Showing posts with label Pacific Ocean Gyre. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Pacific Ocean Gyre. Show all posts

Monday, December 22, 2025

Trans Intersex Island in Pacific for '6-7'?


Buddhism, Sexuality, and Gender
This academic book by American and other scholars explores historical, textual, and social questions relating to the position and experience of women and gay people in the Buddhist world from India and Tibet to Sri Lanka, China, and Japan. It focuses on four key areas:
  1. Buddhist history,
  2. contemporary culture,
  3. Buddhist symbols, and
  4. homosexuality.
Scholarly light on many topics
And it covers Buddhism's entire history, from its origins to the present day. The result of original and innovative research, the authors offer new perspectives on the history of the attitudes toward, and of the self-perception of, women in both ancient and modern Buddhist societies.

They explore key social issues such as abortion, they examine the use of rhetoric and symbols in Buddhist texts and cultures, and they discuss the neglected subject of Buddhism and homosexuality (from pandakas and pederasty). (Edited by Jose Ignacio Cabezón)

Europe: Utrecht, Netherlands, Intersex Canal Pride Festival, summer 2018 (wiki)



The international intersex flag (LGBTQI+)
Pseudohermaphroditism leads to "intersex" (the "I" in LGBTQIA+ acronym, showing an unbelievable spectrum of biological sexuality and phenotypic gender expression).

Biology and hormones are a strange thing we share with plants. Yes, plants have hormones, too, as do animals. There are, for example, intersex pigs on Vanuatu, the island of kava kava, a recreational drug plant. Are the "Lotus-eaters" on this island, as mentioned in ancient Greece.

Ever wonder what "6-7" means? Quigley scale for androgen insensitivity syndrome (Wiki)
.
Odysees men on Lotus-eater Island
MYTHOLOGY
: In Homer's epic, The Odyssey, Book IX, Odysseus tells how adverse north winds blew him and his men off course: "I was driven thence by foul winds for a space of 9 days upon the sea, but on the tenth day we reached the land of the Lotus-eaters, who live on a food [the "intoxicating pepper" kavaPiper methysticum?] that comes from a kind of flower. Here we landed to take in fresh water, and our crews got their mid-day meal on the shore near the ships. When they had eaten and drunk, I sent two of my company to see what manner of men the people of the place might be...." More
EVERY BODY (official trailer) beyond the binary only in American theaters on June 30

Third International Intersex Forum
The Buddhist term pandaka refers to non-normative gender expression in ancient times. It might be translated as "pervert" but also crossdresser, transsexual, transgender, gay, lesbian, tomboy, effeminate male, butch female, sodomite, receptive males, active females, hermaphrodite, bisexual...or an intersex person to the extent such individuals were understood in ancient India, Southeast Asia, and surrounding areas.

INTERSEX people are those born with any of several sex characteristics, including chromosome patterns, gonads, or genitals that, according to the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, "do not fit typical binary notions of male or female bodies" [1, 2]. The opposite of intersex is endosex ["cisgender"], which describes persons born with sex characteristics that are seen as typically male or female at birth [3]. More
The origin of the meme "6 7" in brief

Monday, August 25, 2025

[Buddhist] World Surf League Finals (8/25)



What is 'Buddhist' about the practice of surfing?

Get back on and ride the waves.
There are many ways in which surfing, which seems to have been "invented" in the Pacific -- in Peru and Polynesia, with important contributions from Buddhist Japan (which at that time included a cultural hold on what is now part of Hawaii in the Imperial USA), tracks with the best elements of Eastern philosophy.

That philosophy, distinct from Western philosophy we are all generally familiar with, is a syncretic blend of Buddhism, Zen, the Vedas, Hinduism, Taoism, Shinto, and indigenous shamanism. (British Californian Alan Watts explained it very well to Westerners).
  • Mindfulness (fully absorbed in monotasking)
  • Absorption (undistracted doing temporarily freed of discursive thinking)
  • Letting go (non-clinging, as in "Let Go, Let God," with "God" understood to be Nature, the Universe, things just as they are at this moment, more Brahman than a brahma)
  • Going with the flow rather than struggling against it (entering flow states familiar to poets, rappers, artists, and persons able to enter trance states at will)
  • Skillful allowing and accepting rather than shoving, muscling, and efforting (radical acceptance as understood by Buddhist teacher and psychologist Tara Brach)
  • Riding the wave (internally of emotions, externally tolerating and skillfully adapting to the "Eight Worldly Winds"):
Practicing at home in the Deep South, USA
Theravada Buddhist teacher Sharon Salzberg elaborates on the Taoist idea of “the ten thousand joys and the ten thousand sorrows.” Our lives are constantly changing, sometimes in the space of a minute. The Buddha taught that the “Eight Worldly Winds” are:
  1. pleasure
  2. and pain,
  3. gain
  4. and loss,
  5. praise
  6. and blame,
  7. fame
  8. and disrepute.
Taoism and the Tao Te Ching (Book of Changes)
They (and all things) are constantly arising and passing away, beyond our control. We suffer when we cling to pleasure, gain, praise, and fame or hold the expectation that they will always be present.

When instead we get pain, loss, blame, and disrepute, we feel that something is terribly wrong, or that we’ve done something wrong... More
  • Well, what should we do when everything sucks? Surf.
  • Whether that means ride the waves of life constantly coming at us like Eight Worldly Winds or vicissitudes or actually getting out on the water, waiting for the swells, and riding them back to sure with the practiced skills of balance, poise, allowing, persistence, and mindful awareness.

Lexus WSL Finals Fiji 2025 | World Surf League
Map shows Fiji cluster of islands in center
What to know: The paradise and power of Cloudbreak | Lexus WSL Finals Fiji. At the Lexus WSL Finals, the WSL Final 5 will face off at Cloudbreak, one of the most powerful lefts on Earth. It's a wave that demands total commitment and punishes hesitation. With a world title on the line, this is the ultimate test of talent, mental acumen, and pure surfing instinct. The stakes have never been higher, and there's no room for error. History will be ridden, and World Champions will be crowned: Paradise and power of Cloudbreak (WSL)


Where is Fiji?
Where in the world is Fiji? It is an island country in Melanesia, part of Oceania in the South Pacific Ocean (between Hawaii and Australia). It rests about 1,300 miles (1,100 nautical miles or 2,000 kms) north-northeast of New Zealand.

Fiji consists of an archipelago of more than 330 islands—of which about 110 are permanently inhabited—and more than 500 islets, amounting to a total land area of about 7,100 square miles (18,300 sq kms). The most outlying island group is Ono-i-Lau.
Mexico's Baja California in upper right, Fiji in center, Southeast Asia on left, Africa at far left
.
About 87% of the total population live on the two major islands, Viti Levu and Vanua Levu. About three-quarters of Fijians live on Viti Levu's coasts, either in the capital city of Suva, or in smaller urban centers such as Nadi (where tourism is the major local industry) or Lautoka (where the sugar-cane industry is dominant). The interior of Viti Levu is sparsely inhabited because of its terrain [13]. More

Thursday, July 31, 2025

8.8 quake hits Russia (nuke sub base)


Russia NOW! Magnitude 8.8 earthquake rocks Kamchatka, buildings collapse, tsunami warnings
You're not going to expose me, right, Vlad?
(MacroView) A catastrophic 8.8 magnitude earthquake has struck Kamchatka, Russia, triggering powerful tsunami waves across the Pacific Ocean. Entire towns like Severo-Kurilsk have been flooded with thousands evacuated.

Tsunami warnings have been issued for Hawaii, Alaska, California, Oregon, and Japan.


Maybe Earth is shaking off its human polluters
Shocking videos show waves up to 13 feet (4 meters) high smashing into coastal areas, destroying ports, and sweeping away infrastructure. Hawaii residents have been ordered to evacuate as sirens blare across the islands. Authorities warn aftershocks could continue for weeks, making this the strongest quake since 1952.


Emergency crews are inspecting schools, hospitals, and homes for structural damage as residents remain on high alert. Watch this video for exclusive footage, live updates, and expert analysis of this unprecedented disaster. Stay tuned for the latest news as the situation continues to unfold across the Pacific. #RussiaEarthquake
Cause: Kamchatka's ring of fire volcanos?
Shiveluch volcano next to Klyuchevskaya volcano, Kamchatka Peninsula, Russian Far East
Could this "Smoking Mountain" be the cause?
(Camilly/Expansions) The Shiveluch volcano erupted just after midnight (April 12, 2023) and reached a crescendo about six hours later, spewing out an ash cloud over an area of 41,700 square miles (108,000 kms2), according to the Kamchatka Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences’ Geophysical Survey (Reuters).

#KamchatkaEarthquake #RussiaEarthquake#TsunamiWarning #BreakingNews Kamchatka earthquake 2025, Russia earthquake 8.8, Kamchatka tsunami, Severo-Kurilsk flooding, Hawaii tsunami warning, Pacific tsunami 2025, Alaska tsunami alert, California tsunami warning, Oregon tsunami news, Japan tsunami update, megathrust earthquake, Kamchatka breaking news, tsunami live update, earthquake footage 2025, biggest earthquake 2025, Kamchatka disaster news, earthquake and tsunami today, M8.8 earthquake Russia, tsunami evacuation Hawaii, Kamchatka earthquake damage

Thursday, April 24, 2025

Let's go down under to wild New Zealand


15 mind-blowing facts about New Zealand: the world's most ECCENTRIC country
We're here to take over, like it or not. - O.K.
(Amazing Discoveries US) April 24, 2025: Ready for a travel documentary that takes one way beyond the usual tourist traps? Discover 15 mind-blowing facts about New Zealand that make it truly the world’s most eccentric country. Whether dreaming of adventure or just curious about what sets Kiwis apart, this is the travel documentary the world didn’t know it needed. Dive into some interesting facts about New Zealand, from stunning landscapes to the distinctive charm of Kiwi women and the warmth of New Zealanders.

KEY MOMENTS
  • 00:00 Travel documentary
  • 00:03 Facts about New Zealand
  • 00:43 The land at the edge of the world
  • 02:39 A real Hobbit village – Hobbiton exists
  • 04:41 A land of amazing females, New Zealand women
  • 06:22 Waitomo – New Zealand's underground galaxy
  • 07:41 Unique spa services only found in New Zealand, life in New Zealand
  • 09:13 Baldwin Street – the steepest street in the world
  • 10:44 Whangamōmona – the oddest town in New Zealand
  • 12:25 The kiwi bird – interesting facts about New Zealand
  • 14:02 Life in Wellington, expat life in New Zealand
  • 15:59 Things to do in New Zealand – a wonder of the world
  • 17:35 The Māori – greeting with a nose touch? New Zealanders
  • 19:15 The sheep walking service found only in New Zealand
  • 20:50 New Zealand culture, the country of unique festivals
  • 22:24 The cost of living in New Zealand
  • 24:08 New Zealand cuisine – a food paradise
Come along through real life in New Zealand, explore mouthwatering New Zealand food, and see the hidden gems among the many things to do. Thinking of moving? Let’s break down the cost of living in New Zealand and get an honest look at the expat life in New Zealand. Get a glimpse of vibrant New Zealand culture — a blend of indigenous roots and modern Euro vibes. This travel doc captures it all with heart, humor, and high-definition beauty.

Subscribe: @amazingdiscoveriesus. Watch more fascinating videos about cultures and people around the world: 👇 Exploring All Countries Around the World: #TravelDocumentary #FactsAboutNewZealand #InterestingFactsAboutNewZealand #LifeInNewZealand #ThingsToDoInNewZealand #NewZealandPeople #NewZealandWomen #NewZealandCulture #ExpatLifeInNewZealand #CostOfLivingInNewZealand #NewZealandFood #AmazingDiscoveriesUS #amazingdiscoveriesus #TravelDocumentary

Monday, December 23, 2024

Dangerous surf is up for Xmas in LA


Holiday Tradition: Surfing Santa in Los Angeles
(PhotowalksTV with Jefferson Graham) Nov. 28, 2024: Chiropractor Derek Levy of Hermosa Beach, L.A. County, California, dons the big red wet suit again for his 2024 stint as Surfing Santa. Levy is the cover surfer for the Easy Reader, the L.A. area publication that began putting surfers on its cover in 1978. #santaclaus #christmas #surfingsanta

CHAPTERS
  • 00:00 Surfing Santa
  • 00:13 History
  • 00:57 Easy Reader publisher Kevin Cody
  • 01:24 Photos by Ray Vidal
🔔 Explore the world through this lens on PhotoWalksTV! Subscribe now for breathtaking journeys and photography tips: @photowalkstv. This episode was photographed on a variety of cameras, including the DJI Mini 4 Pro, iPhone 16 Pro and Sony RX10IV.

Wednesday, October 30, 2024

Mag 6.0 quake hits off Oregon coast today


Run! A tsunami could be headed this way!
COOS BAY, Oregon (USA Today) - An earthquake shook off the Oregon coast Wednesday (Oct. 30, 2024) afternoon.

The earthquake struck in the Pacific Ocean, more than 170 miles west of Bandon, Oregon, at exactly 1:15 pm local (Pacific) time, according to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS).

The temblor, which was recorded at a depth of over 6 miles, measured a preliminary magnitude of 6.0 [just the 6th to do so in recent memory. Lord Poseidon must be mad.] More

Saturday, September 21, 2024

California Coastal Cleanup Day (9/21)


Inland waterways are next. See calendar
(LAist) It’s one of the biggest days of the year for the ecologically minded.

Thousands of volunteers across Southern California will come together on the morning of Saturday, Sept. 21, for the annual California Coastal Cleanup Day.

Last year, volunteers removed 376,308 pounds of trash from Cali beaches and waterways across the state, according to the California Coastal Commission, including 10 tons of debris in Los Angeles County and 12 tons in once filthy Orange County.

The cleanup provides insights into what’s being thrown away in Southern California or, more accurately, what’s being littered. Cigarette butts are the most commonly found item, though plastics and Styrofoam are becoming more common, according to the nonprofit Heal the Bay.

We've got a tropical blond surfer reputation
That’s despite the state’s efforts to cut back on the use of these items. In case anyone is wondering, those new rules are still being phased in as of this year.

If volunteers can’t make it to the beach but still want to help, consider volunteering at one of the inland cleanup sites listed below, because those “No dumping, Drains to ocean” signs on storm drains aren’t lying.

Today wasn't really convenient, so there are other options:

Heal The Bay
Heal has relaunched their monthly Nothin' But Sand clean-up events, which happen on the third Saturday of every month. By the way, the organization expects to cross 2 million pounds [2,000 lbs. is one ton] of trash picked up over the 35 years it's been managing Coastal Cleanup Day for L.A. County.

How to sign up

Some organizers just want volunteers to show up and help out, no sign up required — and beachgoers can always pick up trash wherever, whether or not it’s at one of these official sites.

However, others are requesting that volunteers register in advance to get an accurate headcount. A few of the more hands-on cleanup sites require boats or other special equipment.

To find more information for each site, including contact information and signup details, find it on THIS MAP from the California Coastal Commission.

Thursday, September 12, 2024

Happy World Dolphin Day (9/12)



We're not all bad, Humans.
Today is World Dolphin Day. Of course, we don't have to worry in the States because we worship this sea mammal on April 14th on NATIONAL DOLPHIN DAY each year when we recognize the social and intelligent mammals of the sea. #NationalDolphinDay

Hey, Baby, come here often? - I'm a bird.
Dolphins are cetacean mammals that are related to whales and porpoises (and orcas or killer "whales" are actually giant dolphins). They range in size from 4 feet to up to 30 feet; dolphins are among almost forty species in 17 genera.

Found worldwide, they prefer the shallower seas of the continental shelves. As predatory carnivores, their diet consists of mostly fish and squid.
He's looking at me like Uncle Bob, Momma!
[But they will rape and take a nip out of a human, smothering swimmers, taking them down to the seafloor to drown and/or penetrate, as was recently witnessed in Japan in gang rapes of swimmers at the beach by juvenile pods. They can get awful "friendly" in Hawaii, too, and jealous once they bond to a human. Others better watch out, and that human better watch out. Oh, Flipper, so named because they can flip out.]

Saturday, August 31, 2024

To be the Goddess, Planet Wild's bear cub


We can save the world or at least this planet.
One needn't be a girl or a goddess to be a nurturer, a steward of Planet Earth, the Goddess Gaia (Bhumi, Tierra, Terra, Urth). Planet Wild is doing it by human power. As much as people think Buddhism is atheistic because it does not bow to some "creator God," it is actually nontheistic and polytheistic. There are many gods (devas), Gods (brahmas) and 
Great Brahma, and GOD (the impersonal/transpersonal Brahman) or "godhead" like the Vedic religion of old or modern Hinduism talk about. The celestial bodies are all deified (likely because ET visitors said they were from there or were rulers of those places visible in the night sky).

Countless worlds on 31 planes
In the Jataka (Rebirth) Tales of the Buddha, a kind of collection of Aesop Fables (with a strong moral to each story, which always seems to be the same moral -- what the person did in this life that person did in a previous life/lives), he recounts being reborn as the deity of the Moon (Soma) and Sun (Surya) multiple times, as were others close to him. Did he mean he was the ruler there, the embodiment, or a deity (deva) from there named after that world? It seems that when Dr. Steven Greer, MD of Disclosure Project, Sirius Disclosure, and Gaia TV, says that "Earth" is
literally a female deity, he is onto something. He has some reason for believing it and saying so other than others having said so. If we can be reborn as devas (shining ones, light beings), and we can, we can theoretically be born into the role of Mother Earth, the Goddess Gaia, Bhumi, or Tierra, just as Sakka King of the Devas was reborn as the king of the World of the Thirty-Three and the Realm of the Four Great Sky Kings, the two worlds immediately above the human plane.
If I were Goddess Terra, I'd be Mother Nature.
Saving animals like this cute baby sun bear?
 Yes! Here's one way to bring back our charismatic megafauna: Learn about "Planet Wild." What is PW?

Planet Wild is a nature protection organization, building a global community of people that care deeply about the planet and want to give back to nature and save the animals like the sun bear.

Monthly rewilding missions
Hindu Bhumi Devi (LACMA)
Planet Wild is bringing back endangered species, cleaning up our oceans from plastic debris, and rewilding entire forests to give them back to nature.

On the ground with pioneers
Planet Wild partners with the most impactful environmental initiatives around the globe to create real impact.

100% video documented
Every mission is documented for full transparency of the impact achieved. More: planetwild.com

Can we regain our US goddess?
Titular Goddess of the United States of [Columbia, as in District of Columbia]. Her Uncle Sam?