Apr 20
[wdgpo_plusone] Inmates in Nazi concentration camps sometimes managed to perform music. That same spirited determination in the face of extreme hardship animates the Gaza Music School. It was established in 2008 thanks to a grant from the London-based Qattan Foundation. At the end of its first year, Israeli bombers — made in the U.S.A. — …
Mar 29
One of the highlights of our recent vacation in Ecuador was the carnival celebration in Ambato. Known as the Garden City, Ambato sits two hours by bus due south of Quito. It’s a special town — it was completely destroyed by a huge earthquake in 1949 at a loss of 6,000 lives. To commemorate its comeback from …
Mar 23
During our recent vacation in Ecuador, I had the opportunity to visit a workshop where the traditional art of wool weaving by hand is still practiced. This is the Artesanía el Gran Condor in Peguche, a village a few minutes from Otavalo, the market town two hours north of Quito. I took some stills and …
Mar 23
My narration of Empowering Your Sober Self, the LifeRing Approach to Addiction Recovery, is published at last. You can get it: At audible.com At amazon.com At iTunes (search audiobooks for “Nicolaus LifeRing”) The audio runs 6:45 (six hours and 45 minutes). I have no control over the price, which is higher than the print edition. …
Mar 16
A Month in Ecuador – Our Travel Blog Introduction: Our first pick for a South American vacation was Costa Rica, because it has a lot of ecological diversity and is well known. Then we heard in the news that the President of Ecuador had granted asylum to Julian Assange, the founder of Wikileaks, in the …
Nov 24
My favorite singing group Occupella was at it again on Black Friday, singing up a storm in support of Walmart workers at the retail giant’s store at the Hilltop Mall in Richmond. We had a healthy turnout of about 30 at the lower level side entrance. I took a side trip up to the main …
Nov 24
Sheila and I happened to be at an event in Oakland where the conversation turned to Ecuador and someone gave us a business card for something called the Pachamama Alliance. With the card came an invitation to the group’s luncheon. Neither of us had ever heard of the group and we were skeptical. Curiosity more …
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