Hi Speed Internet

THis morning I found some notes I made back in 2000 after we all survived the Y2K "crisis". I was researching alternatives to our dial up modem access where we were limited mostly to 19.6 modem speed. I was talking with Puru about possibilities of adding various methods to give us faster internet access. Mind you, I am not a formally trained techno-geek here so much of what I was finding was mostly "greek" to me. ISDN and DSL were interesting acronyms which mainly suggested faster connections and a little envy of those who had it.

Being so far removed from the city in a very rural area, we were running our whole Rajarsi park network on a 56k special modem at the time. I was trying to find out about email servers and web servers and satellites...

We experimented with home satellites like Starband and DirecPC (or DirecWay) but the latency periods caused problems and the uploads were very slow.

All this to say that now, in 2006, I marvel at our Village wide DSL system available to anyone who can afford a few dollars a month and has a phone line. I understand that 25 years ago here all that was available was 1 (one) pay phone down by the market.

Our ministry has T1 speed internet access and WiFi. Guests can come to the Expanding Light guest retreat and use the business center and WiFi if they wish. My technical staff can connect in through secure private networks to our business network. Everyone has email if they choose. We show our Sunday services and other program through web videos. Many thousands of souls find this ray of light because of all of this.

It is truly a marvel, when we step back and see how far we have come.

The Morning After Spring Equnox Snow

The next morning we awoke to brilliant sunshine over snow capped hills. Sraddha went out to feed the birds and saw this.

Happy Spring Equinox? It snowed!!

After 3 days of sunny "warmer" weather where we went hiking to see the upcoming wildflowers, we greeted the spring equinox with more winter!! This photo is from outside my west corner window looking up at the OM building where the Sangha Ministry and Crystal Clarity Publications resides. Most folks went home a little early. As of 7 PM we have about 3 inches total here.

Market Rennovations

Tom is rennovating the inside of Master's Market.












We will have a new counter looking out onto the village green where customers can sit and enjoy a cup of tea or coffee.

The floor is being prepared for new tiles. Many villagers are donating the tiles and get to sign them.

Winter Walk to Crystal Hermitage

We got out in the snow and walked over to the Crystal Hermitage this morning.. As we started up the hill, we saw Prakash coming back down the hill with his snow clearing tractor and brush. It was only 32 degrees.

Over the hill and down past Ayodya Cluster to
the Crystal Hermitage parking lot. Sraddha turned to pose.

We walked on past the parking lot down to the hermitage in 6 inches
of snow. We arrived at the front gate and were greated with this.

The Chapel was covered with beatiful white blanket.



Our return trip saw us helping Seva avoid the ditch while driving in her car. We brought her to our house for coffee and then I drove her over to the Expanding Light for her work session.

Day 5 of Snow at Ananda Village

This is Tuesday March 14 and we have snow...for the 5th day in a row. While not very cold this many days in a row is almost unheard of here in the foothills for many years. Since it all melted yesterday travel has not been a problem. Prakash has been out clearing the main roads every morning and it sure is beautiful. I stepped outside our front door this morning and snapped this picture.

Sraddha is out feeding her birds. And brushing snow off Hummingbird feeders. We have a couple steady customers all winter and they warm us in the late spring.

She snapped this photo looking down to St. Francis Pond. On the right is our guest cabin.

Hansa Temple in Winter

Last Year it was temperatures in the 70's and now we have snow with more coming.

I took this photo this morning after about 5 inches snow overnight. More expected tonight. A winter wonderland and really quite beautiful.

Winter Comes to Ananda Village

March is so variable in weather. 2 years ago in 2004, we were planting tomatoes which were ready by June. Last year, 2005, it rained until June and we didn't plant until June. This year we had 70 degree weather in February and now have had 4 snow days in March so far. This Sunday Morning I awoke to 2 inches of powder snow.




Sraddha went out and cleared a little area on the deck for feeding her wild birds. And are they happy campers or what?


We then went for a walk up to the top of Brindaban hill. First folks out in the powder. 29 degrees. Well, off to Hansa to video tape the Sunday Service today. You can find our Sunday service talks in Real Player format, MP3 and/or podcasts at http://www.ananda.org/inspiration/streaming/sunday.html

All for now.--Kent

Testing this Blog

To find out more about Ananda and Ananda Village go to http://www.ananda.org