FELLOW FRUGALIST FUNNELS OUR PHILOSOPHY INTO THE EAR OF AMERICA

HURRAY FOR GLEN MORISSETTE!!--- HE TOLD ALL OF AMERICA WHAT IT NEEDED TO HEAR.

Remember this guy who visited me back in June?

Lives full time in this Chinook motor home?

Earns money doing this on the streets of the cities he visits.

And he does much more: HE THINKS----and puts his thoughts in cyberspace---writes a blog:

http://www.tosimplify.net/

About his travels.  And a few thousand read about his adventures.

-----AND THEN ONE DAY-----

He read an article bemoaning the poor wretches who had to live on $22,000.00 a year.

-----WHHHHAT????-----

He said to himself!!

I LIVE LIKE A KING---ON HALF OF THAT!!!

AND SO------

He wrote an e-mail to the author of that article--telling her---just that.

The author wrote back ---asking for an interview---Glenn complied---told his tale

and she published it.

AND THEN----AND THEN

Someone in the National News recognized this gem and published it NATIONALLY on yahoo.

AND THEN----AND THEN

Glen's message of living like a king---frugally--- reached every corner of the earth.

Here's the origional story: 

http://money.usnews.com/money/blogs/alpha-consumer/2011/10/19/the-secret-to-living-well-on-11000-a-year                                      

                                                             AND THEN-----AND THEN

Thousands upon thousands clicked on his blogsite to more fully "catch the drift" of this drifter.

Celebrate with me, sweet people, this earth-circling spread of the gospel of frugality--

How frugality can set you free---to find yourself.

MAY THE FORCE BLESS GLENN MORISSETTE

A SAD SAGA OF SENTIMENTALITY

THIS LADY HAD HER (PAID FOR) HOME TAKEN FROM HER BY A SANTA FE HOSPITAL--
In a lawsuit seeking payment for  expensive medical proceedures on her invalid, incurable son. Her home was seized, sold and she found herself ousted.  When I met her she was living in a small travel trailer and working in this office for her rent.  She is 80 plus. I told her I would tell her story to the world so others might be warned.

I've "doctored" her image as I didn't get permission to show the real thing--This one was surreptitiously shot so I would not intefere with the flow of her story. 

She is not responsible for my interpretation or philosophical opinions.

More than 51 years ago, she gave birth to a severly defective son suffering from spinabifida. Doctors said he would likely die within a year.  Turns out, he lived for 51 years and this lady took care of him the entire time.  She, in effect, sacrificed the lions share of her life and hapiness for him---and he had no meaningful life either.   When he finally spiraled beyond hope, he fell into the grip of the medical community whose ethic will not permit a peaceful euthanasia but requires sustaining life as long as possible. It was an expensive dying--about $300,000.  The courts said she was responsible for the bill and thus she lost her house. Now she scrimps along doing what she can with the remainder of her life.

RANDY PHILOSOPHIZES:  Are you enraged? I think you should be! This lady is thrice victimized---BY SENTIMENTALITY. 

To begin with, we should not allow seriously defective babies to live.  Who says so?  Not just me but the most serious ethical thinkers in the world. Peter Singer for example: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Singer

And if you'd like to read both sides of the story:

http://www.equip.org/articles/peter-singer-s-bold-defense-of-infanticide

Secondly, we should not burden this poor woman with the decision at either end of life.  We really do need DEATH PANELS composed of the wisest among us, representing a cross section of our peers to make the tough calls----both at the beginning and end of life. We dare not let husbands, wives

or children make these decisions.  They may be motivated by greed on one hand or sentimentality on the other.  Society as a whole has a stake in these very expensive decisions.

Here is a clear cut case where two lives and vast expenditures were squandered out of sheer sentimentality.  And guess what: One of those severly deformed babies who was allowed to live actually wrote a book describing his incredible suffering and HE SAYS THAT HE SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN ALLOWED TO LIVE.  (I'm trying to find the title for you)

Let me anticipate an objection:  I am not talking about people WHO BECOME SEVERLY DISABLED. That is another issue entirely.  As is the right to assisted suicide.

People who believe that ethics is revealed in "Holy Books" rather than hashed out in human experience---cannot help us behave wisely---Indeed they have always been an impediment to

rational ethics.

HOW NOT TO GO WACKO

MY EXPERIENCES ARE OUTRUNNING MY REPORTS.  I'M WAAY BEHIND----So I shall condense a few of my stories from Bluewater State Park, NM---a well kept secret from most New Mexicans.  About 7,500 ft elevation---dependably cool---lovely canyon to hike--lake to enjoy--mountains to climb---and only 60 or so miles from mysterious Chaco Canyon. The Focus of the title story will come at the end

The dam that creates the lake.

Looking west.

Lovely canyon just steps away--great hiking--Campground is up here on the plateau.

Walked it several times---lush and beautiful.

On several occasions this herd of free ranging horses wandered in.

They are amazingly bold.  This one recently lost its mate---and then---

Quickly found another--they loved my carrots.

This little fellow was in the road.

Ever so gently, I got him out of harm's way.

A grade school principal---and the sheriff's daughter-- I engaged--We chatted at length about

 education. 

One of the first commercial motor homes--a Dodge.  This one is the fitted together halves of two wrecks. The builder showed me its interior. He is a master carpenter--rare these days.

A marvel of great craftsmanship from front to rear.

Meet Francis---the focus of this story--He earns his keep for the park by leading hikes into the canyon.

He lives alone in a tiny rig---lives radically simple---except that he spends 6 hours a day on the computer--reading, commenting, writing his blog: www.asimpleandspirituallife.org --gave away most of his nest egg to a religious commune in an emotional surge---says he hates organized religion--have a look for yourself

Probably the most difficult interview I've conducted--he was unpleasant,  abusive, and insulting--I endured it to get the story. His opinions are so hardened that he can't listen---only explain his views.  He's lost the joys of give and take.   For all his vitriol, he could not resist my skillfully inviting questions and focused attention---The devil himself wants to be understood.

RANDY PHILOSOPHIZES:  I ask my intuition to tell me why this man is so unpleasant? It said that he has spiraled to that low place in a feedback loop.  Moments of unrestrained irritation distanced one after another of his friends---- leaving him more and more alone--with his irritations echoing in his brain.  With only ones cranky self for company, one becomes even more cranky. WHEN YOU FOCUS ON THE BAD-----IT EXPANDS---TO FILL YOUR WHOLE AWARENESS. This man has slipped into a deep tar pit and few will join him there for fellowship.  I found it painful slogging around down there.  In succeeding days as he would walk by I caught him glancing my way---his dark hungry soul wishing for the joy of my attention.  I considered--but rejected any further contact---My own soul has all the darkness it can handle.

But to make good on my title question: THE WAY NOT TO GO WHACKO IS TO NOT LOSE YOUR FRIENDS. My friends are my salvation--(and the greater part of any wisdom and inspiration I may have.  You know who you are and That I treasure you)

A VISIT TO THE MONKS IN HIDEAWAY CANYON

I KNOW A SECRET RESTING PLACE:

Beyond those mountains--I'm in the mood to go---sit!

Across the lonely road where Georgia Okeeffe lived---and painted this world famous picture.

And this one!

Here's my secret camping spot---Diana and I found it years ago--it rests pleasantly in my mind--till I come and  rest pleasantly in it.

Seen from the nearby mesa, I'm barely a dot on the landscape. (just left of center)

Turns out---I'm not alone---In the night this humble camper puttered by, settling some distance away.

And it turns out---to be a lady professor---whose Phd thesis was---about Thoreau! My beloved Henry David Thoreau---whose writings set me on this path of adventure some 38 years ago.  We have much to talk about. (she later sent me one of her books)

She tells me that deep in a river canyon, long miles away, live 40 or so monks who have retreated to a secluded place to "learn the wisdom of living well in Christ Jesus." Of course I will go--and damn the rain.

That's the Chama river--now raging after this summer rainstorm.

Back, Back into the lovely canyon

Till this sign tells me I have arrived.

And these solar panels tell me that they rely on God (indirectly) for power.

And here is their worship place. at the end of the road. They are Benedictines (40 or so in number) who established here in 1964.  They raise hops and own a brewery. for the full story: www.christdesert.org

Some paint

strange pictures,

Some carve intricate doors.

I start for home just as more thunderstorms  threaten.  I could easily get trapped out here.

OR WORSE!! The car ahead of me nearly slid in the ditch--I was sliding toward the canyon--I paused to appreciate the seriousness of my situation. Then ever so slowly moved onward.

Couldn't resist walking a segment of the famous Continental Divide Trail.

RANDY PHILOSOPHIZES:  I met none of them--they are, by choice, cloistered---mumbling their prayers, fumbling their rituals, denying their sensual urges, hoping for divine revelation, believing the fantastic, reinforcing a destructive doctrine, living constricted lives, roadblocks to peace ----THEY ARE DRONES IN THE BEEHIVE OF HUMANITY.  I wish---Oh I wish, I had brought with me a list of Maslow's 22 characteristics of self actualized personalities---I would have nailed it to that fancy door---like martin Luther's 95 theses. But better still if  I could have left  the movie Zorba the Greek or Lonesome Dove so these zombies could see what a juicy human being looks like.  It is sheer cowardice to run from life in this fashion. 

Assembling together for common purpose is not their sin---(that is often how progress is made) Their big lie and sin against themselves and humanity is their PRETENTIONS TO CERTAINTY: Their futile attempts to wall out doubt with self-reinforcing community. (wanna see how this works? Go into a Mormon bookstore---ask for a copy of Tanner's Mormon Claims examined) 

Amazon vs. Apple? No, it's Amazon and Apple vs. Everyone Else

To me, there's something magnificent about a well-executed product strategy.  Features and price and marketing all come together to delight a particular type of customer, and everyone wins.  The developer gets to sell a lot of products, and the users get something that improves their lives.

In the tablet market right now we have the privilege of watching two companies do great strategy, Apple and Amazon.  The press wants to label the Kindle Fire an iPad killer, but really it's the first sensible iPad counterpoint, a tablet device with its own unique design center and business model.  I don't think either one's going to kill the other, but I think together they're likely to chop up almost every other company that gets in their way.  In particular, that means Microsoft, RIM, and Google.

Let me start by talking about the new Kindle line, and then its likely impact on the market.


Two tablet paradigms

When Apple entered the tablet market, it asked "what can we do to redefine computing for tablets?"  It re-thought the user interface, application model, and an endless set of other details to create a unique new computing experience.  Apple has been rewarded with explosive sales growth.

With the Kindle line, Amazon asked a different question: "What can we do to redefine content distribution?"  The answer led it to a tablet computer, but one with very different hardware specs, user experience, and a vastly different business model.  None of the Kindles can match the iPad feature for feature (link), but they're not intended to.  At $499 and up, the iPad is a serious investment for most people, a lifestyle statement.  At $199 and down, the Kindles are impulse buys, the sort of thing people will get under Christmas trees or just buy for themselves because it looks neat and why the heck not?

Apple makes money from the sale of the iPad and its accessories, with a bit more coming from applications and content.  Given the breath-taking pricing for the Kindle line, Amazon will probably lose money on the hardware, or at best break even.  Its main profit will have to come from the sale of ebooks and movies and all sorts of other media products, plus some apps.  Those revenues may take years to fully develop, so Amazon is playing a very long game.  That's why I see Kindle as a strategy rather than just a product.  The company is betting that by subsidizing the Kindle now, it can dominate electronic media distribution for the indefinite future.

To keep iPad successful, Apple will need to continue to add wonderful new features to it, constantly refreshing the "magical" experience.  It will also continue to drive it into markets where tablet computing can make a big difference.  Apple is already making a huge push in education; some people tell me Apple has almost completely refocused its education salesforce on selling iPad to schools rather than Macs.  And there are plenty of reports of iPads moving into other verticals like aviation.

I'm sure the Kindle Fire will also show up in schools, but at heart the Kindle line is a Volkspad, priced to be the tablet thing that everyone eventually gets for basic content access.  Already about 40% of tablet owners also own e-readers according to Pew Research (link), and I expect that percentage to increase. 

Over time we might see Apple and Amazon compete more directly; it all depends on how much Apple is willing to subsidize hardware to get long-term revenue from content.  There is also potential for product line conflicts -- if Apple makes a lower-priced iPad, it might cannibalize iPhone sales.  In the past Apple has tried to keep its product lines separated in price, and it hasn't used the subsidy model.  This is a very interesting test for Apple's new CEO Tim Cook, and I'm glad Steve Jobs is still on the scene to advise him.

But in the meantime, it's very likely that iPad and Kindle will coexist nicely in the market.  The losers, I think, will be everyone else trying to play in the tablet space.


Hammer and Anvil

Companies trying to sell tablets against Apple were already suffering from slow sales.  Now instead of just being pounded by the iPad hammer, they've been undercut by the Kindle anvil.  For most of them, there's no place to go.  It's very hard for me to picture how somebody like Samsung is going to get market traction with its current tablet line, and I think the RIM PlayBook, due to its size, is going to suffer against Kindle Fire.  Between slow sales of its current phones and now the PlayBook's dwindling prospects, I hope RIM has been very very careful about managing its inventory of parts and finished devices.  Otherwise it could end up with a massive inventory writedown in a couple of quarters.

I will be very interested to see what Barnes & Noble does next with its Nook Color tablet.  Nook Color is similar in many ways to Kindle Fire, but B&N was reluctant to add a lot of Android apps because it was afraid people might buy it as a tablet rather than an e-reader.  Amazon appears to have overcome this fear, and there's a danger that B&N may have let its opportunity for leadership slip away.  On the other hand, if the next Nook Color has better features than Kindle Fire, Amazon's announcement might validate B&N's product and help it sell.

And then there's Microsoft, which has a beautiful-looking new Windows 8 tablet interface coming maybe late next year.  I'm excited, I hope it'll be wonderful, but I'm starting to wonder if any customers will still be available by the time it ships.

There is still plenty of room in the market for competing tablets, but they'll need to be aimed at different usages than the iPad and Kindle.  The biggest opportunity is for a stylus-equipped business productivity tool, an info pad (link).  But none of the major hardware companies are working on that; they seem to prefer to bash their brains out competing directly with the iPad.

You're not the licensee Droid is looking for.  Google's reaction to Kindle Fire speaks volumes about its goals for Android.  Kindle Fire is based on Android, and will run Android applications.  Android has been struggling in the tablet space, so you'd expect that Google would be delighted to have Amazon on the Android bandwagon.  But you'd be wrong.  Let's look at the press release Google issued today to welcome Amazon to the Android family.  Wait a minute, there is no press release.  Okay, so let's look on the Google blog.  Nothing at all.  Maybe a tweet from Andy Rubin?  Dead silence.

The problem is that Amazon is using Android as just an OS, not using the Google-branded services and application store that Google layers on top of the OS (link).  Although Google touted the openness of Android when it was first launched, the reality is that Google is using it as a Trojan horse to force its services onto hardware.  What Amazon did with Android is very threatening to Google, and so you're not likely to hear a lot of supportive words from them.

Silken dreams.  Speaking of threats to Google, we should discuss Amazon's new Silk browser.  It supposedly integrates Amazon Web Services with the browser to produce a faster, more efficient browsing experience on Kindle Fire.  Given the inefficiencies of web browsing over the wireless networks, this is potentially a compelling innovation that also might make it possible for future Amazon tablets to browse over 3G networks using less bandwidth than competing devices.  That might lock in a structural cost advantage for Amazon's tablets.

Kindle Fire today is a WiFi only device, but I'd be very surprised if we didn't see a 3G version sometime in 2012.

Silk potentially gives Amazon a very powerful position (link).  I can picture a couple of ways it could be used to disrupt the mobile market.  First, Amazon could tie the browser to its own content services and distribute it to other hardware vendors.  Basically, it could try to make Silk the content layer on Android that Google wants to be.  This could be a good business move for Amazon, since it's not making money from the hardware anyway.

Google would hate this passionately, but with the company already under antitrust scrutiny, it would have to respond very carefully. 

Amazon's other play could be to expand Silk into an enhanced platform for mobile web apps.  I've been waiting for someone to make web apps work properly on mobile, and many smart people have been getting more and more depressed about the lack of leadership in mobile web APIs (link).  Amazon has the expertise and the incentive to fill that gap.  The question is whether it wants to. I think it should, I hope it will.  If it does, Silk could become the platform for the next great generation of applications, giving Amazon enormous power in the computing market.

This will be a fun space to watch. Apple and Google will both feel pressure to respond to Silk to prevent Amazon from getting a decisive lead in mobile web apps.  Maybe just the threat of Silk will be enough to finally drive some innovation in the mobile web platform.

I may be indulging in wishful thinking, but there's a possibility that ten years from now we'll look back on Silk as the single most important thing in today's announcement.

Or not.  It depends on what Amazon's agenda is, and they're not telling.

Slouching toward Bethlehem.  One revolution I'm sure is coming is the remaking of the print publishing industry.  As I've said before (link), once about 20% of the reading public has electronic devices, an established author can make more money bypassing print and selling direct through e-readers.  I think the new Kindle line, and especially the entry-level Kindles at $99 and below, will finally push us past the 20% threshold.  It will take a couple of years to play out, but this will force the long-awaited restructuring, or destruction, of the traditional book publishing industry.

(Note:  I wrote this before I read John Gruber's take on the new Kindles.  He and I are thinking along similar lines. link )

CRACKING THE MYSTERY OF CHACO CANYON----PART 2

To briefly review: A thousand years ago in this remote, unspecial, spot, an otherwise ordinary group of Indians were somehow infused with the talent,  desire and determination to build mega structures like the one pictured here--containing 500 plus rooms, numerous Kivas and ceremonial plazas. 12 of these grand houses were constructed in the immediate vicinity and another 15 in the outlying areas.  Nowhere else in America has similar super building occurred. The obvious question is: WHAT GOT INTO THESE PEOPLE.  WHY, WHY, WHY WOULD THEY DO THIS.  

Here's what remains of the structure pictured above.  I have asked my "good genius" (my deepest intuition) to consider the question and get back to me. (I often pose important questions to a committee of three in my head:  My subconscious, My database and my conscious reason) Here's its report:

1. An ordinary clan of ancient Indians, following water or fleeing hostilities or seeking greener pastures, made their way to this canyon and this spot.

2. An anomaly of this spot is a super-abundance of perfectly sized building stones----1,2and 3 inch layers of sandstone---perfectly flat on two sides. Kids playing could pile up impressive stacks---and soon discovered that mud between the layers would harden and stabilize stacks---making even more impressive structures.  Adults quickly grasped the possibility of easy-to-build walls for houses----and further, the bonus of houses sharing a wall -- or two--or even three----AND the bonus of houses on top of houses---thus sharing a roof.  BINGO --pueblo style building is underway.

3. Density dwelling works  social magic on the tribe---intensifying idea exchange--culture elaboration--and speeds creation and spread of cultural memes. (mental bits of culture--songs, tales etc)
(see Palo Solari's work with Arcology)

4. With food and water problems solved (for the moment) people turned their attention to the fun pursuits of building with these terrific stones.  Human ego, being what it is, bigger and ever more impressive houses were constructed.

5. Excellence in construction began to be noticed and appreciated----triggering a FEEDBACK SPIRAL of excellence. (i.e. beautiful work---when publicly appreciated---evokes even more excellence---and appreciation--and excellence.......)

6. The occasional visitor---noting the quality and size of construction here---spread the word---and more visitors came to see---creating another FEEDBACK SPIRAL of fame--tourism--more fame etc.
Eventually the community spiraled its way to SPECTACLE.

7. Spectacle evokes a numinous effect. (Awe)---like seeing Solomon's Temple, or the pyramids or Hoover Dam.  Spectacle too, feeding on awe and fame generates ever greater spectacle.

8. Architectural authority arose to shape the growing spectacle into some order.

9. Meanwhile, nearby clans are building spectacles of their own.

10. Divine guidance: Throughout the entire process people seek guidance from the Shaman.  He too spirals toward ever more elaborate theology and ritual. Visitors and locals enjoy a bigger and bigger "show".

11. Commerce quickly raises its head---and another feedback loop spirals upward.

12. The various feedback loops enfold and further enhance each other.  In short Chaco canyon becomes a terrific place to visit for a good time.  Branson Missouri's rise to super-tourist spot is very similar.  We RVers can see how spiraling has made Quartzsite, Az our "Mecca".

13. Tyranny or no tyranny?  Well yes and no.  Slavery? No!---- Social coercion--Yes! Theology always jerks people around---by fear and hope--so they spend energies working for the church. In Chaco, no doubt a theology arose with a governing priesthood and masses worked "voluntarily" for the deity.

14. Why did it end?---It was a social empire and It ran its course---usually 300 years is about max for them---bad weather probably precipated a downward feedback spiral and its charm died quicker than it rose.

15. What have we learned here?  That lightening can strike in unlikely places---that empires--of all kinds--political--social--religious--commercial are giant feedback loops that rise--ascend--and decline.
That tiny causes can have huge effects.  An abundance of flat--perfectly sized building stones---started a local building craze that swelled to a spectacle--to a monument---to a 300 year "happening".

That feedback loops--once recognized--are seen to be all around and in us---and can serve for good or ill.  Social Manias--like statue building on Easter Island----Tulip mania in holland---pyramid mania in Egypt and House mania in the US ----rarely serve humanity well---though they produce impressive stuff.

That humans like to get excited and lose themselves in something bigger than themselves.  It is near ecstasy to allign your energy and intent with many others---and  is extremely powerful. The dilemma of mavericks and extremely independent personalities is that unless they join some sort of human surge---they miss out on all the fun. 

At the psychological level--chaco suggest that tiny steps in the direction of your dreams can start an upward spiral of great satisfaction and who knows what else.  My friend Boonie persuaded me to try blogging-----and ---now I have a game to play that connects me with the world.

CRACKING THE SPECTACULOR MYSTERY OF CHACO

DO YOU KNOW ABOUT THIS SPECTACULOR MYSTERY? I'ts 80 miles 0ut in the desert ---think I'll go out there and let 'my good genius" have a crack at it.

Driving North from Thoreau, NM into Indian country.

Hardly a soul out here.

13 miles to that horizon---so far so good.  I've left my trailer behind because:

I knew this was coming: 20 miles of very iffy road.  They deliberately make getting there difficult to discourage all but those seriously interested in this phenomenon.

And it was indeed iffy---occasionally had to creep along at walking speed.

I'm here---ready to confront the mystery.

That's fajada butte---up there on top is where the famous solstice sun dagger was discovered. On June 21st a dagger of light falls precisely on a target chipped in the rock. (That's the new Visitor center in the plain)

A terrific campground---I'm sleeping in the tent. I wandered around  late at night and met a mysterious guy with an Indian Drum---who told me he was on a spiritual quest and that the moon would be full at 2 am---time for his ceremony.  (turns out, many are here in search of something mystical)

Here is what all the hoopla is about---Pueblo Bonito---the epicenter of a cultural tsunami---as it appeared a thousand years ago.  It is huge--over 500 rooms---and built so well that a fair chunk of it remains. (as you will see)

Me at the outer edge.

A representative chunk of it---- walls smooth on both sides with rubble filling the center----they built 5 or 6 stories high----9 ft ceilings.  So what's the big mystery?  Hang on---I'll tell you!

Is that precise construction or what? The mortar is mud and that is all origional masonry--a thousand years old.  So you're impressed----but not mystified?  Hang on--I'll get to it.  

Aaaah but look here----ANOTHER whopper of a pueblo barely a mile away.

Let's go up on top of the mesa to get some perspective.  See that crack up there--thats how "they" got up there and interestingly---that's still the way up there.  I went---but it was a bit hairy.

And what's up there?  ANOTHER grand pueblo------and just to the right of it--STILL ANOTHER vast complex with a huge plaza in it's center.  There's no water up here to speak of----why in heavens name did they do this?

Here's the pueblo I just mentioned----wanted to show again the superb masonry---corner perfectly square and smoothe after a thousand years.

Now I sit down to let pueblo Bonito speak to me. Luke climbed up the scary trail with me and comes over to get congratulated.

And there it is again---in all its mystery---just one entrance---a massive endeavor in a very unlikely place.  Soil and water are just marginal. It thrived for 300 years---and then the people went elsewhere.

Now brace yourself----THERE ARE 12 OF THESE GREAT HOUSES almost within sight of one another. This is the largest and oldest.  Beginning to get the feel of the mystery: Why did a building frenzy happen here?  Why did the cultural pattern created here spread hundreds of miles in every direction.  They found cocoa from central America here---parrot skeletons---metal goods--and guess what? TWO GIANTS buried down there. (giants in that they towered over the locals)---but nobody else.

I've asked my good genius to digest all this and give me a plausible answer---AND IT HAS---

tomorrow I will spell out the very surprising answer---and its direct relevance to you.

It's near midnight and I'm sleepy.  I leave you with this odd photo of a guy balancing on his hands in some sort of spiritual posture--RIGHT ON THE EDGE OF THE CLIFF!  He was one of a dozen here on a pilgrimage seeking ------something!