Monday October 11

This is Week 41 of 2010►Day 284 with 81days left.

FREE RAMBLING THOUGHTS

Louie, our seasoned guide, shared much information during our days. At one time on the bus, I was asking him more about his term ‘witch doctor’. He explained that he did psychological healing, his fee is minimal, and his ‘work’ lasts about 45 minutes. I asked him if this medicine person sang or chanted during his healing. He said no, but he did pray. I asked him how this healing took place. He told me he takes things out of your body. I asked him if they were sucked out. His eyes got very wide and asked how I knew. I explained the little knowledge I have of Navajo Medicine Men. He was very intrigued, and wanted to know more than my little knowledge understood. He also told me that the Iban Witch Doctor sucks out objects—small bones, small stones, etc. to heal the patient. The Iban healer can also be on the black side. Any healer can do white—good healing, or black—bad stuff. The same healer who uses black medicine on a patient cannot be then the white healer for that patient. As expected he didn’t want to talk about the black side. He did say that I was the first tourist he had talked to that didn’t look at this healing as just silly superstition. There are also Iban healers, men or women, who know how to use plants to heal. They are trained differently than the Witch Doctor. I wish I had more knowledge, and that this conversation could have continued much longer.

As I mentioned before, we took two walks in the rainforest. The river we were traveling on was very, very brown. Louie told us that it had been clear when he was a boy. Then the loggers came in. We didn’t see much logging near the river, but we saw barge after barge after barge loaded with hundreds of trees. Many of the logs seemed to have the center bored out; it turns out this is termite damage. None of the people in Borneo wanted to talk about the damage of logging. It just seems to be part of the life in Borneo today.

Our first rainforest walk had us all prepared for the worst. We all had on hiking shoes, long socks that were pulled over our long pants, and everyone was wearing some kind of leech stop socks. Our heads all had hats, so that falling living things would not get into our hair. We were warned not to grab the ropes without looking, as there were lots of hairy caterpillars, which it touched would cause us to itch a lot. Also many of the trees have sharp spikes that may not be seen before you have a handful of the tiny spikes in your hand. We were reminded to grab the ropes when climbing as the ground and or roots could be very slippery. The climbing could be at about 45° or more, and that some hand climbing might be necessary. A few people opted not to take the hike. Those who did would go to the first rest area and then those who wanted to go on would with Louie and Henry would take the rest back. We were also reminded to stay on the trail, as it is very easy to get lost in the rainforest. We were warned that cameras should be kept in a plastic bag as the forest plays havoc on electronics. I opted to leave the cameras behind and just to remember this jungle walk in my mind. When we got to the first rest area, everyone wanted to go on. Louie and Henry later said they really expected about half the group to stay behind. As I had kinda expected, their warnings were a little overstated but it was quite a climb. I could have brought my cameras, but will do that on the ‘easier’ walk. We saw lots of ferns, plants, and trees that are now used by modern medicine for everything from ED to HIV to cancer treatments. There were also plants for indigestion, diarrhea, congestion, and almost every conceivable ailment. The walking was not nearly as tough as the standing, as we learned about each and every plant. We did see huge Army ants, termites, hairy caterpillars, but very little other wildlife. We could hear birds, but never saw them. We were told we would have to stop, sit down, and wait very quietly about an hour or so to see any larger wildlife. We were told that there were deer, snakes, wart hogs and other wildlife in the area. The rainforest does have meadows, but we didn’t see any until we got to the end of the walk. After seeing the open space, it was easy to understand that many animals lived there.

Later in the trip we took the ‘easy’ rainforest walk, with not as much climbing and a waterfall at the end. Now that Henry and Louie knew more about our group, they divided us into three groups. The first group would go to the 2nd rest area about ten minutes from the waterfall. This group would not stop and learn about the foliage. I joined this group. The second group would go along and learn about the foliage, and the third group would stay at the long house and eat and buy crafts. Our group, with my camera in hand, moved quickly. We passed the first rest area without stopping and got to the second rest area. We waited about 30 minutes for the second group. Our trekker, a local girl about 18, told our guide, Steve—from the boat, that we needed to go on as rain was coming. We got to the beautiful waterfall and it was worth the hike. On the way back, we didn’t stop at any of the rest stops, we met up with the other group about 200 yards from the second rest area. They went on to the waterfall; we went back to the longhouse. We didn’t see much wildlife, but did see a wart hog, some roosters, and a caged pig. On this climb we didn’t get quite as prepared, and didn’t need to. Socks over your pants, a hat, and a poncho in your pocket are all we needed. Oh, and the ever needed bottle of water. At the end of both treks, my clothes were soaking wet and I’m sure I could have taken off my shirt and wrung it out and filled a small bucket. I’m not a big water drinker but on each hike I consumed two bottles of water and wanted more. While I’m not sure I want to ever trek into a rainforest again, I am sure happy that I had the experience.

I certainly learned to appreciate the rainforest. The destruction of the Borneo rainforest is extremely sad. The loss of language, culture, people, wildlife to make a coffee table for a home in the UK or US or anywhere, doesn’t make much sense, except for making money. At both longhouses they did not have a lot of crafts. Some in our group were disappointed. I saw it as that idea that they had not totally sold out to commerce. Tourists will come and go, but they will stay in their longhouse for their lifetime. Even at the markets throughout Borneo, we didn’t find touristy stuff. These markets are the backbone of the town’s economy, so foodstuffs, clothing, and Dollar store toys were everywhere. Our trips to morning markets were much easier on the nose than going at night. One early morning market was filled with fresh, very fresh, fish and other creatures from the sea. Fresh fruits and veggies were also abundant. The market was an amazing walk, about the size of a WalMart Superstore. Each vendor had a table or series of tables, a scale to weigh everything, a cash register or cash box and plastic bags for the purchases. The afternoon and evening walks through the market were not easy on the nose. Fish that have been sitting on open air tables tend to stink. Yes, there was some ice around, but after a day of heat, even ice can’t keep the fish smell from permeating the area. The night markets also had food vendors offering lots of choices of favorite foods. All of the night markets had a carnival/flea market atmosphere. They were exciting, but sure wouldn’t want to have to buy my groceries in that atmosphere every time I shopped.

Flag nights are getting cooler and cooler. Days are much cooler too. There still hasn’t been any snow in town. The birds have all returned to my feeders and seem to be enjoying the easy food. My finch socks were feeding lots of colorful birds every time I looked out on the deck. I aired out the upstairs most of the day—windows on both ends of the house were wide open. I did the same downstairs for a couple of hours this afternoon. It was a good Sunday. It was a triple 10 day (10-10-2010) and I guess that means good fortune. Some huge number of couples tied the knot today, hope it works for them. Cardinals beat the Saints today and was seen as a fluke. AZ just doesn’t seem to have it together this year. Broncos lost bad to the Colts and I was glad they only showed highlights. Cards are now 3-2, the Broncos are 2-3. No playoffs seem to be on the horizon for either team.

Flag…H—63°; L—34°; RH—61%; and only a breeze of about 5mph.

QUOTE FOR THE DAY

We have same black hair, but not the heart

(meaning of proverb: even though we have the same color of hair, but our heart or feeling are different)

HOLY MACKEREL: 1985 Pres Reagan bans importation of South African Krugerrands

SOMEWHAT USELESS INFORMATION

The telephone was invented in March of 1876 and patented in January of the following year by Alexander Graham Bell.

GREY MATTER PUZZLE 1—Jeopardy Answers—Mammals

$100- Romans called this African beast a "tiger horse"

$200- The only flying mammal

$300- A black panther is really the black version of this cat

$400- Plays dead to escape predators, but one was close friends with an alligator

$500- Weighing 1½ tons per foot, this mammal generates up to 500 H.P. with its tail

UNUSUAL NEWS ITEM

PIERRELATTE - French police said an escaped alligator was brought in by a woman and spent the night in the jail's drunk tank. Police in Pierrelatte said a woman found the Chinese alligator, which measured only about 3 feet long, outside of a restaurant Tuesday and brought it to the police station, Radio France Internationale reported.

The reptile, which does not have strong enough jaws to attack humans, spent the night in a cell designed for drunk suspects and the following day was returned to a nearby crocodile farm. Samuel Martin, who runs the crocodile farm, said the alligator escaped two months ago with another reptile that is still on the loose.

A LITTLE LAUGH

When my husband pointed out my tendency to retell the same stories over and over, I reminded him that he was just as guilty.

"Allow me to clarify," he said in response. "I review. You repeat."

FOUND ON ‘YOU TUBE’

A Malaysian Market: Click Here to View

GREY MATTER PICTURE

This is a close up of what object?

SOME CALENDAR INFORMATION

¤ Weekly Observances ¤

6-12: Physicians Assistant Week

8-12: Kids' Goal Setting Week

8-10: New York Comic Con Week

10-16: Build Your Business with Business Cards Week ^ Emergency Nurses Week ^ Home-based Business Week ^ National Chestnut Week ^ National Food Bank Week ^ National Metric Week ^ Take Your Medicine Americans Week ^ World Rainforest Week

11-17: Fall Astronomy Week ^ National School Lunch Week

17-23: Food and Drug Interaction Education and Awareness Week ^ Getting The World To Beat A Path To Your Door Week ^ International Credit Union Week ^ Teen Read Week ^ National Chemistry Week ^ National Hospital and Health-System Pharmacy Week ^ YWCA Week without Violence ^ National Character Counts Week ^ National Forest Products Week ^ National Lead Poisoning Prevention Week ^ National School Bus Safety Week

18-24: Freedom From Bullies Week ^ Freedom of Speech Week ^ Medical Assistants Recognition Week ^ National Food Bank Week ^ National Infertility Awareness Week ^ National Massage Therapy Week ^ National Businesswomen's Week

24-31: Disarmament Week ^ Give Wildlife a Break Week ^ Pastoral Care Week ^ Peace, Friendship and Good Will Week ^ Prescription Errors Education & Awareness Week ^ International Magic Week ^ National Respiratory Care Week

27-11/3: World Hearing Aid Awareness Week

¤ Today’s Observances ¤

It's My Party Day

Native Americans' Day

National Kick Butt Day

Simchat Torah: ends annual cycle of public readings of the Torah

Celtic: Old Michelmas Day: the day the devil was kicked out of heaven. Don’t pick blackberries after this date as they have been cursed by the devil.

Panama, Panama Canal Zone: Revolution Day (1968)

Republic of Macedonia: Revolution Day

Sri Lanka: Deepavali

US: General Pulaski Memorial Day (1779): Polish American Revolution Hero

Western Samoa: National Day

United Kingdom, Switzerland, and United States among others: National Coming Out Day

¤ Hit Songs on this date ¤

1909...I Wonder Who's Kissing Her Now / Henry Burr

1919...A Pretty Girl Is Like a Melody / John Steel

1929...Am I Blue? / Ethel Waters Click Here to Listen

1939...Over the Rainbow / Glenn Miller Click Here to Listen

1949…That Lucky Old Sun / Frankie Laine Click Here to Listen

1959…Mack the Knife / Bobby Darin Click Here to Listen

1969…Sugar, Sugar / The Archies

1979…Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough / Michael Jackson

¤ Today’s Births ¤

╬ THE ARTS

Daryl Hall, 62, singer, musician (Hall and Oates)

Jerome Robbins (Rabinowitz), Academy Award-winning director: West Side Story [1961]; Tony Award-winning choreographer: Fiddler on the Roof [1965], West Side Story [1958],High Button Shoes [1948]; Tony Award-winning director: Fiddler on the Roof [1965], Jerome Robbins’ Broadway [1989], in 1918

Dottie West, country singer (Here Comes My Baby), in 1932

♦♦♦♦♦♦

Joan Cusack, 48, actress (Working Girl, In & Out)

Luke Perry, 44, actor (“Beverly Hills 90210,” Buffy the Vampire Slayer)

╬ ATHLETICS

Harry Glass, German DR, 1st E German Olympic medalist (bronze-1956), in 1930

Steve Young, 49, former football player

╬ BUSINESS & EDUCATION

Henry John Heinz, founded prepared-foods company (57 varieties), in 1844

Roman Jakobson, linguist/Slavic scholar (Fundamentals of Language), in 1896

Charles Revson, cosmetic mogul: founder of the Revlon Co, in 1906

Sir George Williams, England, founder YMCA, in 1821

╬ POLITICS

Eleanor Roosevelt, 1st lady/crusader, in 1884

╬ SCIENCE & RELIGION

Robert Gale, 65, physician, cofounder of the International Bone Marrow Registry

¤ Today’s Obituaries ¤

Waylon Flowers, puppeteer, AIDS @ 48, in 1988

Redd Foxx, comedian, heart attack @ 68, in 1991

Meriwether Lewis, capt of Lewis & Clark Expedition, suicide or murder @35, in 1809

Leonard "Chico" Marx, (Marx Brothers), @74, in 1961

Orson Welles, heart attack @ 70, in 1985

Tex Williams, country-western singer, cancer @ 68, in 1985

¤ Today’s Events ¤

╬ THE ARTS

1958 Spencer Tracy’s classic movie, The Old Man and the Sea was released. Based on Ernest Hemingway’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel

1975 "Saturday Night Live" premieres with guest host George Carlin

╬ ATHLETICS

1927 Lou Gehrig elected MVP

╬ BUSINESS & EDUCATION

1811 The Juliana, the 1st steam-powered ferryboat, begins operation

1881 Roll film for cameras was patented.

1890 Daughters of the American Revolution founded

╬ INDIGENOUS PEOPLE

1794 Tennessee Governor William Blount will meet with CHICKAMAUGAChief John Watts (Young Tassel) in the Tellico blockhouse near the French Broad River in eastern Tennessee. They will agree to have a conference in November to discuss peace between the warring settlers and the CHICKAMAUGAs.

╬ POLITICS (US)

1922 1st woman FBI "special investigator" appointed (Alaska Davidson)

1975 William Jefferson Clinton and Hillary Rodham tied the knot in Fayetteville, Arkansas

1987 200,000 gays march for civil rights in Washington

╬ POLITICS (International)

1945 Chinese civil war begins, Chiang Kai-Shek vs Mao Tse-Tung

╬ SCIENCE & RELIGION

1737 Earthquake kills 300,000 & destroys Calcutta India

1979 Allan McLeod Cormack & Godfrey Newbold Hounsfield win Nobel Prize for medicine for developing the CAT scan

1984 Space-shuttle Challenger astronaut Dr. Kathy Sullivan became the first U.S. woman to perform an EVA (extra-vehicular activity), or walk in space.

GREY MATTER ANSWERS

↔ 1

$100- Romans called this African beast a "tiger horse": What is a Zebra?

$200- The only flying mammal: What is a bat?

$300- A black panther is really the black version of this cat: What is a leopard?

$400- Plays dead to escape predators, but one was close friends with an alligator: What's an opossum?

$500- Weighing 1½ tons per foot, this mammal generates up to 500 H.P. with its tail: What's a blue whale?

↔ PICTURE

Foosball player

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