toasted aryan poundcake, anyone?

In August 1914 the German military systematically destroyed Leuven and expelled the entire population of 10,000.  St Peters church was heavily damaged.  In World War 2 the city was attacked again and the church as well suffered heavy damage. 

Does it come as any surprise that people who suffer  from war change the way they believe, moving towards skepticism, agnosticism and atheism,   And when churches are attacked in war is there something in church laws that declare a church to be ‘dead’, that is without the presence of the Spirit?  I don’t know, maybe, but one thing is for sure, according to the Wikipedia history St. Peters never served the Catholic community the way a church ought to. And that is a shame.

My space heater sputters empty.  I have to wear gloves, my coffee didn’t stay hot for very long, the sun is out it is about 40 degree now.  Thick light greenish mucus sticks and slides in and out of my nasal cavities and ya it sounds disgusting, the Afghans poo poo public spitting and nose blowing and they must have these problems what do they do when they’re in public and have to unload a big fat ball of ick, I don’t know.

The Tibetans  ‘The Auspicious or Endless Knot is a geometric diagram which symbolizes the nature of reality where everything is interrelated and only exists as part of a web of karma and its effect. Having no beginning or end, it also represents the infinite wisdom of the Buddha, and the union of compassion and wisdom. Also, it represents the illusory character of time, and long life as it is endless.’

I was asked the meaning of the symbol that hangs in front of the door.  I guess I should know it too and I’d guess any similarities with the Celtic is simply a case of artistic and mystic trade like the Israelis doing business in Durbar Square 3000 years ago. 

The Irish   The Celtic knot symbol, is also referred to as the mystic knot, or the endless knot. The more esoteric or spiritual meaning of this symbol eludes to beginnings and endings. In viewing these beautiful knots, we cannot see a beginning or and end, and therefore we are reminded of the timeless nature of our spirit. This translation harkens to our most primal selves as we contemplate the infinite cycles of birth and rebirth in both physical and ethereal realms.

A less spiritual representation is also related to the knots endless nature. Due to it's infinite path, the Celtic knot can represent an uninterrupted life cycle. Some may use this symbol as a charm of sorts - warding against sickness or setbacks that might interfere with an otherwise calm and stable life. In this vein, these knots are used as emblems, which can be found in jewelry, clothing, or home décor. In ancient times, gifts adorned with mystic knots would be given with best wishes of longevity, or luck with new endeavors.

11:14pm—I taught one class this afternoon and now I have three days coming off.  Maybe this is a good time to go to Kabul, no?

1/21/16

I handed my colleague slices of toasted pound cake with a dribbling of loose running cherry jam and I told him I ate the exact kind of cake when I was growing up. 

Of course my mother ate it when she was a kid, purchased at the local German bakery across from Fordham or it was made in her mother’s kitchen, the recipe that traveled by boat from Breven and perhaps by horse from the dark forests of Westphalia.

Aryan cuisine.  Rezak cooks meat and potatoes the way my mother cooked meat when she used the slow cooking methods and this evening I ate spinach the way she served it.  I also toasted some roti bread in olive oil and tossed sugar on it.  

I'm sure rotis made it to Bavaria with descendants of Alexander's army and concubines  turned them into pancakes. 

I am a Celtic Aryan. 

Is this a  somewhat rash conclusion?