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Humanity

Hand Gestures You Need to Know

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Wave All Your Fingers at Your Neighbors Day.

Yes, today is another strange day, so kindly, wave at your neighbor. Not that way, even if you are mad, just use all your fingers.

Hand gestures have been a form of communication since man was on this earth. Without speech, we used hand gestures. Even with speech we still use our hands. Here are some ways that are good and some not so good ways to use your hands, but not today. Keep it for another day. Behave!

  • Clenched fist: is used as a gesture of defiance or solidarity.
  • Benediction and blessing: The benediction gesture is a raised right hand with the ring and little finger fingers touching the palm, while the middle and index fingers remain raised.
  • Blah-blah: The fingers are kept straight and together, held horizontal, while the thumb points downwards. The fingers and thumb then snap together repeatedly to suggest a mouth talking.
  • Check, please: This gesture, used to mean that a diner wishes to pay the bill and depart, done by touching the index finger and thumb together and “writing”.
  • Crossed fingers: are used to superstitiously wish for good luck or to nullify a promise.
  • Cuckoo sign: touched or screw loose. In North America, making a circling motion of the index finger at the ear or side of the head signifies that the person “has a screw loose”.
  • Middle finger salute: The finger is an obscene hand gesture used in much of Western culture.
  • High five: slapping the palms together.
  • Fist bump: just what it says for brotherhood.
  • Hitchhiking: thumb out.
  • Money sign: with thumb and two first fingers rubbing together.
  • Patience: thumb and next two fingers together and the whole hand is raised up and down three times in a sign of wait, be patient.
  • Talk to the hand: extending the open palm away from you towards the other person.
  • V sign, peace: index and middle fingers lifted up in and open.
  • Thumbs up: assent and approval.
  • Thumb down: means hate it, don’t approve or kill the contestant in the arena.
  • Shaka: sign of Hawaii salute, three middle fingers down, thumb and pinky up and waggle the hand.

Silence in Harbin Hot Springs

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I spent three days in silence at Harbin Hot Springs. Harbin was the easiest place to do that since it is a retreat where people go to meditate, think and soak in the hot springs of Middletown, CA.

It was not so much that I had a lot to say, no; it was the habit of commenting on everything. Finding out that most of what I say to my husband was unnecessary, was a real slap in the face. Being silent for three days gave me the opportunity to discover the absurdity of my conversations.

Finding out that I comment, non stop, on things around us, even people and nonsensical subjects, even. While silence made me realize that my observations were not necessary. The earth will still turn on its axis, without them. The sun, will still rise in the east, and set in the west, without, my expletives.

Silence brought on thoughtfulness and writing. Finding myself unable to communicate abruptly, everything was calculated. When I wrote my husband, it was to actually say something that needed to be said; like, let’s eat, not she looks like a frog.

It curbed my tongue, it curbed my thoughts. Ugly thoughts, were cut short, since there was no avenue for them. If my mind brought up vileness, it had to clear it up quickly, since it would have had to stay inside and fester. A true cleansing from the inside out.

I still practice silence. Every few weeks, I take a break, and shut up! I do not, have to be, at the Harbin quiet, to do it. No excuses, I just do it.

Silence is golden.

Here’s the link to check out the comfort of Harbin Hot Springs.

Queen of Returns

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Dear Baba Rumcake,

Why do so many people feel guilty & ashamed for returning things back to the stores? Or is it fear of intimidation by the bitchy sales people?

I’m the queen of returns. Anything wrong with that?
Queen of Returns from Quebec

Dear QoR,

Now, if you legitimately need to return things that are the wrong size, or the wrong color or whatever, then that would be fine. Returns, are sanctioned, when you need to exchange things you do not like, you did not buy or do not fit.

But, I have a feeling, this is not the case here, with you. I imagine, that you return things just because you are bored, or want to, for the fun of shopping without spending the money. The way you asked that question and even your name, suggests, that, this is a hobby.

Unfortunately, it is people like you who spoil it for the rest of us. When you return something, it is a loss to the store. They have to return it, also. When that happens the result is that the prices are increased to cover those losses.

Now, that may seem like nothing to you, since, you enjoy what you do, but the truth is, it makes it hard on everyone else. You seem to find some sort of perverse satisfaction in returning things. I am not sure what the reason is, but you get some obtuse feel, doing it.

Most people are ashamed or guilty returning things, making them feel creepy and weird. Most people buy things to keep them. They truly intended to have them, keep them and use them.

So, do you actually return a bath rug, that you have used, then decided, you do not want anymore? Do you return candle holders, with wax all over it, that other people gave you, that you did not appreciate? Do you return a dress, that you used for a party, then returned the next day?

I imagine that you do. That makes you, unscrupulous, dishonorable and dishonest. But, you get by, and do your thing, not worrying about the “bitchy sales people”.

Blessings on your return escapades.

Baba Rumcake

Remember Remember the Lies of September!

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Cairo in Chaos as Protests Rock Egypt

Remember Remember the  Lies of the eleventh of September!

This here, is not, the mantra, that, the devoid of all ethics and honor, Bush, kept repeating. This is suggested here, as a reminder, to beware of making any decisions based on lies and faulty intel, news reporting.

Before you use this, as an excuse, to “bring democracy” to Egypt, remember, the horrific outcome in Iraq. I thought a reminder is appropriate since it has been in the media quite a bit. Please remember, before you accuse the government of tyranny, what they are dealing with and what they are trying to avoid. Remember, the disgusting, turn of events, where, not only, did we lose our sons, to a liar war, but, we also created a society, ruled by an archaic faith, hell bent, on keeping women and others, who are different, from even surviving.

Remember Remember the lies of the Eleventh of September!

This is not a new battle! Christians, have been persecuted in Egypt for centuries.

I am not a  political activist, never was, I doubt that I ever will be. But, I keep seeing posts and commentary about the uprising in Egypt, the riots, the fires. Who is uprising exactly? Why are we never told who is fighting the government?

Beware “Wag the Dog”! The filtering of incomplete information, the visuals, that Westeners find horrific. I witnessed rioting as a child, and when I was a teenager. Egypt has always rioted, students rioted, lawyers and judges rioted. We have more freedoms, than most of the Middle Eastern countries.

Beware of liars and masqueraders of peace.

For more information:  Virtual Activism

Tantrika in Texas Sunshine

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Dear Baba Rumcake,

A friend was blabbering on how boring “Tantric Sex” is. Not seeming overly sincere, I asked how he got his in-depth knowledge. He said his understanding comes from experts, in men’s magazines. Not an ounce, of personal experience. Sheesh.

Recently, the Internet has been flooded with articles (photos too) on Sting & Trudie Styler and their THIRTY year relationship (including 6 kids) of, sizzling, sex life. I know what tawdry is, but tantra? If Tantra, does that for them, then, I’m:

Tantrika (wanna be) in Texas Sunshine

Dear T. I. T. S.,

Wow,

Your friend is a moron. He is a simpleton who does not want or need to take the time to learn.

What you ask, is very real and widely practiced in the Yoga community. Here are some possbilities and then a real answer.

First, go to your nearest large consumer bookstore ( or search on-line ). Find, all the books, with writhing naked couples, associated with the word “Tantra” or “Tantric Sex”, on the front. Study the back covers of each one, for a minute or so. The juiciest ones have stuff like; “simple, yet powerful exercises”, “a few minutes a day”, “best and hottest techniques”… buy any two of these and glance through the pages of each. Congratulations, you are now a (cough) Western expert in Tantric Sex.

OR do the following in order:

  1. Take a 60 minute Yoga and Pranayama, breathing techniques class, every, single, day, for two years.
  2. For the next two years, 2 hours of daily Yoga & Pranayama practice, and;
  3. Start studying the hundreds of Sutras; Diamond Sutra, Heart Sutra, Yoga Sutra, etc.
  4. OK, now the Kama Sutra, actually READ the text, not just look at the added pictures.

Great, with your Bachelor’s Degree equivalent, you *start* to have the body & mind for the Tantric Texts… Oh, you thought, this was going to be, easy? You thought, there was, a magic pill? Sting, has been practicing for over 20 years, and he, was in great shape (or so he thought) before he and his wife, stepped on the Yogic path.

Oh, and as for that, know it all, friend, does he, pass out, after 15 minutes of sex? Of course he does. Can he have multiple orgasms without ejaculating? Not a chance.

Thankfully, biology takes good care of us. If cavemen did not fall asleep when they spilt their seed, they would have beaten us to death, wanting more. Resulting in killing off, their latest progeny, before, they pop open, their next beer; you know what I mean.

Blessing on your new studies, and do let me know of your progress.
Baba Rumcake