The Way of the Gods

That’s Shinto — the way (“to”) of the kami (“shin”). As to the kami — who might they be?
“I do not yet understand the meaning of the word ‘kami'” wrote Motoori Norinaga in 1771. If he didn’t, who did? Norinaga was the foremost scholar of his age; he devoted his life to studying the native literature from its ancient beginnings. "In ancient usage, anything whatsoever that was outside the ordinary, which possessed superior power or which was awe-inspiring, was called kami."

Shinto teaches nothing, enjoins nothing, demands no submission, works no miracles, effaces evil by cleansing it, transmutes dread into joy. There is no heaven, no hell, no nirvana — just “the rising sun each morning,” “the coming of the kami.”

P.S.: I wonder why the much more advanced, elaborated, intellectually satisfying religion of Christianity did not catch up in Japan. Christianity was adopted almost instantly by NorthWest European pagans, had a good start in China (see Memorial Tablet in the tomb of Matteo Ricci in Beijing), but it never became the state religion.

The Flu

Third day of flu. It has three or four days more to run. The first night was bad, now it is just uncomfortable. No fever.

The virus is made of eight single-stranded segments of RNA that together code for 10 proteins. Most originate from pigs, others from birds or humans. This perverted thingie celebrates a permanent sex orgy, trading genes and mutations. It is a depraved swinish chemical robot and definitely not kosher. 

P.S.: January 30 and this thingie still multiplying in my throat. It is a novel hybrid, stronger than its ancestors. 

Day Zero in Cape Town

Cape Town's five million inhabitants are suffering water supply restrictions because the five dams feeding the city are drying up. The reason is the El Nino climatic oscillation which has been occurring for thousands of years (see graph above), causing flooding in Peru's coastal deserts. The Incas made mass human sacrifices, that did not solve the problem but provided entertainment and felt good, and eventually the climate returned to regular. Since the water is still flowing from the taps, the situation is not catastrophic and the time has yet to come for real - human - sacrifices.  Alternatively, they can hire Israeli water magicians (moi!). I can promise contractually that I shall make rain in Cape Town - eventually. 

P.S.:  Yet if the choice is between suffering or Israelis, they will do without water and Israelis. The South African government, which is strongly aligned with the Palestinian cause, has snubbed informal offers of help made by the Israeli ambassador. Israel has substantial expertise in desalination technology, but last year the mere presence of a former Israeli ambassador on a panel to discuss water management aroused such protest that the event was cancelled.