2/9/2014

yesterday: mother has been ill for two days … so has To^nAn….…… from frigid Michigan chu’ Ha^n [ “guessed” or “premonitions” or “predicted” the freeze in the winter … what with the storm in the summer in the Phillipines and the huge rain that brought down the tree of his neighbor … song “summer kisses {by the unpredictable weather} summer tears {by the unpredictable weathers} …since he turned on the house heat this year but did not last year supposedly and who started rice distribution from Louisiana–America’s Rice Basket/Field–since we got the United States … DDa.t and DDi.nh play Jazz ….

] telephoned saying he drank EnSure made from Midwest corn–see “when in drought/doubt …” below– and had diarrhea … “eat your fruits and vegies is a way of wishing for more fruits and vegies “Tro+`i sinh tro+`i du+o+~ng” “THIS arises; THAT arises” and therefore for rain that feeds fruits and vegies … from California …: …also possible  stomach allergies–TV twice mentioned salmonella in previous notes, orange juicer that juice mother’s drink yesterday top squeezer parts is not cleaned–to food … clean refrigerator …

[since To^nAn–who recommended wood or tile floor replacement, new kitchen appliances, filters over air registers, etc.– requested permission to clean the refrigerator and di` Ba co^ Die^~m –who just nho+` or “sai” to^nan to fisnish laundry for her–declined said “tho^i” “ddu+`ng” … “no” … and Gia Ba?o without enough unconditional love in play pretend claims “..a(n hie^’p ta ha?…” or “r-ape”… o+? ba^?n so^’ng la^u … To^nAn –who was raised in environment where worse conditions of dirtyness seem to exist though perhaps the final steps of boiling and fire etc. … cha? ca’ …always seem to manage to invalidate the dirty conditions–could wait for “approval” to clean the refrigerator … “most” of the responsibility for mother’s and To^nAn’s health and well being and existence then devolved upon and rested solely on Gia Ba?o and di` Ba … or on people who are “driving” Gia Ba?o and di` Ba .. who thus become… the beasts of “beauty and the beast” …]

… while no one was up yet, Gia Ba?o played “ngu+o+`i xa^’u [ngu+o+`i to^’t/dde.p]” with ba’c Ty’ …”oh my goodness” … and he repeated with his father Thanh So+n later in the evening [“… bo^’ ke.p con …”: “… you simplify me …” … c.f. monkey business in note 2.7.2014: utmost simplification is <may> “muo^n loa`i ddu+o+.c so^’ng la^u bi`nh thu+o+`ng; everyone live long and well”] … but upon walking in on DDi.nh and Die^~m and got a surprise yell “whoa …” he came back to ba’c Ty’s room and in a Buddha’s lotus fetal position cried softly … then torn off in half a piece of paper on which he has drawn so+n ngue^.ch ngoa.c … so ba’c Ty’ consoled him and let him watch Xua^n Mai’s “Em ddi chu`a Hu+o+ng” on Youtube … ba’c Ty’ has already paid for Xua^n Mai previous year on occasion of watching it and realizing her big ears –2.11.2014 Viettoday movie “ba` chu? va` ba` Nam” with ears resembling pictures of hymen

–were similar to ears of DDu+’c’s of DDa.t …and Gia Ba?o said “It [or is it] Cherrie …: and that’s Gia Ba?o [beside her and di` Ba] ….” … : ‎2/‎11/‎2014 Shirley Temple passes …

DDa.t from Sacremento went to breakfast then to buy some pre-amplifier with To^nDDi.nh … “Let’s get some cables ….”… Thanh So+n mentioned CAT5 cable when he was connecting the electronics –internet, tv, stereo, etc.–for To^nDDi.nh the second or third day we were here in California … while To^nAn replaced the dimmer to one compatible with dimmable CFL-LED lights … watching them without their seeming to notice him To^nAn has the feeling of being an invisible person from the future viewing the past that was his and Pak-Ming Ho who has a CD of Simon and Garfunkel at Fermilab … “Mike wants me to create some cable for him. Do you know about reflections in coaxial cable do you …” … improper termination causes “ghosts” which are reflections in coaxial cables considered as waveguides … violations of the “10 commandments” in operating systems such as Mac OS, Windows, Linux, Ubuntu, etc. could also produce “ghosts in the machine” …

ROBERT PALMER LYRICS “Bad Case Of Loving You (Doctor, Doctor)” A hot summer night fell like a net I’ve gotta find my baby yet I need you to soothe my head Turn my blue heart to red Doctor Doctor, gimme the news I got a Bad case of lovin’ you No pill’s gonna cure my ill I’ve got a Bad case of lovin’ you A pretty face don’t make no pretty heart I learned that buddy from the start You think I’m cute, a little bit shy Mama, I ain’t that kind of guy Doctor Doctor, gimme the news I got a Bad case of lovin’ you No pill’s gonna cure my ill I got a Bad case of lovin’ you I know you like it, you like it on top Tell me mama, are you gonna stop? You had me down twenty-one to zip Smile of Judas on your lip Shake my fist, knock on wood I’ve got it bad, and I got it good Doctor Doctor, gimme the news I’ve got a Bad case of lovin’ you No pill’s gonna cure my ill I got a Bad case of lovin’ you Writer(s): John Martin Copyright: Sony/ATV Songs LLC http://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/robertpalmer/badcaseoflovingyoudoctordoctor.html Le Duyen II rails for masseus … from yelp.com …

I’ve Been Working On The Railroad I’ve been working on the railroad All the live long day I’ve been working on the railroad Just to pass the time away Don’t you hear the whistle blowin’ Rise up so early in the morn Can’t you hear the captain shouting Dinah blow your horn Dinah won’t you blow Dinah won’t you blow Dinah won’t you blow your ho-o-o-orn Dinah won’t you blow Dinah won’t you blow Dinah won’t you blow your horn Someone’s in the kitchen with Dinah Someone’s in the kitchen I know oh-oh-oh Someone’s in the kitchen with Dinah Strumming on the old banjo Fee fi fiddle e i o Fee fi fiddle e i o-o-o-o Fee fi fiddle e i o Strumming on the old banjo Don’t you hear the whistle blowin’ Rise up so early in the morn Can’t you hear the captain shouting Dinah blow your horn Someone’s in the kitchen with Dinah Someone’s in the kitchen I know oh-oh-oh Someone’s in the kitchen with Dinah Strumming on the old banjo Fee fi fiddle e i o Fee fi fiddle e i o-o-o-o Fee fi fiddle e i o Strumming on the old banjo Strumming on the old banjo Strumming on the old banjo-o-o http://www.kidsongs.com/lyrics/i-ve-been-working-on-the-railroad.html http://leduyen.com/themes/default/images/logo.jpg Le Duyen 2 : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MCI54s53UOs

El Cóndor Pasa (pronounced: [el ˈkondoɾ ˈpasa], Spanish for “The Condor Passes”) is an orchestralmusical piece from the zarzuelaEl Cóndor Pasa by the Peruvian composer Daniel Alomía Robles, written in 1913 and based on traditional Andean folk tunes. In 2004, Peru declared this song as part of the national cultural heritage.[1] It is possibly the best-known Peruvian song worldwide due to a cover version by Simon & Garfunkel in 1970 on their Bridge over Troubled Water album. This cover version is called “El Condor Pasa (If I Could)”. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/El_C%C3%B3ndor_Pasa_(song) http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/05/Daniel_Alom%C3%ADa_Robles%2C_portrait.jpg

Gia Ba?o played “oa(?n tu` ti`” [probably “one two three”:  “rock paper scissor” game http://www.netlaputa.ne.jp/~tokyo3/e/janken_e.html ] with his mother Ye^’n a few days ago …:

SIMON & GARFUNKEL LYRICS

Play Song

“El Condor Pasa (If I Could)”
by Simon and Garfunkel

following To^nDDi.nh yesterday telling To^nAn “[the way you’re paying off at exorbitant prices for media, such as YouTube, that are supposed to be “free” …] I’ll never be out of poor ~ porno … ” and him and DDa.t playing music Hotel California On the Road again etc that spells ca` cho+’n short [it’s unclear {Gia Ba?o said “Be careful ba’c Ty’ of what you say about this [about the girls’ profession] …”} whether it’s Arethra Franklin … {DDa.t from Sacremento resembles ba’c Cu+o+`ng’s son with a faint touch of France} … or Billy Joel … especially since Gia Ba?o was also playing “It’s my lunch box …” … meaning PERHAPS “… I don’t mind …” … http://www.amazon.com/Fisher-Price-N5045-Medical-Kit/dp/B0015AM26E/ref=pd_sim_t_33

Rescue me Oh take me in your arms Rescue me I want your tender charms ‘Coz I’m lonely and I’m blue I need you and your love too http://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/arethafranklin/rescueme.html

or

I was only having fun Wasn’t hurting anyone And we all enjoyed the weekend for a change I’ve been stranded in the combat zone I walked through Bedford Stuy alone Even rode my motorcycle in the rain {guy yelled something that sounds “yahoo” on his motorcycle} And you told me not to drive But I made it home alive So you said that only proves that I’m insane You may be right I may be crazy But it just may be a lunatic you’re looking for Turn out the light Don’t try to save me http://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/billyjoel/youmayberight.html

] of saying “Come rescue me out of my nakedness pornography …” [Gia Ba?o said to “be careful ba’c Ty'” and not put words in the girls mouth… maybe they don’t mind their professions … “Dost thou think, because thou art virtuous, there shall be no more cakes and ale? SIR TOBY BELCH.” Shakespeare “Twelfth Night” Act 2 Scene 3] … I’d rather have [duye^n or nghie^.p va` duye^n] dress and family loving [and naked and pornographic] then [just] [nghie^.p] naked and pornographic …

Gia Ba?o “phu.c vu. chi’nh nghi~a” [va` tra’nh] “bo.n ta` dda.o”: when in doubt, … To^nAn … and surely his family and his in-laws … only ta` and voodoo [[what’s ta` and voodoo to some is spiritual to others: “Man does not live by bread alone” … movie “Three days of the condor” … bird of prey at gate of Gia Ba?o’s school …; anyway, … concerning Kayleigh and Kayden where “kay” would suggest “ca^y”… and orchid and ngo.c lan …. no To^nAn is not doing any voodoo “transference” when he cares for orchid and ngo.c lan … To^n An cares for anything and everything he came across out of wishing “muo^n loa`i ddu+o+.c so^’ng la^u bi`nh thu+o+`ng; everyone live long and well” … Mr. Green supposedly came to clear snow for Donna and our mailbox … when we first came to California the TV said something in connection to concern about electromagnetic radiation from transmission line or EMI or some such that suggest “No we’re not readdy for ‘Maxwell’ yet …” meaning/suggesting they though that ability to “drive” or to “lead” … LED lamp ddi.nh bought recently …or hie^.p or jewishness ~ “h-ew” ~ “ha’t ye^u” or extremities that cause “lo ve^`” ~ “return” is not Maximum Well when in fact it is Maximum Well … any extremeties including maximum wellness … ]] would be the universal prayer/wish/dream/love [May] “muo^n loa`i ddu+o+.c so^’ng la^u bi`nh thu+o+`ng; everyone live long and well” …

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/61Gw3SbjkJL._SL500_AA300_.jpg

Albert Hammond “It Never Rains in Southern California” + Lyrics [British guy interview something for TV show on San Francisco] Got on board a westbound seven forty-seven Didn’t think before deciding what to do Ooh, that talk of opportunities, TV breaks and movies Rang true, sure rang true … Seems it never rains in southern California Seems I’ve often heard that kind of talk before

Sam Bearpaw dances to the traditional Native American drum Saturday. Representatives of several tribes preformed a rain dance on Saturday to attack the drought from a “spiritual perspective.” — Earnie Grafton

Wind Walker bows her head in prayer as representatives of several tribes preformed a rain dance on Saturday to attack the drought from a “spiritual perspective.” — Earnie Grafton

When in drought, rain dance

By Maureen Magee7:40 p.m.Jan. 25, 2014

Gia Ba?o mentioned that one of his school friend is Maureen … Nathan … Sebastian …

as co^ Hie^n chu’ Hu+ng might have returned to Texas for a visit according to mother, …. Gia Ba?o suggested that To^nAn’s current room should be for “tu+” or di` Die^.p and To^nAn moved back to the couch downstair … but di` Ba Die^~m said “you stay” …

It never rains in California, but girl, don’t they warn ya? It pours, man, it pours [poor ~ porno ~ nakedness: Los Angeles supposedly is the capital of hard-core pornography:

Porn production moves to Las Vegas after California condom law

Porn star Riley Reid poses for industry photographers and fans during the Adult Entertainment Expo, Wednesday, Jan. 15, 2014, in Las Vegas.AP Lee Roy Myers has everything you’d expect to find in the nation’s porn capital in Southern California: sets of a classroom, hospital room, locker room and a bedroom, as well as a list of porn stars waiting to perform. But his plywood universe is not in the San Fernando Valley. It’s a few paces away from the glittery casinos of the Las Vegas Strip. “Las Vegas is a fresh town, and it’s where people need the business,” said Myers, whose new studio is part of a boom in X-rated production in Sin City sparked by a Los Angeles law requiring male actors to wear condoms. The rule and potential opportunities in Nevada were the talk of the Adult Entertainment Expo this week…. The voter-approved Los Angeles regulation survived a constitutional challenge, but other lawsuits are ongoing, and the industry is still waiting for the first big prophylactic bust. The number of permits requested to make porn films in Los Angeles County has declined by an estimated 95 percent since the law took effect, according to Film LA, a private nonprofit that issues the licenses. The number of applications fell from about 480 in 2012 to just 24 through the first nine months of 2013. For Myers, who co-owns Mission Control studios and also directs web films, the condom police are just the start of his troubles with Los Angeles. The region had also gotten too expensive for him. With DVD sales continuing to plummet, the bounce provided by the mommy-porn series “Fifty Shades of Grey” wearing off, and no solid business model in sight, producers in this notoriously low-budget industry are looking for new ways to cut costs. While Los Angeles charges hundreds of dollars for location permits and requires health checks as well, Clark County, where Las Vegas is located, gives out location permits for a nominal fee and does not require health permits…. Las Vegas is home to some major porn players, including Brazzers, Bait & Tackle, Corbin Fisher, VCX Ltd. and newcomer Bluebird Film. Several producers with top porn purveyor Evil Angel are talking about moving to Las Vegas, according to owner John Stagliano, and enough porn stars have settled down in the area to supply all the extras a film could need, if not all the stars. Derek Hay, owner of adult talent agency LA Direct Models, opened an office here last fall. He estimates that 20 percent of the industry will have moved to Las Vegas by the end of the year. Some contrarians believe the boom will eventually lead Clark County to adopt the same regulations that are scaring the industry in Los Angeles. This September, the same group that championed the 2012 condom law started a similar campaign in Florida. http://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/2014/01/17/porn-production-moves-to-las-vegas-after-california-condom-law/
http://turlockcitynews.com/media/k2/items/cache/77535e3d475caea554658904633bd51e_L.jpg
] I’m out of work, I’m out of my head Out of self respect, I’m out of bread I’m underloved, I’m underfed, I wanna go home It never rains in California, but girl, don’t they warn ya? It pours, man, it pours Will you tell the folks back home I nearly made it? Had offers but didn’t know which one to take Please don’t tell ’em how you found me Don’t tell ’em how you found me Gimme a break, give me a break Seems it never rains in southern California Seems I’ve often heard that kind of talk before It never rains in California, but girl, don’t they warn ya? It pours, man, it pours http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=psOxI5AN3jc

DDa.t: in this Gaia world it might be that it takes all that snow and cold … Minnesota [America’s Midwest breadbasket:  Christmas fruit baskets –California is America’s fruitbasket–were sent to everyone in Minnesota …] is being heavily punished today -1–10 degF compare to Montreal, Connecticut, Michigan, Chicago… is somehow related synchronously to the rain in California “THIS snow arises; THAT rain arises” … Pray for Rain http://www.modbee.com/2014/01/27/3156657/as-california-drought-continues.html… beautiful rain continue for third day in California which might be said to be “lunchbox” of the United States of America … … maybe … do you want to exchange lunches … perhaps something from my lunchbox catches your fancies … “em ngo^`i em kho^ng kho’c … di` tu+ kho^ng kho’c .. di` ba kho^ng kho’c … o^ng gia` ddi cho+i …” Gia Ba?o plays today … suggesting yesterday playing be’ Xua^n Mai “Em ddi chu`a Hu+o+ng” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pXyLaZCI-jo with ba’c Ty’s laundry foldable hamper … … maybe … do you want to exchange lunches … perhaps something from my lunchbox catches your fancies …   SIMON & GARFUNKEL LYRICS “El Condor Pasa (If I Could)” I’d rather be a sparrow than a snail Yes I would, if I could, I surely would I’d rather be a hammer than a nail Yes I would, if I only could, I surely would Away, I’d rather sail away Like a swan that’s here and gone A man gets tied up to the ground He gives the world it’s saddest sound Its saddest sound I’d rather be a forest than a street Yes I would, if I could, I surely would I’d rather feel the earth beneath my feet Yes I would, if I only could, I surely would Writer(s): Paul Simon, Daniel Alomia Robles, Jorge Milchberg Copyright: Paul Simon Music http://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/simongarfunkel/elcondorpasaificould.html EL CÓNDOR PASA(cantado)-PERÚ-IGUAZÚ 2014: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2L5uyXb9wUw http://www.youtube.com/channel/UCrUZudFLOfjDwxljLS0LxoQ?feature=watch ” El Cóndor Pasa ” – instrumental music: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PJlFNsFVZeY EL CÓNDOR PASA-Niño músico peruano,premiado por UNICEF: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AwUyqEc0G6Q El condor pasa (Flauta de pan): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3e5DVNb6bCA El Condor Pasa – Ba Khang Nguyen : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0qW9cCnU2yA El Condor Pasa – Simon & Garfunkel Cover: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ml0m2hza7Hk ‘Voodoo Chile’ Cover On Korean String Instrument Will Blow Your Mind Korean string sensation Luna Lee rocks the gayageum. posted on March 30, 2013 at 11:35am EDT http://www.buzzfeed.com/nowthisnews/voodoo-chile-cover-on-korean-string-instrument-w-749g Published on Feb 13, 2013 !!!Luna 2014 February Tours Update Live in Pasadena, CA : USC Pacific Asia Museum February 9, 2:00 PM Hope to see you there!! Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lunaxmusic Luna plays a traditional Korean string, ” Gayageum” Voodoo Chile-Jimi Hendrix / Gayageum ver. by Luna Voodoo Chile-Jimi Hendrix / Gayageum ver. by Luna :http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NfOHjeI-Bns on amazon.com https://www.facebook.com/lunaxmusic Video Clip Hòa Tấu: Nhạc Cụ Dân Tộc : http://mp3.zing.vn/the-loai-video/Nhac-Cu-Dan-Toc/IWZ9Z0AA.html “Voodoo Chile“[1] is a song written by Jimi Hendrix and recorded in 1968 for the Jimi Hendrix Experience album Electric Ladyland. The song is Hendrix’s longest studio recording and features additional musicians in what has been described as a “studio jam”.[2] “Voodoo Chile” is based on earlier blues songs and became the basis for Hendrix’s “Voodoo Child (Slight Return)“, “one of Jimi Hendrix’s best-known and influential songs”.[3]

to^n ddi.nh left this album out on top of CD heap …

December 5, 2006, 11:04 am
America’s Breadbasket Moves to Canada?
By TOM ZELLER JR.
http://thelede.blogs.nytimes.com/?module=BlogMain&action=Click&region=Header&pgtype=Blogs&version=Blog Post&contentCollection=General

voodoo child: no wonder Gia Ba?o fears/so+. Hoa`ng Phi Hu`ng … kayleigh and kayden: kay ~ ca^y ~ tree … tree life and tree dde^`n/made-up/remunerated

Artist: Guns n Roses lyrics
Title: Sweet Child O’ Mine

She’s got a smile that it seems to me
Reminds me of childhood memories
Where evrything
Was as fresh as the bright blue sky
Now and then when I see her face
She takes me away to that special place
And if I stared too long
I’d probably break down and cry
Sweet child o’ mine
Sweet love of mine
She’s got eyes of the bluest skies
As if they thought of rain
I hate to look into those eyes
And see an ounce of pain
Her hair reminds me of a warm safe place
Where as a child I’d hide
And pray for the thunder
And the rain
To quietly pass me by
Sweet child o’ mine
Sweet love of mine
Where do we go
Where do we go now
Where do we go
Sweet child o’ mine
[ These are Sweet Child O’ Mine Lyrics on http://www.lyricsmania.com/ ]

http://www.lyricsmania.com/sweet_child_o_mine_lyrics_guns_n_roses.html

“Voodoo Chile” evolved from “Catfish Blues”, a song which Hendrix performed regularly during 1967 and early 1968. “Catfish Blues” was a homage to Muddy Waters, made up of a medley of verses based on Waters’ songs, including “Rollin’ Stone“, “Still a Fool”, and “Rollin’ and Tumblin’“.[4] In April 1968, Hendrix recorded a number of solo demos in a New York hotel,[5] including an early “Voodoo Chile”, which “he’d been refining privately for some months”.[6] It used elements of “Catfish Blues” with new lyrics by Hendrix and included a vocal and guitar unison line. “Voodoo Chile” has been called “virtually a chronological guided tour of blues styles” ranging from early Delta blues, through the electric blues of Muddy Waters and John Lee Hooker, to the more sophisticated style of B.B. King, and the “cosmic blurt” of John Coltrane.[7] Lyrically, the song is “part of a long, long line of supernatural brag songs”. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Voodoo_Chile

California Governor Edmund Brown declares drought State of Emergency during a press conference in San Francisco, Calif., on Friday, Jan. 17, 2014. Brown directed state officials to assist farmers and communities that are economically impacted by dry conditions. (John Green/Bay Area News Group)…. Brown was governor in 1976 and 1977, one of California’s most severe dry periods in the 20th century. The most recent extended drought was from 1987 to 1992. The last governor to declare a drought emergency was Arnold Schwarzenegger, who did so during a period of low rainfall in 2008 and 2009. Brown lifted that declaration in 2011 after a wet winter. http://www.mercurynews.com/science/ci_24933924/california-drought-emergency-declared-by-gov-jerry-brown  

The catastrophic drought of 2012 has lingered on in some parts of the United States, while other areas of the country have slipped back into dry conditions. U.S. Drought Monitor statistics released recently show that approximately half of the contiguous U.S. now suffers some degree of drought. Multi-year drought tortures the western half of the United States, especially in portions of Texas, western Kansas, Nebraska, Nevada, California and the Four Corners states, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor’s latest maps. These ongoing dry conditions contributed to the wildfires that devoured forests and homes in the western United States this year. However, there has been some improvement. Less of the western United States suffers under “exceptional” and “extreme” drought than at the start of this year. In January, The National Drought Mitigation Center classified 6.75 percent of the Lower 48 as in “exceptional” drought and 21.31 percent as “extreme.” Those statistics have dropped to 1.25 percent and 9.86 percent, respectively. http://news.discovery.com/earth/weather-extreme-events/drought-tortures-half-of-us-130906.htm

JOHN FOGERTY LYRICS “Have You Ever Seen The Rain?” Someone told me long ago There’s a calm before the storm I know It’s been comin’ for some time When it’s over, so they say It’ll rain a sunny day I know Shinin’ down like water I wanna know, have you ever seen the rain I wanna know, have you ever seen the rain Comin’ down on a sunny day Yesterday and days before Sun is cold and rain is hard I know Been that way for all my time Till forever on it goes Through the circle fast and slow I know It can’t stop, I wonder I wanna know, have you ever seen the rain I wanna know, have you ever seen the rain Comin’ down on a sunny day Yeah I wanna know, have you ever seen the rain I wanna know, have you ever seen the rain Comin’ down on a sunny day Writer(s): John C. Fogerty, J. C. Fogerty Copyright: Jondora Music http://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/johnfogerty/haveyoueverseentherain.htm l

The Rain Prayer: Did it Really work ?

Sh Hamza speaking at the Rain Prayer in Pleasanton, CA. Image Copyright Irfan Rydhan

As most people know, California is going through one of the worst droughts in it’s history. 2013 was the driest weather in California in the last 400 years!   Many of the world’s religions have special supplications (“Duas” in arabic) and prayers for rain. In fact many Christian Churches across California as well as many of the Western States of the United States have been asking their congregations to pray and fast in hopes that God will give us much needed rain. In religion of Islam, the Prophet Muhammad (S) also taught the Muslims a specific prayer to ask Allah (“God” in english) for rain. In Arabic it’s called “Salatul Istisqa.” On February 1st, 2014 the American Muslim community of the San Francisco Bay Area organized one of the largest prayers for rain at the Alameda County Fairgrounds in Pleasanton, CA. Over 1,000 people participated. It was a bright and sunny day with no clouds in the sky. (You can see some nice pics of the event from the SJ Mercury News.) The next day (Sunday Feb 2nd, 2014), not only did it rain, but it was the largest rainfall in California in 2014 (up to that point)! Since we are living in a “Modern” and “Secular” world, where Science is King, there were many skeptics and unfortunately several “Muslims” also asked if the rain prayer was planned on a date when rain was already in the forecast. I was not one of the organizers of the event (although I did assist with Media Relations before and during the event), I know that the event was planned several weeks in advance when there was no rain in the forecast. Here are some facts about the Rain Prayer event: 1. Imam Tahir Anwar, one of the main organizers of the event, stated to me that the rain prayer was planned during the Grand Mawlid (Celebration of the Prophet Muhammad (S)’s birthday) event at the Santa Clara Marriott on Jan 18th, 2014. 2. They wanted to hold the rain prayer within one week of the Mawlid, but due to a scheduling conflict for Shaykh Hamza Yusuf, they selected the date of Sat Feb 1st to hold the prayer service. 3. They began advertising the event on January 25th, 2014. At that time there was no rain in the forecast and in fact according to Almanac.com, the forecast for the Bay Area weekend of Feb 1st – 3rd was “sunny and mild“! Now, for those people who claim the date of Feb 1st was selected because rain was in the forecast that weekend, they are clearly incorrect. But here is some additional facts about Muslims praying for rain BEFORE the scheduled Feb 1st event: 1. During the night of the Grand Mawlid (Jan 18th, 2014) a pamphlet which contained a long Dua (supplication) for rain was passed out to all the attendees (over 1,000 people) at the event and this special prayer for rain was recited at the closing of the program.

Rain Prayer Pamphlet

2. On Jan 11th, 2014 a group of 100 Muslims in Folsom, CA gathered near Folsom Lake and performed the rain prayer as well. Within 5 minutes of starting the prayer it began to sprinkle rain (See Video Clip here)! So who says that these two incidents are not the reason why it started to rain more within the following weeks? Even though it rained heavily in the Bay Area the day after the larger prayer for rain in Pleasanton on Feb 2nd (see the article in the Contra Costa Times), we as believing Muslims do not know which prayer was accepted or whose specific prayer that God answered. At the Alameda County Fairgrounds there were several non-Muslims who also attended and joined in the prayer for rain – including a man with a dog, who also was sitting in the last row of the men’s prayer lines. So perhaps God accepted the dog’s prayer? All joking aside, in our Dua (supplication), we ask God to give water to the plants and animals and ask God not to punish them as well as the innocent children for our sins.

Rain Dua (supplication)