The ride took me south of Austin to Kyle, Texas. After a boring first seven miles on city streets, the rider picks up some country roads. It's interesting how fast the landscape changes from suburban to rural. You know you're in the country when you ride by a ranch and find Texas longhorn cattle grazing close to the road. Lots of ranchers keep them because of their heritage -- these are the cattle the cowboys drove north to the railheads in Kansas and elsewhere, before the railroads came to Texas. Their meat is tough and stringy -- wouldn't pass muster in today's supermarket meat sections.

After a turn through Buda, Texas the route picks up two busier roads, but ones with generous shoulders. They lead to Kyle, another small town that is rapidly growing into a bedroom community for Austin and San Marcos. Kyle is a great place to take a break, because of the Lucky Cup, an independent coffee house.

My trusty steed parked at the Lucky Cup. The coffee shop is marked by the door and windows on the left side of the building. Its signage is obscured by the shadows.

I bought a Gatorade and refilled my water bottle here. A patio in the shade (from where the picture was shot) has tables and chairs for relaxing. The owners of the shop appreciate that bikers have discovered the place, and are happy to accommodate their needs.

Instead of turning back to Austin here, as I've done before, I continued into downtown Kyle, about two miles away. Let's just say it's a small business district, about two blocks long. Prominent among the shops is another spot we might consider stopping on future trips down here:

"Life Is Short -- Eat More Pie" is the Texas Pie Company's slogan.

The rest of the ride went through new housing developments, cotton fields that appeared to be recently harvested, poorer neighborhoods of run-down manufactured houses, and back to Austin. Central Texas has had a very dry couple of months, and I was pleased to be spattered by a few raindrops. This is a pretty dry place throughout the year. Newcomers to the area find it surprisingly green, but then are surprised to find that even though it's not a desert, cacti abound.

Clumps of prickly pear cactus along the Old San Antonio Road.

So, how did the ride go? It turned out to be a little shorter than I had expected. I guess I didn't travel far enough east to add on some miles. The bike shifted more smoothly today than yesterday, but will still go into the shop for a tuneup this week.  I had no bonking problems -- not even a hint, so I guess I've finally figured out what works for me on trips of this length. I'm pulling better on hills, applying the power longer, not tiring as fast. That toe is still a bother, but pulling up on the pedal helps, and when I stop to take a break every hour or so, I shake it out so it'll be okay for another hour.

I finished 50.2 miles with an average speed of 15 miles per hour -- right where I hoped I'd be. I didn't have to charge off to bed for a nap, as I usually do after a ride this long.  The century is two weeks away.  I think I'm going to be ready.

‘‘Ne bildirilenlere yalnızca bildirildi diye, ne hadislere yalnızca saygın geçmişlerinden dolayı, ne yalnızca söylentiden ibaret olan söylentilere, ne yalnızca bilge kişiler yazdı diye bilge kişilerin eserlerine, ne bir esinlenme anımızda bize melekler tarafından iletildiğine inanmaya eğilimli olduğumuz hayallere, ne keyfi varsayımlardan çıkarılan sonuçlara, ne mantıksal-nedensel bir ilişki mevcutmuş gibi görünen şeylere, ne de öğretmenlerimizin ve rehberlerimizin salt otoritesine inanmalıyız. Ama eğer bir yazı, öğreti ya da bildirilen mesaj idrak eden aklımız tarafından onaylanmışsa, o zaman ona inanmalıyız.’’

- H.P.Blavatsky, Gizli öğreti, III, Cilt, S. 401

Advierto que si quedas con ellos, irremediablemente, sin escapatoria posible, acabas liado por ahí de fiesta sin saber qué va a ser de tu vida las horas siguientes... Repito, cuidaillo con ellos. Fiesteros, abstenerse, peligro de sobredosis.

Funciona así... Primero tiene lugar cualquier tipo de evento social en el que uno coincide con ellos, en este caso, una barbacoa. A continuación se propone el tema de ir a tomar algo a nuestra calle, y vale, apetece, pero luego... ahí está el secreto, en vez de a la Strada van al Miqui ese, y ahí ya uno deja de preocuparse por lo demás porque ya están las cartas echadas y no hay más tu tia.

Otra cosa, la verdad es que mola, no voy a engañar a nadie. Y eso de 'tic, tac y mucho sentimiento... ' eso es para crear escuela como poco.

"algo sucedió ... la mente silenció sus aguas y mi corazón destelló en multiples pétalos de miel... detrás de la ventana estaba el Universo y en el centro del Universo un árbol de Creatividad augura que Dios es No-Dios"

Essa crença é afirmada pelo budismo a milênios. Mas confesso que tinha dúvidas se correspondia à verdade. Porém, a prática demonstrou-me estar perfeitamente correta.

Para o budismo toda criatura humana tem dentro de si um buda. Portanto, não há necessidade de procurar um mestre em lugar algum, tão pouco há necessidade de algum treinamento especial para tornar-se um iluminado. Qual o treinamento necessário para tornar-se aquilo que você já é?

No zen-budismo toda prática é assessória. Somente uma atividade é estritamente essencial: a meditação zazen.

A meditação possibilita o "não fazer" (não pensar) necessário para que a essência búdica desperte das profundezas da alma (mente?), brotando como cálida flor.

Esta flor está sobre um vazio de completo negrume, que pode assustar o aspirante ao despertar. Num primeiro momento, observa-se a flor, e fica-se impressionado e inspirado por sua beleza. Num segundo momento entra-se na escuridão, e percebe-se que não há ali nenhum motivo para receio. A única presença percebida ali é paz, e silêncio.

É quando a mente humana racional cala-se, que a flor da essência vem à superfície. Para calar a mente pratica-se a meditação.

Se você tem medo, raiva, tristeza ou desejo de vingança, medite.

Se você continua com medo, raiva, tristeza ou desejo de vingança, continue meditando.

Se o medo, a raiva, a tristeza ou o desejo de vingança, persistir, persista meditando.

Chegará o momento em que o medo, a raiva e a tristeza, simplesmente se desvanecerão como ar. Sobrará apenas uma clara lucidez e um presente Aqui-Agora, que possibilita observar o mundo sem necessidade de classificar (julgar).

O desejo de vingança não fará mais sentido, como não faz sentido, para um homem adulto, vingar-se do colega de infância, que roubou no jogo de bulicas(*). O passado ao passado pertence.

Não existem pessoas más. Existem pessoas que não meditam o suficiente.

Zhannko Idhao Tsw
Curitiba-PR
17-09-2008

PS1: (*) Jogo de bulicas (bolicas, bolitas ou bolas de gude): Jogo onde uma criança lança uma pequena bola de vidro, com os dedos, tendo as bolas (de gude) dos adversários como alvo. A criança que acertar mais bolas vence o jogo.

PS2: Bondade e ingenuidade não são sinônimos. Se tiver que lidar com víboras, use luvas de segurança. Conhecer a lei da gravidade não o torna imune a ela.

PS3: Da mesma forma que a beleza, a maldade está nos olhos de quem vê.

Joe Berardo (a portuguese millionaire. ps - joe is not a portuguese name...he's just stupid) bought all the statues that came from several countries in Asia just to built what he calls 'The Garden of Peace' for everyone to enjoy freely.

Well, at least that...

The garden is indeed amazing and the statues overwhelm you with their height. They are still finishing it but it already takes you around one hour to see it all.

A minor detail: it's amazing the ammount of rubbish and statues already broken that you can find in a place called 'The Garden of Peace' that even didn't open yet!!! Shame...

Totaly worth it guys!!

See more

Dj Akman Feat Son Nefes - Birakma Beni
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Dj Akman Feat Son Nefes - Yollar Tükenmedi
dj akman ft son nefes - yikilmak yok oyle
Dj Akman ft. Son Nefes - Fidayda
Son Nefes - Adim Son Nefes
Son Nefes - Alo Amca
Son Nefes - Anadolu Style deel 1 (demo)
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Son nefes - anlat bana
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Son Nefes - Duman Gözlüm
Son Nefes - Een Lach Van Jou
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Son Nefes - Halayimiz Bitmesin
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Son Nefes - Kara Gozlum
son nefes - kursun
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Son Nefes - Mezarimi Hazirlayin
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Son Nefes - Nefes Nefese Demo
Son Nefes - Nereye Kadar
Son Nefes - Niye Gittin
Son Nefes - Rapin Kirali Burda (Demo)
Son Nefes - Saril Bana
SoN NeFeS - SeNiN iCiN HaYKiRDiM
Son Nefes - Serefimle Yasarim
Son Nefes - Ses Ver Kalbime
Son Nefes - Sevdiklerimi Özledim
Son Nefes - Seven Yurek Unuturmu
Son Nefes - Seytana Uyan Bizden Degildir
Son Nefes - Sira Geldi Sana
Son Nefes - Sizin Olsun Yalan Dunya
Son Nefes - Tatlim
Son Nefes - Tek Sevdigimsin
Son Nefes - Unutma
Son Nefes - Vatan için
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Son Nefes - Vatanim
Son Nefes - Vecht Voor Je Geluk
Son Nefes - Ware Liefde
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Son Nefes - Zware Tijden
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Son Nefes & Intihar - Herseyin Sonunda
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Son Nefes Feat DJ Arda D - Hayati Sevemedim
son nefes feat dj oxigan - iste ben burdayim
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Son_Nefes_&_Mc_Ecel_-_Unutamam_Seni_
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Son_Nefes - Birakip Gittin
Son_Nefes - Bu Kalp Varya
Son_Nefes - Canima Hatira
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Son_Nefes - Eindhoven Weert
Son_Nefes - Hayata Hediyem Olsun
Son_Nefes - Kör Gözlerim Arasin
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Son_Nefes - Olulerin Tadi
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son_nefes - sonu gelecektir
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TIKLA İNDİR

"Todos os Budas, Honrados Duplamente Realizados,
sabem que todos os fenômenos são eternamente desprovidos de uma natureza.
A semente do estado de Buda germina das causas e condições;
sendo assim, eles pregam o Veículo Único.

Esta Lei permanece latente e imutável,
residindo eternamente nos aspectos mundanos.
Alcançando a compreensão disto no Lugar da Iluminação,
o Mestre Guia ensina-o através dos meios hábeis".

Este ensino foi exaltado por todos os Budas das dez direções que com o som Brahma bradaram:

‘Excelente, Oh Shakyamuni,
Supremo Mestre Guia.
Tendo atingido a Lei insuperável,
você segue o exemplo de todos os Budas,
ao empregar o poder dos meios hábeis.
Igualmente, nós também obtivemos essa Lei insuperável,
a mais maravilhosa.
Para os vários tipos de seres viventes,
fizemos distinções e ensinamos os Três Veículos.
Aqueles de pouca capacidade,
que se comprazem nas leis inferiores,
não compreendem que eles podem tornar-se Budas.
Essa é a razão de usarmos os meios hábeis,
para fazer distinções e ensinar os vários objetivos.
Mas, embora Três Veículos sejam ensinados,
o são unicamente em prol da instrução de Bodhisattvas’.

Este é chamado O Giro da Roda da Lei.

Excerto do CAP. 02 - Meios Hábeis, pág. 53.

Muito interessante também, veja
Meios Hábeis do Buda
O Pedido do Brahma Buda
no blog Samsara.

Desde que me apunté a mi clase de Yoga supuse que eso es lo que tenía que hacer, porque realmente me apetecía. Ahora veo que eso es lo que necesitaba hacer en este momento de mi vida. Sólo llevo dos semanas y después del bloqueo inicial a dejar la mente en blanco, estoy cogiendo práctica. Todas las noches justo antes de dormirme hago unas pocas respiraciones, primero el ritmo cardiaco es alto. Es normal, he estado tanto tiempo en un estado de tensión y estrés que mi propio cuerpo (aunque empiezo a sospechar que en concreto es mi mente) se pone en alerta ante esta nueva sensación de relajación. Pero poco a poco quito el foco de atención ante ese primer miedo, ese bloqueo inicial a relajarme, y comienzo a poder poner la mente en blanco. Sí, totalmente en blanco. No es que deje de pensar, porque eso lo veo, por lo menos ahora, imposible. El caso es que puedo observar desde fuera esos pensamientos, como "ver los toros desde la barrera", y no les presto atención. Durante unos minutos los pensamientos siguen y siguen aflorando en mi mente en plan machacón. Incluso algunos de miedo.

Pero, como me dijo mi estupendo profesor, Ramiro, yo sigo a lo mio, desde la conciencia, pensando en una bola blanca que crece. Me concentro, mientras observo la respiración. Y comienzo a colocar pensamientos positivos, conscientes, en mi mente. "Estoy relajada, yo puedo relajarme, estoy tranquila, soy feliz, gracias por ser feliz..." Y cosas por el estilo. Sé que debería tener un mantra, pero aún no puedo controlar el pensamiento para que sólo vaya en una dirección. Todo se andará. Realmente estas noches haciendo este estupendo ejercicio están siendo muy beneficiosas, porque por la mañana me levanto, sin provocarlo, con una sonrisa y descansada.

La constancia no es una de mis virtudes, pero voy a concentrarme para conseguir que sea mi aliada. Quien sabe, quzá concentrándome en estas sensaciones de paz, alegría y bienestar atraiga a una pareja a mi lado. Ah! y más amigos divertidos.... todo se andará.

Namasté

.

Tú y yo somos uno mismo

Texto y Fotos Alonso Vera Cantú

Ya lo dijeron los griegos, y lo comprobó el físico Richard Feynman, que todas las cosas están hechas de átomos. Todas. No sólo mi silla y tu periódico, sino tú y yo, y todo aquello entre nosotros está constituido por “pequeñas masas” que se reúnen de a dos o más en algo conocido como moléculas por cantidades que ni podemos imaginar –un centímetro cúbico contiene 45,000 millones de millones de moléculas-. Estas moléculas son fantásticamente duraderas, y se reciclan. De ahí la teoría que todos estamos conformados por átomos que antes pertenecieron a una estrella fugaz, la banqueta y miles de cuerpos y organismos antes de convertirse en nosotros. Todos somos atómicamente numerosos y vigorosamente reciclados al morir, y un gran número de nuestro átomos –se ha sido sugerido que hasta mil millones- pertenecieron a Shakespeare, Buda, Marco Polo, Beethoven o cualquiera que sea tu personalidad histórica favorita. De ahí también, creo yo, nace la frase bíblica: “ama a tu prójimo como a ti mismo” porque, en esencia y sin necesidad de una lectura religiosa, ES lo mismo que tú.

Ir cuando no vayas

Podemos tener una noción particular o prejuicio de lo que Israel y los Territorios Palestinos son y dejan de ser, pero es mejor dejar en casa las preconcepciones de epifanía política y espiritual para no perderse lo más fascinante que hay en éste moderno país o territorio de contrastes, ésta Tierra Prometida, cuna de Jesucristo, bomba de tiempo, o lo que decidas que es.

Mucho me advertían mis colegas de no viajar a Israel en época de celebraciones religiosas, en inclusive de no hacerlo. Sin embargo, mi ruta y mi corazón me exigían ser partícipe del espectáculo que allí acontece y atañe a la tan hermosa y por momentos conflictiva diversidad que ampara nuestro planeta. Y así fue como, en plena Semana Santa, justo cuando comenzaba el Pésaj –la fiesta judía que rememora el éxodo de Egipto dirigido por Moisés- crucé la frontera desde Jordania luego de ser revisado de adentro hacia fuera, y me encontré que no había medios de transporte disponibles para llegar a ninguna parte. Apenas fruncía el ceño a manera de titubeo cuando un rostro por demás amable me preguntaba en cinco idiomas si necesitaba algo. “Sí, un aventón, a donde sea”. 

Tan familiar como extraño

Política y religión son los temas que uno evita, o debiera hacerlo, cuando apenas llega a un país del cual no tiene otra referencia que la mediática o la comprometida. Mis tres nuevos amigos y la pequeña niña, hija de alguno de ellos, fue lo primero que calaron: “¿eres político?”. No entendí, hasta que luego de un tramo de carretera supuse no se referían a sí ocupaba un curul en casa. Y rompí el silencio diciendo “cómo no ser político al estar aquí, donde hacer o decir algo es tan político como dejar de hacerlo o decirlo”. Al parecer mi razonamiento les pareció sensato, y nos detuvimos a comer en un poblado aledaño al Banco Oeste, donde el árabe era la lengua y el hummus una delicia.

Habían pasado dos horas, docenas de kilómetros de hortalizas y poblados bíblicos y yo no tenía idea de dónde ni con quién estaba. Sabía que Talila era fotógrafa, Lymor abogado defensor de los derechos humanos de los palestinos y Esteban programador, y que la niña era de ella con alguno de ellos. Sabía cómo me llamaba y que se suponía estaba en un estado conformado hace 50 años por inspiración del movimiento sionista convocado en las cafeterías de Viena por Theodor Herzl. No más. El resto que supuse o creí saber se desvanecía a cada trecho. Me encontraba, de nuevo, en el confortable regazo materno, flotando en líquido amniótico sin idea del acontecer en el mundo exterior.

Tu casa es mi casa

Caída la tarde llegamos a la ciudad de Haifa y, luego de visitarla, descendimos por la costa rumbo a Tel Aviv. Mirando el Mediterráneo suspiré tras meses de gozar la severidad del desierto. “Quieres nadar”, me preguntó Talila, y al ver mi gesto aparcó el auto para que me diera un baño que me supo a purificación. A la distancia se levantaba un imponente reactor nuclear que me recordó la caricatura que miro desde la infancia. Mi cabeza no me permitía hacer otra relación. Nunca había visto uno en carne propia, pero pensé en la voz de Einstein advirtiendo sobre las amenazas del empleo de los átomos, los mismos, pero en una versión física menos poética, que los mentados en mi introducción. “Es la póliza de seguro de éste país”, me dijo Lymor, no sin un dejo de reconcomio.

Salí del agua y dejé que la fresca brisa de primavera secara mi cuerpo antes de proseguir a la moderna Tel Aviv, donde me invitaron a pasar la noche en su casa en el vecino puerto de Yafo. A la mañana siguiente Lymor me llevó a descubrir este barrio de ambiente árabe que tanto ha sido conquistado y reconquistado a lo largo de su larga historia, con sus bazares y fortines, en donde familias judías y musulmanas convivían en santa paz. “Este es un gran ejemplo de que puede haber concordia ¿no?”, me dijo con los ojos humedecidos y la voz entrecortada mi nuevo hermano judío, proveniente de Alemania, que se instaló en Israel hace 5 años para defender su causa. “Aquí no hay buenos ni malos”, concluyó, “y la paz es posible si a pesar de las particularidades nos reconocemos como iguales”. Hace una semana Lymor recibió un balazo en la cabeza mientras se demostraba pacíficamente en un poblado del Banco Oeste. Un solado israelí le disparó una bala de hule a diez metros perforándole el cráneo, y aunque se mantiene con vida está en condiciones que desconozco. Su mensaje lo sobrevive. Muchas fueron las experiencias en Israel, mientras tanto gracias, y hasta la próxima.

To start the discussion, I’ll just say that east and west can vary immensely in terrain. I often tell my clients that it’s as if God drew a line through Central Texas, then plopped Interstate 35 down on it and declared that everything east would be designated as farmland and everything west would be the hill country (or at least the gateway into the hill country). North and South are also different. Traditionally, Austin’s major growth has been to the Northwest, but in the past decade, we’ve also seen substantial growth in both Kyle and Buda to the South. Both of these small cities are essentially split in half by Interstate 35 and for the most part, sit in the plains with minimal natural vegetation, particularly to the east of I-35. West of I-35, you can find areas that are heavily wooded, but you have to get a few miles west toward Driftwood and Dripping Springs.

Dripping Springs
Dripping Springs lies in the beautiful Texas Hill Country about 20 miles west of Austin. Most folks consider Dripping Springs to include the entire area that begins just west of Oak Hill and then runs south to Driftwood, west beyond Dripping Springs, and north to just west of the lake where Hamilton Pool Road and Ranch Road 12 intersect. Within its city limit, the Dripping Springs population is slightly over 2,000 although its extraterritorial jurisdiction (ETJ) is home to nearly 20,000. The city offers an exceptional school system, affordable living, and reasonable proximity to both Austin and San Antonio.

This entire area consists of heavily wooded hills, so many properties offer spectacular panoramic views of the Hill Country. In this area, you’ll also find plenty of homes that sit on one-half to one plus acres, but you’ll also find master-planned communities, such as Belterra. And it’s also worth mentioning that there’s even a Polo Club, complete with paddocks and boarding facilities.

A few residents have experienced some water issues if their property relies on a well, so it is important to ascertain the depth of the well if you consider purchasing a property in this area. I haven’t personally run across this situation, yet, though. What I have seen (or should I say “smelled”?) is well water that has a high sulfur content. There are solutions to the noxious odor it produces, but it can definitely be an issue in some areas. Distance-wise, this area is pretty close to downtown (unless you get pretty far north or south on RR12), but traffic can be an issue at the interchange in Oak Hill, as the freeway coming out of Austin ends right there. If you would like to know more about the history of Dripping Springs, go to: http://www.drippingspringstx.org/visitor/history.asp

Spicewood
As you move a little further north on the west side of Lake Travis about 22 miles NW of Austin, and 16 miles SE of Marble Falls, you’ll find Spicewood. Spicewood (population approximately 12,000) actually intersects with three different counties: Blanco, Burnet, and Travis and has numerous water boundaries, including Cypress Creek, the Colorado River, Fall Creek, Lake Travis, and the Pedernales River. You’ll find a large number of the homes in Spicewood on half-acre plus lots in hilly, heavily wooded areas. There are some subdivisions where builders seem to have taken out more than their fair share of trees, but for the most part, you’ll see woods. Some of these properties also have some spectacular lake views or might even be situated on or near the Pedernales River. Most subdivisions will also include their own marina or lake access and park areas. I wouldn’t recommend this area if you have to commute downtown, but if you’re headed somewhere on the southwest side of town, that trek would be pretty easy. For more information about Spicewood, go to: http://www.spicewoodtx.us/

Lakeway at Lake Travis
The south side of Lake Travis and Lakeway have grown so much in the last 20 years, it’s almost unrecognizable. I can remember when we thought it was just a subdivision out in the “sticks” – but it is now a thriving metropolis on its own, especially with the recent addition of the Hill Country Galleria Mall at the intersection of RR 620 and Hwy 71. The 2000 census put the population at 8,006 – but this area has grown by leaps and bounds since then! With a median household income in the six figure range, this side of the lake is known for its sophistication, hills, and fabulous homes. In the last 5 to 10 years, an unbelievable number of luxury homes have been built here and they just keep on coming! And neighborhoods vary immensely. There are a few areas where you can find homes on lots that are half acre or greater, but nearer the lake, you’re more likely to be living in a stereotypical subdivision, unless you approach the million dollar mark. For more information about Lakeway, go to: http://cityoflakeway.com/

Round Rock
Head north on Loop 1 or I-35 and you’ll run into Round Rock. (It is actually about 15 miles north of downtown Austin.) I can remember when Round Rock seemed like it was nothing more than a couple of office buildings and a Taco Bell along Interstate 35 and today it boasts a population of almost 100,000 people! In Round Rock, you’ll now find many of the popular, local restaurants of Austin, too. And don’t forget, it also has Dell Diamond and highly acclaimed schools. You’ll also get a lot more house for your money here than you would in Austin, so its popularity continues to grow.

In Round Rock, the east/west terrain differences are really obvious. With the exception of a few subdivisions like Forest Creek, Forest Ridge, and Oak Bluff, east Round Rock lacks the mature trees you’ll find in west Round Rock. Oddly enough, school rankings also tend to be considerably higher in west Round Rock, but although still less expensive than Austin, as a general rule, homes are slightly more expensive in west Round Rock than they are in east Round Rock. To learn more about Round Rock, go to: http://www.roundrockchamber.org/About-Round-Rock.4.0.html

Cedar Park
Just west of Round Rock is Cedar Park with a population of approximately 54,000. Cedar Park has some nice residential areas at reasonable prices, but outside of the area immediately surrounding Lakeline Mall, there’s not much retail available in Cedar Park unless you count the older strip malls and shops along Hwy 183. For more information about Cedar Park, go to: http://www.cedarparktx.us/cp/default.aspx

Lago Vista
Head west on 1431 past Cedar Park about 14 miles and you’ll come to Lago Vista which is on the north side of the lake. Take Lohmans Ford Crossing down to the subdivision of Lago Vista (Lago Vista is also the name of the town with a population of approximately 6,000) or keep going on Lohmans Ford until you get to Point Venture where the lake views are spectacular views across to Lakeway. At Point Venture and Lago Vista, you’ll find a lot more privacy and prices that are much lower than the south side of the lake. In my opinion, these areas are good investments, because if you want property on or near the lake, the south side is quickly becoming saturated, so this side has nowhere to go but UP! And the retail that has been so desperately needed in the area is finally beginning to make its arrival, too! To learn more about Lago Vista, visit: http://lagovistatexas.org/.

Leander
When you head back toward civilization, you’ll find Leander just north of Cedar Park. Leander is another area where you can get a lot more for your money because it has traditionally been so far out. But keep in mind that Austin is getting light rail that is supposed to be available the end of 2008, and the train starts in Leander – as will the 183A tollway, eventually. Both of these factors will change commuters’ lives drastically. AND I suspect, with the price of gasoline these days, the light rail might actually be used, too!

Just driving through, you probably wouldn’t guess this, but Leander also has some neighborhoods that offer some really incredible hill country views. Vista Ridge is an older, acreage neighborhood that borders Cedar Park and Leander; then there’s the Grand Mesa at Crystal Falls. The panoramic views there are spectacular! For more information about Leander, go to: http://www.leandertx.org/.

Liberty Hill
Just north of Leander is the small town of Liberty Hill; although, it, too is growing. It offers folks a lot of different types and sizes of acreage at a relative bargain and its schools are ranked among some of the best in the area, too. Unfortunately, some feel the town lacks personality and could use some “cleaning up” – but if you’re looking for acreage, I wouldn’t dismiss it. To learn more about Liberty Hill, go to: http://www.ci.liberty-hill.tx.us/

Georgetown
One of the best areas for acreage or just large, estate lots, is Georgetown – just east of Liberty Hill and north of Round Rock. Georgetown has been ranked as the number one destination for retiring seniors and Fortune Magazine recently named it as the 2nd best place in the country to “live and launch”. But this doesn’t mean that its appeal is limited to mature adults. Texas Monthly just voted the playscape in Georgetown’s beautiful San Gabriel River Park as the best in the state! If you crave privacy or just room to roam, you really need to explore options in Georgetown. The area is literally LOADED with subdivisions that offer anywhere from one half to 10 acres of land. The subdivisions in Georgetown range from rustic to absolutely prestigious and you’ll find many that have views of Lake Georgetown or the San Gabriel River – not to mention the hill country views that can be quite grand. And with the new extension of FM 734 (aka Parmer Rd. or Ronald Reagan Parkway), it is even more accessible to Austin. This new extension allows you to take a virtually traffic-free, scenic drive through the hill country from north Austin to Georgetown in under 20 minutes – and you never have to fight the traffic that’s typical on 183 or Interstate 35.

In addition to offering wonderful estate type subdivisions and numerous age restricted communities, you’ll be hard pressed to find a place more charming. It is the county seat for Williamson County and the courthouse square offers great antique shops, spas, and restaurants for all budgets. For more information regarding Georgetown, visit: http://www.georgetown.org/

Hutto
Directly east of Round Rock is Hutto. Hutto is a small town and farming community with a lot of affordable housing at a pretty good value, but unfortunately the train runs right through the middle of the entire town, causing a little bit of a “noise nuisance” that some folks can’t get past. But, if you like a small town feel with all the conveniences of a city, be sure to check it out! To learn more about Hutto, go to: http://www.huttotx.gov/

Pflugerville
Just south and slightly to the west of Hutto is Pflugerville. Pflugerville has long been known for its housing value, partially because there was no retail there, so it was definitely a bedroom community for commuters only; however, retail and the tollways have begun to make their presence known and it’s changing the landscape of Pflugerville both figuratively and literally! I should also mention that if you’re concerned about taxes, (and who isn’t these days?) play close attention to the rates in the subdivision you’re interested in. The MUDs in some areas of Pflugerville have resulted in pretty high tax rates. Learn more about Pflugerville at: http://www.cityofpflugerville.com/index.asp?nid=8

Manor
Take 290 east of Austin and you’ll run into Manor. Manor has always been known as farmland and horse country and nothing much has changed here, except that is has added several subdivisions that boosted growth pretty significantly in the last decade. Shadowglen is a master planned community in Manor, complete with golf course, that has won several awards for its well thought out design! Visit http://www.epodunk.com/cgi-bin/genInfo.php?locIndex=26743 to learn more about Manor.

Bastrop
From south Austin, take Highway 71 east and you’ll be pretty surprised by what you find in Bastrop. Bastrop sits along the Colorado River in what is referred to as the Lost Pines area and it is beautiful. For a small town, it’s holding its own when it comes to managing growth and adding a fair balance of retail. It’s not a thriving metropolis by any means, but if you’re looking for a house with half to several acres, Bastrop and areas just west of there can be a real bargain. Communities like The Colony, The Forest at Colorado Crossing and Homestead at Hobbs Creek (actually in Cedar Creek) are pretty easy commutes into Austin. I wouldn’t recommend it if you work north and have to be there on a daily basis, but south Austin and downtown are pretty “do-able”.

If you want to go a little more rustic, and don’t have to do a daily drive to Austin, Tahitian Village will make you feel like you’re in a valley somewhere in the Rockies. There are some beautiful, affordable homes in here, they just have “lawns” that are less manicured and more natural than many areas – with large forest areas between most of the homes. Colo Vista is another nice area. Both of these areas have golf courses, too. To learn more about Bastrop, go to: http://www.bastroptexas.net/

As you can see, there is considerable difference between the eastern and western regions surrounding Austin. If you want to know more the neighborhoods within Austin, check out my blog about that.

Sidharta Gautama, o Buda

COMMON NAMES

Cannabus, Marihuana, Pot, Weed, Grass, Mary Jane, Dope, Grass, Doobie, Bud, Ganja, Hashish, Hash, Bhang, Doesha, Doobage, Sweet Green, Dank, Sensamillya, Buda, Budage

EFFECTS CLASSIFICATION
Intoxicant, Stimulant, Psychedelic, Depressant
DESCRIPTION

Cannabis, a fast-growing bushy annual with dense sticky flowers, produces the psychoactive THC. It is the most widely used illegal psychoactive and has a long history of medicinal, recreational, and industrial use. The fibrous stalks of the plant are used to produce clothing and rope. Cannabis grows wild in many of the tropic and temperate areas of the world. It is cultivated both indoors and out for the production of its flowering tops. The most commonly used form of cannabis are the leaves and flowering tops (buds) which may be either smoked or eaten. It also comes in a more concentrated resinous form called hashish, and as a sticky black liquid called hash oil. There are three distinct species of cannabis: Cannabis sativa, Cannabis indica, and Cannabis ruderalis. The cannabis plant has been used both medicinally and recreationally for thousands of years. It wasn't until the early 19th century that the use of cannabis spread from China and the Middle East to the population of Europe and then to America in the middle of the century. Cannabis was made illegal in the U.S. in 1937 and has continued to be a popular recreational substance since that time.
EFFECTS

When smoked, the effects of cannabis begin almost immediately. When eaten the effects can take 1 to 2 hours to manifest, based primarily on how much food is in the stomach. The effects of smoked cannabis peak after about 20 minutes and last for 1-2 hours. When eaten, the effects will peak more slowly and primary effects may last for 3-4 hours. The primary effects sought by those using cannabis recreationally are:

• giggling
• euphoria
• relaxation
• talkativeness
• increased appetite
• a sense of well-being
• changes in perception
• sense of time is altered
• increased appreciation of music
• mild to intense closed-eye visual
• subtle changes in thought and expression
• mild enhancement of senses (smell, taste, hearing)
• attention span and memory are frequently affected
• thought processes and mental perception may be significantly altered

How to identify marijuana addiction: http://www.freedomtreatmentcenter.com/marijuana-addiction-identification/

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Budapest ist die Hauptstadt von Ungarn und mit rund 1,7 Mio. Einwohnern auch die größte Stadt des Landes. Das rechte/westliche Gebiet von Budapest heißt "Buda", das östliche/linke "Pest", getrennt werden die beiden Stadtteile durch die Donau. Auf dem ersten Foto ist das Parlament zu sehen, auf dem dritten die Kettenbrücken - die älteste der insgesamt neun Budapester Brücken über die Donau.

Equipment: Canon EOS300D
Tv: Photo 1: 1/320 sec | Photo 2: 1/200 sec | Photo 3: 1/250
Av: Photo 1: f9 | Photo 2: f7 | Photo 3: f8
Focal lenght: Photo 1/2: 135mm | Photo 3: 80mm
Flash: Not fired
Date: July 2008
Location: Budapest (Hungary)
Map

Afshar agregó que la estatua estaba gravemente dañada. Los demás restos hallados se remontan al los períodos budista e islámico. El funcionario agregó que hay grandes posibilidades de hallar la escultura del Buda "gigante dormido", que según la tradición fue vista siglos atrás por un peregrino chino y tendría 300 metros de altura. Las estatuas de los Buda se encuentran en la provincia de Bamiyan, centro del país, donde en 2001 los talibanes, pese a los pedidos de organismos internacionales, destruyeron dos enormes estatuas de Buda de pie, esculpidos en la roca, por considerarlos "ofensivos para el Islam".

Fuente: emol.com

Pra quem não conhece o programa, o Sr. Noir vai até a casa dos participantes do canal FIZTV, e entrevista-os, e claro, também faz um vídeo com ele! Não foi diferente com o pessoal do Galo Frito, o Sr. Noir gravou um curta "espacial" que eu garanto que estará muito bom mesmo! O programa vai ao ar agora em setembro, quando estiver no site, com certeza haverá um link aqui no blog para vocês verem!

PS: Novidades essa semana, e claro, AMANHÃ TEM GALO FRITO!