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Shiva Lingam?
This fountain is at the main entrance (not on the Mall, but around the corner) to the Department of Labor. It is only on every once and a while, and I do not usually use this entrance, so the fountain is not a main part of my relationship to the building.
One day, a couple of years ago, when I was sitting quietly near the fountain to get some soothing energy from the sound of the water and being outside, I thought about how much it resembled a shiva lingam. Was I seeing symbols that were not intended? Was the artist pulling one over on the government by submitting a design that carried symbolism that, in 1974, would not have been acceptable to many in charge? Was the symbolism there and understood when the design was permitted to be implemented? Do the answers to any of those questions matter with the fountain and all its imagery present in all its effusion?
Cicada Watch
Here’s some useful, along with some merely anecdotal and highly subjective discussion on the impending arrival of more cicadas than usual. I don’t remember them being overwhelming in 2004, but vividly remember being astonished by them 17 years earlier than that–more cicadas than I ever dreamed possible. A Jain would have had much trouble walking down the street for worry about stepping on one (or dozens).
Neighborhood Holiday Lights Charity Challenge
How we collectively yearn for the light, though we seek it in different ways! For anyone who can tell me exactly where I took each of these photos, I will give a donation to charity in your name (total for all persons guessing correctly $250). Hint: All photos except the last, which was taken this morning, were taken on the solstice, and I did not go out of my way to take the photos.
Rainy Sunday Morning at the Dupont Farmers’ Market
My own garden is lush with greens enough to feed me every day, but I stopped at the farmers’ market to get apples and cheese. A fair number of people were out, enjoying the much needed rain. For those like me, who prefer to shop for food for no more than a couple of days at a time, Penn Quarter Fresh Farm Market is back open on Thursdays. The H Street market has moved to between 13th and 14th Streets, NE (from 6th Street) and just had its first Saturday–that’s three days a week near home or work or regularly scheduled activities. I am thankful daily to be so fortunate as to have such food available and to know how good it is. Fresh Farm has information on its website about these locations and others.









