America’s Obscene Obsession. KPFA.org #kpfa #kpfaradio #MitchJeserich #news
    Past, Present, Future of America’s Obscene Obsession
    In the 1960s, sex researchers Masters and Johnson declared the end of the fake orgasm. Nearly two decades later, in 1982, evangelical activist Tim LaHaye foretold that the entire pornography industry would soon be driven out of business.

    Neither prediction proved true. Instead, with the rise of the internet, pornography saturates the American conscience more than ever and has reshaped our understanding of sexuality, relationships, media, and even the nature of addiction.

    American sociologist Dr. Kelsy Burke has spent the last five years researching and interviewing internet pornography's opponents and its sympathizers.

    In The Pornography Wars, Prof. Burke does a deep dive into the long history of pornography in America and then turns her gaze on our present society to examine the ways this industry touches on the most intimate parts of American lives.

    She offers a complete understanding of the major players in the debates around porn's place in society: everyone from sex workers, activists, therapists, religious leaders, and consumers.

    In doing so, she addresses and debunks the myths that surround porn and porn usage while showing how everything from the way we teach children about sex to the legal protections for what can be published is tied up in the deeply complicated battles over pornography.

    Sweeping, savvy, and deeply researched, The Pornography Wars is a necessary and comprehensive new look at pornography and American life. More

    Something worse than porn?
    • Mitch Jeserich, Prof. Kelsy Burke (KPFA.org, June 23, 2023/KPFK.org, July 21, 2025); Psychosos, YouTube; CC Liu (ed.), Wisdom Quarterly

    Young Men Series: Dating is impossible!



    Young men series: How they’re going about courtship
    Can I borrow your credit card so that you can buy me a some presents? Then we can go out!

    Why do I need to date girls? Honestly!
    One recent week on AirTalk, man-loving Host Larry Mantel thought to explore the experiences of today’s young men in America, the issues impacting them, and the trends they’re bucking.

    One of the major issues impacting them: loneliness (psychologytoday.com). One in four men report being lonely, according to Gallup. At the same time, they’re also not trying to make as many connections as their older peers, with nearly half of young men not even dating. (Gen Zs romance gap: Why nearly half of young men aren't dating).

    This has led to some interesting data, namely that most young men are single whereas most young women are not single (thehill.com). So what’s going on with the dating scene? Why are young men seemingly struggling with courtship?

    Joining Mantle to discuss these questions are Daniel Cox, director of the Survey Center on American Life at the American Enterprise Institute, a right-leaning think tank and Daniel Ellenberg, leadership coach, licensed therapist, and seminar leader.
    I like to people watch rather than date, y'know?
    One of those bucked trends is their views on religion. Historically, women have been more religious than men overall. But recent data from Pew Research suggests that Generation Z men are closing this gender gap and are becoming religious at rates near their women counterparts. So what’s behind the rise in religious young men, and will it last?

    Joining Larry to answer these questions and more is associate professor of political science at Eastern Illinois University where he studies religious identity Ryan Burge and Reformed University Fellowship Campus Minister at the University of California, Irvine Derek Rishmawy.

    Sunday, July 20, 2025

    The Uncanny Valley: What is 'human'?

    Before/After the Flood (new evidence)


    Why I'm moving to Mexico (video)

    Founding Father Emiliano Zapata wants you to join the US Army and get the heck out of MX

      In FU to Israel, China delivers food to Gaza?

      Pedo: Trump flip-flops on Epstein Files


      Trump, Epstein's best friend, molested me

      What does the Molester-in-Chief have to hide? Trump flip-flops on release of Epstein Files
      (Democracy Now!) July 18, 2025: Latest Shows. Support this work: democracynow.org/donate. A major rift has formed within Don [Juan] Trump's MAGA base over his reversal of many campaign promises to release the "Epstein files" to the public.

      Giuffre killed. Who's next?

      Prince Andrew, Molested Guiffre, Ghislane
      Many Trump supporters see his denials of the existence of a "client list" belonging to Jeffrey Epstein, the powerful and well-connected [blackmailer hiding as an] investor who was charged with the sexual trafficking and assault of numerous teenage girls and young women before his [alleged] death [or release from prison after his suicide was faked], as a betrayal of Trump's promises to "drain the swamp" and expose what many supporters believe is proof of criminal corruption among primarily Democratic "elites."

      What's Epstein's brother say?

      🚑 Silenced?
      Trump's insistence that his supporters drop their fixation on Epstein-related "conspiracy theories that his people have long nurtured" is "making it exceedingly difficult for some of his biggest supporters and boosters to not start at least suspecting that he has something to hide," says Rolling Stone's Asawin Suebsaeng, who has been reporting on the fallout from Trump and his [righthand woman] Attorney General Pam Bondi's handling of the Epstein case.

      Democracy Now! is an independent global news hour that airs on over 1,500 TV and radio stations Monday through Friday. Watch livestream at democracynow.org Mondays to Fridays 8:00-9:00 am ET. Subscribe to Daily Email Digest: democracynow.org/subscribe
      • Amy Goodman (DemocracyNow.org), July 18, 2025; Pfc. Sandoval, CC Liu (eds.), Wisdom Quarterly

      Friday, July 18, 2025

      Poetry events in Los Angeles (7/18)


      The Bard: Edward de Vere, 17th Earl of Oxford
      This town is full of rebellious writers, standing up to Trump's fascist agenda with his Gestapo ICE. But LA does it differently, with flare and pizzazz, poetry and spoken word. Come out to Santa Monica's historic Rapp Saloon inside the Youth Hostel to see it live. There's more going on. On Sunday, the Village Poets have a regular reading at Bolton Hall in Sunland/Tujunga, right in the foothills. Next weekend, the Eagle Rock Library hosts an open mic with that this month features Lynda Crawford. The SPARC (South Pasadena Arts Council) has a reading every Third Thursday. For anyone looking for the Bard himself, IndieShakes.org is at Griffith Park all summer with FREE Shakespeare in the Park. Or, if Hollywood is your bag, the Emmys are coming up soon.
      What happened?
      3rd Thursday Poetry: SPARC (7/17)
      It's every third Thursday (except December). Tonight's show put the spotlight on two artists featured on Wisdom Quarterly, an environmentalist and a poet dealing in race and esteem issues as a Vietnamese American poet. We discovered a new talent that stole the show, painter Ekaterina Sky. She was performing Earthcentric slam poetry, passionate about restoring nature from all of our manmade disasters.

      What else you got?
      There is no ART without ARTists who share.
      Poetry is running rampant across the city, spreading culture and resistance, saying "no" to Trump and ICE, fascism and racism, Tinsel Town excesses and the dumbing down of a digitally-addicted society. There's more. Tonight (Friday, July 17, 2025) is Rapp Saloon's 14th anniversary with Hostess Elena Secota at the Youth Hostel in Santa Monica.
      • The Rapp Saloon (historical 1st brick building)
      • Hostelling International, Santa Monica
      • 1436 2nd Street, Santa Monica
      • FREE/all ages (donations appreciated)
      Sunday inside historic Bolton Hall
      Poetess Maja Trochimczyk
      Village Poets of Sunland/Tujunga is happy to welcome poets Hilda Weiss and past Poet Laureate Maja Trochimczyk on the Third Sunday (July 20th), 4:30 pm at Bolton Hall Museum. There is also an open mic where poets are invited to participate in the open reading segment of the event. It is hosted by Alice Pero.
      Bolton Hall is a Los Angeles Historical Landmark built in 1913. Reading starts at 4:30 pm and goes to 6:30 pm. Refreshments served. Free street parking available and at Elks Lodge, 10137 Commerce Ave. Park, behind the building, a short walk from Bolton Hall, across the street and down the block.

      Eagle Rock is on the Eastside of Hipsterville
      Next weekend, in the afternoon, Eagle Rock Library
       (part of LA County's system) has its bimonthly Open Mic: Open Mic Poetry | Los Angeles Public Library
      OPEN TO THE PUBLIC: Share your original poems, lyrics, spoken word, or just enjoy listening. Each poet will have five (5) minutes to read an original work. To read, sign up on arrival.

      Poetess Lynda V. E. Crawford (Poets & Writers)
      The featured speaker will be Lynda V. E. Crawford, who says of her poetry, "I write poems to sneak behind eyes, blow through ears, and stretch voices." Crawford was born and raised in Barbados and now lives in California. Both home countries sway her writing. The Pushcart Prize nominee's work has appeared in national and international journals including Prairie Schooner, ArtsEtc Barbados, The Caribbean Writer, The Galway Review, The Bookends Review, California Quarterly, and Exposition Review. Crawford is the author of the poetry collection Washing Water (World Stage Press, October 2024).

      For ADA accommodations, call (213) 228-7430 at least 72 hours prior to the event. Para ajustes razonables según la ley de ADA, llama al (213) 228-7430 al menos 72 horas antes del evento. More