Uncategorized

Osho himself was not wealthy at all. In fact, he owned almost nothing. At most, he may have had a Buddha statue and a bottle of unscented shampoo—and that was it. Whatever he received, he gave away, including watches, Rolls-Royces, and statues of Buddha. It was his followers who were wealthy—some of them extremely so. They were the ones who bought the Rolls-Royces and expensive watches for him to use. His apparent display of wealth was pure showmanship. He wanted to challenge the idea that one must be poor to be religious. He believed that as long as poverty was idealized as a virtue, it would never truly be eliminated. He also welcomed the massive publicity the cars generated, once saying that he wanted to make sure “everyone who is looking for me will not be able to say they had not heard of me.” There were other messages behind it as well, such as parodying American materialism. He didn’t purchase these items himself; he simply accepted a few things because people insisted on giving them to him. Osho was often called the “guru of the rich.” In one interview, he was asked why he didn’t use his so-called “enormous wealth” to help the poor. He replied: “People have been helping the poor for thousands of years—and they are still poor. But who is there to help the rich?”

It's estimated that there are roughly 200 billion galaxies in the observable universe. However, estimates vary among experts, with some estimating between 100 billion and 200 billion galaxies. The exact number of galaxies has been a mystery, with estimates rising as telescope technology improved. NASA estimates that there are at least 100 billion planets in our Milky Way alone. Others estimated that the Milky Way galaxy might have anywhere between 100 to 200 billion planets.  They estimate one in 5 could hold life. That means that 10 x 10 to the 22nd power possibilities of planets that could hold life.

The Kewa Pueblo (formerly Santo Domingo Pueblo) in New Mexico holds vibrant, sacred Corn Dances, typically in the summer (especially August 4th for St. Dominic's Day), as an ancient ritual to give thanks for the harvest and ask for continued blessings, featuring large numbers of dancers in traditional attire shuffling in patterns, accompanied by songs, drummers, and masked clowns in the central plaza under cornstalk arbors.  Key Aspects of the Kewa Corn Dance: Purpose: A deeply spiritual ceremony for gratitude and abundance, deeply tied to the land and community's survival. Timing: Often happens in summer, with significant events around the St. Dominic Annual Feast Day (August 4th). Participants: Involves many dancers in double file (men leading women), with women's hands on men's shoulders, changing formations with the songs. Setting: The dance occurs in the central plaza, often with an arbor made of cornstalks and cottonwoods. Elements: Accompanied by drumming, singing, and ceremonial clowns smeared with clay and wearing traditional markings. Significance: A major cultural event, considered one of the best and largest in New Mexico.  Visiting Kewa Pueblo: Etiquette: When visiting any Pueblo feast day, it's crucial to be respectful, follow instructions, and understand that photography is not allowed or they will confiscate your phone or camera. Cultural Context: These dances are religious ceremonies, not performances for tourists, emphasizing the deep connection to their heritage and land. 

  Both the Crow and Navajo Nations hold deep spiritual connections to specific mountains. The Crow consider the Crazy Mountains sacred, using them for vision quests and ceremony. The Navajo organize their entire cosmology around the Four Sacred Mountains, which define the boundaries of their world. The Four Sacred Navajo Mountains The Four Sacred Mountains mark the boundaries of the Navajo Nation and lie at the heart of Navajo spiritual life. In Navajo belief, each mountain is a living deity — assigned a color and a cardinal direction — and serves as a vital source of sustenance for the Navajo people. For decades, however, uranium mining and other extractive industries have degraded these sacred landscapes, causing lasting harm to Navajo communities. Geographical Location The Navajo hold mountains in especially high reverence, viewing prominent geographic features as bearers of supernatural power. The four sacred mountains define the corners of Navajo Country and are named in sunwise order, each paired with a directional color: Sisnaajiní (Blanca Peak) — white, east; Tsoodził (Mt. Taylor) — blue, south; Doko'oosłííd (San Francisco Peaks) — yellow, west; and Dibéntsaa (Hesperus Peak) — black, north. Within U.S. boundaries, these peaks fall across south-central Colorado, Grants, New Mexico, Flagstaff, Arizona, and the La Plata Mountains of Colorado. Blanca Peak Sisnaajiní — known in English as Blanca Peak and called Pintsae'i'i by the Ute and Peeroradarath by the Tewa — stands as the eastern boundary of the Navajo world. Its Navajo name means "black belted mountain." At 14,351 feet, it is the fourth highest summit in the Rocky Mountains and the tallest peak in both the Sangre de Cristo Range and the broader Sangre de Cristo Mountains. It sits roughly 9.6 miles north-northeast

With rodeo proudly designated as Montana’s official state sport, the state made a strong showing at this year’s NFR, highlighted by Montana athletes earning major wins and thrilling fans in Las Vegas: Sam Petersen and his Bareback Average Championship win; tie-down roper Haven Meged’s Round 9 win with a lightning-fast 7.0-second run; steer wrestlers Ty Erickson and Jesse Brown; and veteran barrel racer Lisa Lockhart.   But Montana doesn’t just produce rodeo champions. It fosters a culture where rodeo is still deeply connected to the land, the people, and the Western way of life. To truly understand why rodeo lives here, you need to experience it in person. Home to some of the nation's oldest and most storied Western traditions, Montana isn’t just a destination for rodeo fans—it’s a way of life for the people who live it every day. Start your journey at RodeoLivesHere.com, your go-to guide for all things Montana rodeo. There you’ll find 2026 rodeo events, including local favorites like the Wolf Point Wild Horse Stampede and Red Lodge Home of Champions, plus regional stops on the PRCA circuit and homegrown competitions across Native nations and ranch communities. You can also explore the stories of people who live and breathe rodeo in small towns with big heart. Ready to plan your 2026 rodeo road trip? Visit RodeoLivesHere.com for travel ideas, event listings, athlete stories, and more. Discover why Montana isn’t just part of rodeo—it’s where rodeo lives.

Photo credit to Stephen Collector by Jim Harrison Let’s not get romantic or dismal about death.Indeed it’s our most unique act along with birth.We must think of it as cooking breakfast,it’s that ordinary. Break two eggs into a bowlor break a bowl into two eggs. Slip into a coffinafter the fluids have been drained, or better yet,slide into the fire. Of course it’s a little hardto accept your last kiss, your last drink,your last meal about which the condemnedcan be quite particular as if there could bea cheeseburger sent by God. A few loverssweep by the inner eye, but it’s mostly a placidlake at dawn, mist rising, a solitary looncall, and staring into the still, opaque water.We’ll know as children again all that we aredestined to know, that the water is coldand deep, and the sun penetrates only so far. Jim Harrison, “Death Again” from Jim Harrison: The Essential Poems. from the Writer’s Almanac Podcast, August 14th, 2019 ______________________________________________________________________________________________For another fun read on Collector and Harrison: https://stephencollector.com/blog/spring-2020-issue-of-the-flyfish-journal

Carrying experiences and burdens The phrase "life is like a backpack" is a metaphor that my father in law used for life being a journey where you carry your experiences and burdens, or the idea that happiness comes from letting go of what you don't need. It suggests that your experiences, both positive and negative, are the "contents" of your "backpack," which influence who you are and how you navigate the world. The analogy can also be used to talk about the weight of grief, the accumulation of possessions, or the beliefs you carry.  Experiences: Your backpack contains your life's experiences—joy, sadness, challenges, and achievements—that have shaped you.  Grief: Grief is often compared to a backpack that you carry. The weight may lessen over time, but it's a permanent part of you that you learn to carry, with some days feeling heavier than others.  Burdens: It can represent the "weight" of psychological and emotional burdens, such as past trauma or limiting beliefs, that can be heavy and difficult to bear.  The contents of your backpack Material vs. essential items: The backpack can represent the things you own. Some people realize that true happiness isn't in accumulating possessions but in letting go of unnecessary "dead weight" to feel lighter and more free.  Beliefs: Your backpack can be seen as a metaphor for the beliefs you carry. You can choose to "empty your backpack" of limiting beliefs to make room for growth and new possibilities.  The journey of life Travel and growth: Just as a traveler learns to pack light, you can learn to carry less. The focus shifts from how much you carry to how freely you can move, grow, and embrace new experiences.  Support: The metaphor can also highlight the importance of support. With a partner, the "weight"

Working Dogs: Service Dogs, ESAs, and Legal Guidelines While various working breeds like the Belgian Malinois or Doberman share foundational obedience training, their specialized roles, tasks, and legal protections differ significantly.   Service Dogs vs. Emotional Support Animals (ESAs) The fundamental difference lies in their training and legal rights. Service dogs perform specific tasks to mitigate a disability, granting them public access rights under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). ESAs provide comfort through their presence and are primarily protected in housing under the Fair Housing Act (FHA).   Service Dogs Training Requirement: Must perform specific tasks directly related to the handler's physical, psychiatric, sensory, or intellectual disability. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5] Task Examples: Guiding individuals who are blind, performing deep pressure therapy during panic attacks, or retrieving dropped items for mobility support. Public Access: Full legal right to enter public places like restaurants, stores, and businesses under the ADA. [1, 2] Air Travel: Permitted to fly in the cabin under the Air Carrier Access Act (airlines may require documentation forms). [1, 2, 3] Training Note: Professional training is not legally mandated; individuals with disabilities have the right to self-train their service dogs. [1, 2, 3] Emotional Support Animals (ESAs) Training Requirement: No specialized task training is required. Task Examples: None. The animal helps alleviate symptoms of anxiety, depression, or mental health conditions purely through its presence. Public Access: No public access rights; restricted to general pet-friendly locations. Air Travel: No cabin access guarantees; airlines may treat ESAs as standard pets according to their own policies. Documentation Note: Requires an official letter from a licensed mental health professional confirming the medical need for the animal. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5] ⚖️ ADA Compliance:

Coach Prime was just quoted upon Shilo's release from the NFL, "He’s my son, I’m proud of my kids, all of them, and I prepared my kids for any and everything that could possibly happen in life and in sports." Later he was quoted as saying, “Thank God that God prepared him for everything he’s dealing with,” he said. “I mean, I think a lesser man would have crumbled. But he’s been built for this, and who else is built for the adversity like he is? Like, going into the NFL? I don’t think it’s too many quarterbacks that have (been) built like that for the adverse situations and not having the best of things to happen around him.” That reminded me of my falconer friend, Hal Webster, who trained falcons much of his life and is one of the most published authors on the subject. He also trained falcons for flight with lures, kites, balloons, etc. The parents will catch small prey—like a dove—and begin flying past the cliff, trying to entice the young chick, which by this point is usually between 48 and 55 days old. They gradually stop feeding the chick, teasing it instead to encourage it to take flight. Once the fledglings finally launch into the air, a graceful aerial dance of food exchanges begins. As the young birds build muscle and confidence, the parents continually raise the challenge, pushing them to refine their skills. The falconers mimic this training process, now with drones, but they used to use balloons or kites to dangle the bait. He introduced me to Gene Johnson and several other amazing falconers. Gene was also quite the artist as you can see from one of