For those of you who may actually be reading my posts (and I am honored) don’t misinterpret from my recent post or this one that I am depressed or loosing hope. Of course I am terribly disappointed in The President, The Congress, The American people and the lack of general intelligence of The Human Race but outside of that I am very well indeed.


Does this guy look stressed?

Before I leave that however I would like you to see this photo (not mine) of the waves breaking on Alabama shores. Not to mention the “peripheral damage” to turtles, sharks, whales, dolphins…..and PLANKTON!!


This is really, really not good!

The BP debacle is only a forerunner of the very real potential for global disaster unless we stop this ludicrous dependence on oil. As a retired Biology Professor I am amazed at the lack of understanding by the common folk of how this planet actually works. The agenda of The Rich and Powerful is so devoid of planetary sensitivity that they are not even worth mentioning but what the hell is being taught in Biology classes that the Common folk aren’t incensed? What don’t they understand?? It’s all so damn simple!

Well I’m incensed. There are plans to build three new marinas (see restaurants, hotels, upscale houses) down here within 30 miles of my Humpback grounds…..and golf courses too….for Gringos! I’m fighting it every way I can with a lot of other folks but we’er talking BIG MONEY here…corporate money. The depth of my hatred for these people and their greed has only grown over the years and I will fight them as long as I am alive.

Today’s diatribe is a result of two things; a report on the damage to the shark population from the oil “leak” and seeing that The Supreme Court of The US has struck down the gun control law in Chicago as unconstitutional. Over 500 people murdered in Chicago last year and it makes sense to provide more easy access to handguns?? I’ve got to stop looking at CNN.

OK, so the cool part again. My friend Antonio saw a Humpback going south in front of El Cardonal about two weeks ago. Very late in the season for a whale to still be here, wish I could have seen it. I still go out to The Whale Zone occasionally thinking I may have an adventure but not much out there right now.

The insect world continues to be moderate even with the increased temperature and humidity. More flies for sure but they and the mosquitos so far are manageable. No scorpions around my place yet….very cool. I had a two day ant war in the trailer but it seems I am victorious. These aren’t my red ant friends but these frantic small black ants that get everywhere. I did see a small group of Dragon Flies going north yesterday but I don’t think it’s migration time yet. No millipede swarm yet either.

My two Iguanas are doing well and seem to be enjoying the fruit slices I put out for them in the morning. I can get within about 2 feet of them now before they scamper into their holes but I am working on a closer relationship.

Here is the third of my Pagan Symbol series that I paint on rocks to have around my place. Although the first explanation of it is the popular one it is also very possible that it actually describes the seasons (second pic). I took the symbol from the net. It's on an old piece of parchment housed at The Icelandic Museum. I copied it as authentically as I could so it is not perfect geometrically.



The traditional Occult Symbol – Aegishjalmur commonly referred to as the “helm of awe” is an ancient Scandinavian runic Viking symbol. The symbol is said be worn over the forehead or used as a tattoo. In history it was said to be scratched or drawn on the inside of one’s battle helmet to give the wielder power. Its magical purpose is said to be protection and “irresistibility” in battle.
Within the symbol is Algiz as shown by the image which is the rune of protection. In the center is the circle most likely representing oneself surrounded by protective energy. This was a very powerful symbol from the pagan era, it is indicated to be used in battle as well as protecting the wielder in general from magical or physical attack including the abuse of power.



And here is another recent crop circle.


June 25th, 2010, England

Dream PEACE into existence and call upon the ANCIENT POWERS. Nam Myoho Renge Kyo.

And here are two devoted, and lovely, Whale Protector friends. Line Bork on the left and my 2009 intern, Elizabeth Plumb on the right (not in research gear)….Goddess bless you ladies!


The "light" that these young women bring into my life is no little matter.

It seems that all my life I have been straddling a fence ("Can you bear the beauty with the pain"). There has always been and there continues to be a part of me that is absolutely enraged with the ignorance, greed and evil that was ramped in the world I was born into (1941) and that at 68 I still find determining the future. I was told by my mother that the first two years of my life were spent in a “War Zone” in which my people (The Estonians) were targets for both sides during The “Great War”.


Tallinn, Estonia, city of my birth

Maybe I was “shell shocked”, I really don’t know. What I do know is that the global system that is in effect at the present time (Capitalism, phony Democracy and Corporate Power) is corrupt and destined for failure (thank the Gods)!! Although I have become once again an expatriate, and spend little time agonizing over the direction that The US (and it’s whores England & Israel) continues to take, I am kept abreast of events by my son, Zack. Fortunately, my daughter Kersti mellows my temper when it all becomes too depressing.

I feel it is my responsibility as an elder to speak out in support of what I know to be right and good. What is that? Well……realizing WAR ain’t the solution, it’s the problem!! Fossil fuels HAVE TO BE DISCONTINUED as an energy source. Regardless of religious beliefs, POPULATION CONTROL is a must. Perhaps most importantly Corporations ARE NOT INDIVIDUALS and should not be seen as such under the Law.

Well, there you go, my venting. But it’s more than that. It really is something everyone needs to address personally and spiritually. We are allowing our freedoms and our future to be ripped off by unscrupulous men and women who have only one agenda…wealth and power.

OK so now for the good stuff (the other side of my fence straddling). For years my grandfather’s stories about his experiences as a sea captain have been passed on orally. Now we have an Estonian whose grandfather was also a sea captain translating my grandfather’s book, “30 years as a Sea Captain in The Far East”. To say the least it has been a great read so far (half done).


My grandpa Peipa

I have often mentioned my good friend Jorge (George Sievers) in regard to my life down here, well here’s his picture. A good friend and a good man.


Jorge in Colorado

For those of you interested in the crop circle phenomenon check this latest one from England, Yeah, right…..in the dark, totally quiet and overnight.



Here’s a picture of the Summer Solstice Stone I set this morning. It’s the larger one to the left of the yellow marked (Equinox) stone. The large one to the right is The Winter Solstice Stone. These are constants, devoid of influence from men/women and the key to understanding the workings of this planet. That is why humans have celebrated these moments for tens of thousands of years before the concept of one god and a chosen people, whatever race or religion, was forced on us.

People coming, people going. Soon the days will be getting hot and the flow of visitors will become a trickle. The Summer Solstice is just around the corner and it will be time to place the Solstice Stone in The Medicine Wheel.

Not much happening in The Sea right now although some new friends at Lynn's saw a good sized herd of Bottle Nose Dolphin while fishing the other day. I'm spending time as usual....reading, kayaking, swimming etc. Lots of layed back time for sure.

Here's the way my place is looking now-a-days....well, part of it.


Some friends were here a few weeks back and we went out to the reef for some snorkeling. They had a camera so they took these shots. Thanks Laura and Jamie.

Preparing to go in

Taking a look

Visibility not so good but hey?

Did I say "laid back"?

The Baja California Penninsula from Space

I am happy to report that after 10 years of planning to study our reef here I have FINALLY determined the optimum placement of my transect (this is an imaginary line between to stations 150’ apart) and with the help of my very dear friends Alan, Marilyn and Jorge (George Sievers) we have actually placed the anchor stations and I am now ready to begin a “Baseline Survey”………perseverance furthers. Eh?

The Reef from Space

Though I consider the work with my Humpback Friends as my primary conservation contribution at this time in my life, The Reef is possibly a more critical study. We are losing our reefs at a truly alarming rate and need to address this degradation with swift and clear action. A Baseline Survey is the starting point for collecting data that can be used to convince those who are ignorant of the basic dynamics of the Marine World to recognize the seriousness of the situation (BP is a classic example of those who have immense power and are either ignorant or heartless).


I want to thank publicly and personally the help given to me by the aforementioned people (Alan, Marilyn and Jorge) because without their help it would be much, much more difficult. It took 3 days of “teamwork” for the 4 of us to complete the anchoring process and this morning, with the aid of Alan (I couldn’t free dive to the anchor depth without terrible pain to my long ago damaged left ear), we have the transect ready to go. This is going to be great fun and really not difficult work now that the anchors are in place.

Last weekend was Cardonal’s annual fishing tournament and though a good number of boats went out nobody did all that well. In fact the season for fisherman has not been at all good so far this year. Jorge saw some whales that day and so did Vicente. This fired me up for a paddle out to The Whale Zone and damned if I didn’t see a Humpback fluking up about ¼ mile from me. I tried for an intercept but saw no more blows so I just got in some heavy exercise.

"Perla" daughter of one of our village fisherman

I doubt I will be lucky enough to see any more whales for the year but who knows? That is one of the many things I love about being at Sea….you just never know what is going to greet you! The other day while setting the anchors I swam head on (not crashing) into a Sea Turtle and shortly after saw a Zebra Moray Eel. Then I heard Alan and Marilyn announce that there was a Spotted Eagle Ray under them….way cool. It just goes on!!!

It has been a really beautiful month but then when has May not been beautiful? Haven’t been out to Sea much except to do my laps. One has to be a bit careful about now because The Aqua Malas (Portuguese Man O War) are due back. During my beach run this afternoon I saw a number of them at the tide line and my friend Cindy got stung the other day. Their sting is painful!

We are getting some surprisingly strong NW winds right now and for the next few days but it’s all good if you are lucky enough to be here year round like I am now. I can just wait until the next really great day(s).

I am pretty concerned about the oil spill in the Gulf. Interestingly I ran into a fellow on the beach the other day who is a Zoologist for The Louisiana Fishers Dept. He said it was “overstated” and was really not such a big deal. Wouldn’t that be nice if he is right. But then I am always leery of comments made by government officials around something like this. I am often disappointed at the lack of true understanding by those in power of how this planet actually works. Unfortunately this is generally true for the layperson as well. It is not about scientific arrogance, it is about literally being ignorant of the very basics of Biology, Chemistry and Ecology…..frightening really!

Here is the second of my series of Pagan Rock Paintings. I have seen it in a number of places I have traveled and always found it intriguing.

The symbol is known as a Triskel or Triskelion from the Greek, tri = three, skelos = legs. Though thought by some to originate in the 19th century it’s origin actually goes back to Mycenean and possibly Egyptian times, circa 3500 BPE, and perhaps even further. It is found throughout Ireland as a petroglyph in many sacred Pagan localities (ie: Newgrange).

It’s Pagan meaning is still debated by scholars but one interpretation is that it represents Earth, Water and Sky; the three elements considered by many early cultures as providing the spiritual/physical base for all things (this was before Aristotle formalized the concept of Earth, Air, Fire = Energy & Water, circa 2300 BPE). There are many forms of it besides the one here depicted. This was the one that appealed to me most. I chose the colors to represent those three elements.

"Keep on Truckin"

Biggest news of the week down here is that I saw my first Brewer's Blackbird. I saw lots of them in The States of course but this was the first one here. Always a special event to see a new bird species in the yard. Pretty much all the old bird crew is back: Northern Cardinals, Gilla Woodpeckers, Northern Flickers, Hooded Orioles, Scott's Orioles, Cactus Wrens, Grey Thrashers, Common House Finches, Pyrolloxias, Phainopeplas, Verdins, Ash throated Fly Catchers and more. The Osprey family is hunting, the Caracaras scavenging, the Magnificent Frigate Birds cruising…..all very cool!

Went out in my kayak this morning and saw two California Sea Lions and one Bottle Nose Dolphin but that's about it. Though humidity keeps rising, insects still keeping a low profile for which I am grateful.

My good friends Jorge and Cindy arrived the other day and soon we will be going out to the reef to do some survey work, really looking forward to that. The nice thing about an MPA or MMPA (see previous posts) is that all species will be covered so my reef work will be of more value than ever….how delightful! The governor of Baja California Sur will be here in a little over a week and I hope to have a short audience with him re the local environment and it's conservation.


My son Zack did a one on one conference with Marcy Winograd this past weekend as part of her run for congress. Check out her website (winograd4congress.com/) and see my son in action. Obviously I am extremely proud of him and his devotion to this planet and ALL it's species.

In order to try to maintain a 15 min period of every day doing some form of creative work I have started painting Pagan Symbols on rocks. It is not like no one else is doing that; the stores are full of them but I am enjoying the process nonetheless. Each symbol is chosen strictly for it's "invoking power" in me. Here is a photo of my first attempt. It is The Greek "Orphic Egg".


The Orphic Egg
From Bryant's An Analysis of Ancient Mythology

The ancient symbol of the Orphic Mysteries was the serpent-entwined egg, which signified Cosmos as encircled by the fiery Creative Spirit. The egg also represents the soul of the philosopher; the serpent, the Mysteries. At the time of initiation the shell is broken and man emerges from the embryonic state of physical existence wherein he had remained through the fetal period of philosophic regeneration.

I will do others as they strike me. The internet is loaded with information and images so it will be a whole new realm of study for me. As a youth I read Jung's "Man and His Symbols" and was fascinated. How sad that Freud became the father of the psychology movement instead of Jung. How much better off we would be not influenced by Freud's personal guilt ridden reality.

Every day I thank The Great Mystery for giving me this time to converse with my Eternal Soul.

"Nam Myoho Renge Kyo"

So, spring is almost behind us here in El Cardonal. The major plant growth won’t actually begin though until we have had a summer storm or two, then its “jungle” time again. Well….not exactly jungle but green beyond belief when looking out at the desert right now. It will get considerably more brown and dry before then of course. Luckily the 4 years at The Univ. of Arizona back in the 60’s acclimated me to a Sonoran Desert environment so it’s all good by me. The most dramatic period is the Hurricane Season in mid August and thru September when the desert gets rattled by the wind and drenched in water…..very invigorating for the creatures here; animal & plant! I have a big decision to make at that time because my 50th high school reunion is on Sept. 9th right in the peak of the Hurricane Season.


me and my bro Peter, 1956

’60 Varsity Football

I would very much like to attend but I would also feel very bad not to share whatever the season brings with my plant and animal friends, particularly our local community. I am beginning to feel a shared reality with the Mexican People here and do not want to “High Tail It” when it gets a bit dicey.

There are very few whales left in the area, at least that I have seen. Alan saw one breaching about three days ago in front of his place and I have heard that there are still good numbers around San Jose and Cabo but my last 3 kayak trips out to The Whale Zone have been unproductive in the sense of seeing whales….the exercise however, and the stillness, are always a treat.

I had a visit from a dear friend and intern of mine from the 2009 season, Elizabeth Plumb. She is now with Sea Web in Oakland and doing the “good work”. It was a delight to see her and though she had only a bit of time to be here we covered lots of intellectual territory (she is very bright) and even got in a kayak trip out to the WZ and a swim back in over the reef before she had to leave.


Elizabeth 2009 Season

I saw my first Desert Iguana yesterday, which is a sure indicator of the approaching summer. There are 2 different species of bird nesting under my palapa and 2 also under the palapa of my adopted family. I identified 7 species of bird foraging in front of me the other day while breakfasting outside. I can’t imagine why I wasn’t turned on to birds before now; they are so cool!

Northern Cardinal

The insect people haven’t started up yet but I am sure as soon as we get some rain they will be out in good numbers. Will the Dragon Flies migrate by again, will the Millipedes return? These are important questions in my life now. Of course I am interested to see if the use of “Bounce” will actually keep away the Scorpions this year. So far since putting it in various locations in my trailer I have not seen a scorpion but they too are a critter waiting for the rains.

The winds are still undecided as to which, North or South, will dominate. In the last week we have had two good blows from The North so it hasn’t given up yet. I actually wore a long sleeved shirt the other night and sweat pants!!

Just in case any of you make it down here let me give you something to think about that you might enjoy discussing with me. I have come to the conclusion, not without a good amount of contemplation, meditation, altered states, shamanic mentoring, reading (including a good deal of Science Fiction) and studying (as well as simply living life) that THIS is impossible.


Giving it some thought, Red Pyramid, Egypt 2000

THIS being literally all that we believe makes up our reality from A to Z.


A home like ours

Check out the size of OUR sun

Whether on the Quantum Level or The Ethereal level I am, AT PRESENT, convinced that it is impossible to have THIS without some defining first cause. And I will not accept the simple answer, “It just is” or “It is here because we believe it to be here” or least of all that it is a Judeo-Christian "God’s Will” or any of those other (and I respect their origins) sometimes wise but totally unsatisfying refrains. No, there is something much, much more to this, eh? Arrogant as it might seem, I am still asking the question I asked as a very young boy looking at the sky on a summer’s day and wondering how far it went before there was an end. Where is the “edge” of reality? Ah, it is a circle they say, there is no beginning or end in a circle, the universe folds on itself, it is a mobious strip they say. Nevertheless a circle has a circumference does it not? A circumference is a border between what is inside and what is outside the circle. I would like to know what is “outside” the circle? “Infinity” you say! That’s a cop out. I know for many people, and perhaps you are one, this is basic but for me it is still the unanswered question. I do not fret about it, it does not occupy my time and I am not afraid of an answer. I just want something palatable for me. Now here is the REALLY COOL PART. I love every bit of THIS; well, not War and INJUSTICE, but you know, birds, blue skies (or stormy), millipedes, soft breezes, my dear whales and human friends etc.


My good buddy Alan

A new friend from 2 years ago...pointing to The Sea

It does not make me a bit unhappy that I do not yet understand “THE GREAT MYSTERY”. The trick I think is to KEEP ON DANCING and KEEP ON SINGING.


“Women’s Circle Dance” Crow Fair, Montana



"Nam Myoho Renge Kyo" (Homage to The Mystic Law of The Lotus Sutra)
Tendai Buddhist Chant circa 750 BP