Please don't Tel Us

I don't pay too much attention to advertising, in general.
I don't have a tv, rarely read a paper and get by quite well.
When I do see ads, it's sometimes fun to analyze them because I think you can tell a lot about the state of a society by their entertainment and consequently, the ads which are just another form thereof most times.
Some are fun, some are sarcastic, some are informative, some are confusing, some miss the mark and some are very serious about telling you something and some are all of the above.
Some recent Telus ads, though, have really got me irked.
As a moderate user of technology, their ads don't really apply to me. I use their phone and internet service and that's about it. One cellphone, which I use very infrequently. Have text messaged perhaps 5 times in 3 years.
Have you seen these classless ads??
The latest asks: 'How do you turn a sick day into a ski day?
Answers: 'Email work you're under the weather.'
'Text a friend to hit the Sea to Sky on the fly.'
'IM everyone the scoop on all the fresh powder.'
'Call your chiropractor from the chalet.'
While mildly creative, these ads to me are just a thinly veiled attempt to be hip while basically just prodding the already addicted young adult into spending more and more money. All the while flaking out on work - as if folks here in Vancouver actually put in a hard days work, day in and day out.
Their previous similar campaign was aimed at teens - who probably don't even foot the bill - to give them options for how to best break up with someone.

Great job Telus. Impeccable taste and class. Lets perpetuate society's ADD, which is growing to epic proportions) and lack of responsibility.

You're almost prodding me into looking into alternative sources for my communication needs (except that I have no real gripe about that).

Does anybody else see this?

What Would ET Do?

Some days when I'm walking down the street and my peace is temporarily disturbed by some annoying distraction, I ask myself, 'What Would ET Do?'
Other days, when I'm troubled over what to do with my life, I ask myself, 'What Would ET Do?'
And still other times, when I'm just contemplating life and death, love and loss, I simply find my thoughts wandering to another time and another place, and remembering the book, ask myself, 'What Would ET Do?'
I read this book what seems like many many years ago, and yet it is still a part of me in some ways, as it must be for this question to invariably pop into my head.
What would he do?
Yes, ET is a he.
Eckhart Tolle.
His first book, 'The Power of Now' was very profound for me. It had so many 'aha' moments that I kind of lost track. I read it when I was going through a lot of soul-searching and self-discovery.
But there is something that has always niggled away inside me, as usually does, when I'm faced with what looks like a great answer to one of life's big questions.
I truly believe that ET hit a nail directly on the head.
Uncontrolled thought is definitely a disease that of epidemic proportions.
We have been 'bad, bad' boys for doing such terrible things to our Earth, ourselves.
We may be starting to realize this - individually and collectively.
But, for what it's worth, I'm not so sure that it's necessarily a good thing.
What I mean is this - although I would truly love to see everyone living in the moment, living with complete consciousness to what they say and do, I don't see how we would ultimately end up with a 'better world'.
More and more, I am becoming convinced that we are here to have a human experience, unique and individual, one lifetime or many, for better or for worse. Has it ever been any different?
I used to 'dream' of a time when everyone would be 'happy', at peace and enlightened, whatever that now means, but the more I ponder that, the more I realize that I would not necessarily want to live in such a time. Sounds a little boring.
So, whether we are on our way to destroying the planet or saving ourselves and our beautiful Earth, I have decided that I'm just along for the ride, no matter what form it takes.
I've been run over on the sidewalk by too many 'enlightened' folks not paying attention to where they are going to try anymore.
What would ET do if someone ran up to him on the sidewalk and kicked him?
What would he do if he was being attacked by a drunk on the street?
What would he do if the woman he loved didn't love him back?
Just wondering . . .

I am one of the world's richest people

So, they just announced a bunch of billionaires today, and it seems that there are more rich folks than ever! WOW!
Not very surprising, though, as the world is currently in a state of growth on most levels.
Amazing how we can and do measure ourselves by monetary criteria - not just once a year to see who has the most, but also on a daily basis as we judge each other and put each other in our respective places.
Well, despite all of that, I am doing to declare, humbly, that I am indeed one of the richest people in the world, and have been for almost 10 years! HA!
You see, I gained an element of control over my life, my love, my peace and my happiness just over 10 years ago, and haven't really looked back. That's a story for another time, but if I were a betting man, I'd put some cash down on me as doing alright in the riches department.
Just don't check my bank balance, cuz you'd be looking in the wrong place.
Actually restrain from opening my skull or my chest as well - but if you'd like a good tale, just ask and I'll tell you what I know . . .

Talking about the Whether

Pet Peeve.
I've got a few, we all do.
But do we really need to go on and on about whether the weather is going to be this way or that way?
It's one of the many wastes of brain cells that consume too many people's daily thoughts.
The weather is what it is folks, and there's nothing you can do about it.
(oh no, don't get me going on global warming)
Seriously, though - if you need to check the weather because it could actually affect you for the day or the very near future, then go for it. Adjust accordingly.
But please don't bore me with the mundane chit chat that happens all too often. I really don't care for it. When you see me staring into space - right through the weather, in fact - you've lost me.
As I am a polite listener, I realize I don't always help the situation, so I may have to try a few new strategies. Perhaps shouting obscenities or dozing off would be a good start, and very unlike me. I will have to ponder this a bit.
In the meantime, I'm working inside today - and not bemoaning the fact that it is sunny outside, for the first time in days.
I shall attempt to talk to no one today so that I don't have to hear what is right or wrong about the weather today.