Real Age Calculator

I came across this interesting link yesterday: Real Age Calculator.
Scroll down one page to the actual calculator and answer a series of questions. It is interesting to see how the answers affect the "Real Age". If nothing, it makes you think twice about diet and exercise. There are many aspects of the calculation that are beyond our control, such as family history of heart disease and diabetes, but we can do something about the rest.

Bike ride to Alleghany

Flight data: 63 miles, 5:08/~5:55 ride/total time, 12.3mph average, ~8000ft total climb. From 49, we take the Ridge toward Pike/Alleghany. Just before Alleghany (around mile 23), we turn on to Pliocene Ridge Road and continue another 9 miles. At mile 32 Pliocene Ridge Road ends (or turns into dirt road). Views of the buttes from several locations on Pliocene Ridge. Weather is at least 10-15F cooler than Oregon Creek, with an elevation difference of 4600ft.

My first century

Yesterday, on Mother's Day May 13 2007, Bob and I rode my first (his umpteenth) century. We took off around 10am from Ananda Village and rode our bikes to Bassetts and back. I call it the double B century: Bassets with Bob. The weather couldn't have been better, sunny and in the low 70's. The entire ride is absolutely gorgeous. In about 5 miles from our home, we enter into the Tahoe National Forest. We are in the mountains, either descending/ascending to a river canyon or riding in one the entire time. About 30 miles of this ride each way tracks the North Yuba river or one of its tributaries and as we get close to Sierra City and Bassetts, we are riding at the base of the snow-capped Sierra Buttes. Most of the way we are greeted by small and medium-sized waterfalls that make it hard not to stop and enjoy the beauty. We finished it in 7:20/8:20 riding time/total time. It consisted of about 11,000 ft of climbing. JT, Bob and I will do our next century on June 2nd, in Murphy's called the Sierra Century. I will report on that after we finish it. See you in the Sierra's some time.

A Place Called Ananda

It took me years to convince myself that I should start a blog. I don’t necessarily chase the latest technology craze and end up usually waiting for a while until the dust settles and see what remains after that. Finally about a year ago I started a blog, primarily to send news and pictures to friends and family about a trip my wife and I took to India. It was extra effort to post fresh news while traveling, but it was well worth it. And it was much easier than sending individual emails.

A couple of months ago, my dear friend Maria Warner (an Ananda minister and webmaster for ananda.org) approached a few of us about the possibility of an “Ananda blog”, so I jumped on the opportunity. Another friend and webmaster Nabha designed and customized the website. After a few months of testing it, we decided on the name: aplacecalledananda.org. So, now I have two blogs. You probably already noticed the nature of this one, random thoughts and musings, travels, etc. The "Ananda blog" has more of a spiritual flavor, where myself and a few friends share observations from living in a spiritual community. I look forward to sharing with you in both places.

Christmas Eve at Ananda

We had our traditional Christmas Eve service at Ananda Village. Our dear friend Lila Devi, who was the mastermind of the evening, weaved the story of the birth of Jesus with stories, music and theatre. It was magical and very moving. The community center was filled with residents and many guests. The evening ended with offering of candles to the baby Jesus, while Victorian Singers serenaded us with traditional Christmas carols.

Merry Christmas everybody

The Drifters’ version of White Christmas with flash animation of Santa and his reindeer.

Putting Things Into Perspective [of Time]

This great little short animation, Das Rad (The Wheel), was a 2003 Academy Award nominee for best animated short film. It makes a lot more sense if you are familiar with the Yuga Cycles or if you read this book: "The Lost Star of Myth and Time".
Enjoy the movie.