Global Swarming is More Like It

So there's a lot of talk about Global Warming these days. Like a lot of folks, or perhaps a bit more due to my nature of loving . . . nature and trying to be as responsible a lad as posssible, I've been paying attention to what's going on.

I'd like to think that I'm a bit ahead of the curve, actually. How, you ask?
Well, as a 12-year vegan with no kids and no car, who takes 3 minute showers (not daily), turns the lights off like a good boy, only heats the room he's in, etc. etc., I'm pretty comfortable with my conscious effort to not make more of a mess than I have to while I'm here.

And, of course, I've done my share of reading and research.
Funny thing is, the older I get, the less I believe what I read. By that, I probably mean that I trust what I read less and less every day. And believe me, I don't go looking for it very much. I don't watch (or own) a television or a radio and I don't read full-on newspapers because, honestly, there is simply too much information that does not pertain to 'my' world or that needs to be in my brain.
Why read about things that I have no intention of thinking or doing anything about? Seriously

So, global warming has become just another thing to pass the time with me. I'm really kind of apathetic towards it all.
The more I do read and see, the more I believe that there truly is more on an economic and political agenda driving this and any other 'major' issue. The environment will lag behind for a good while longer, I'm afraid.
And yet, I'm more optimistic than ever that the environment will outlast us all, not that she even cares.

With nearly 8 billion of us infesting the planet, cooking and creating heat, I still don't think it's all that likely that we are cooking the planet and I'll tell you why.
Again, I really don't care if the reason that the globe is warming is due to man-made causes or not. There are plenty of other man-made issues to clamor about: war, violence, abuse, rape, general inequalities, religion and politics of getting along being a few minor ones.
The main reason I don't care anymore is that I'm starting to not want to be part of the collective ego that IS humanity for thinking that every little (and big) thing that we do is the be-all and end-all of everything.
Newsflash, people - the earth was here before us and will be here after.
In 100 years, hardly any of you living now will be here.
So, I say this - relax, but be responsible about the things you do and the life you live. But live your life, for life's sake.

Human's didn't invent the earth or anything like it. We're just riding along and experiencing our lives, individually and together.
In the scale of the universe, we're a speck of dust and yet to one another we can be everything.
But I don't think I actually believe that we are the cause of every effect of what we see and have only been measuring for 100 short years. Check some 'real' stats and you'll see mini warm and cool periods worse than this just in the last 1000 years.

So what if it does warm up? Move north! Move away from the coast.
Humans aren't really that stupid as to not adapt. We have before and we will again.
And, if not, then we don't really deserve to live on this lovely planet and that's just the way it goes.

Enjoy yourself but be fair, with yourself, with others and with our planet.

Thanks

Has it been that long?

Since I've had something to complain about?
Hell no. Just been doing other things.

But, seeing as how I've started on the subject of complaining, I have a fine example of why I prefer Europe to North America (and perhaps the West Coast, specifically).

I take the bus to work almost daily, so I get to do something I enjoy doing (when I don't let it frustrate me) - observe humanity.

Now, to exit some busses from the back door requires little more than follow a simple step or two. On some, you step down and this activates the door. Simple - and most people get this one, even by default, as they instinctively step towards the door once the bus has stopped at their stop anyway.
BUT, some of the newer, low-profile busses with no step have another method of getting the door to open.
You see, on the doors (2) there is a long, yellow sticker.
On this sticker are the words (paraphrasing) - To Open Door Put Hand Here, above and below a picture of a hand which is shown to scale. This hand has an arrow pointing to it from above and below.

Here is where old world sensibility outshines the new world order.

9 times out of 10, and perhaps I'm being generous, I watch our local population enact the following scenarios:
- waiting at the back door after the bus has stopped for the door to open by itself
- staring at the door, then putting their hand anywhere BUT where it is shown
- growing impatient, many folks will start pushing on the door (and only with luck going over the designated location to activate it opening)
- growing even more impatient, yelling 'BACK DOOR, BACK DOOR!' as if the bus driver is secretly revelling in keeping them and their rude behaviour on the bus longer.

I watch some people do one or more of these things EVERY DAMN DAY.

A moment of magic and reassurance about humans greeted me the other day, however, courtesy of two elderly German tourists.
After the ride home, into downtown, the couple (who spoke German and some English - yes, I like to listen to people's conversations on the bus) rang the bell, then proceeded to the door as it approached the stop. Just before it reached the stop, they both looked at the door, understood their course of action and one of them placed a hand exactly over the graphic on the door indicating hand placemnt.
The door opened, and the left.
I was so proud of them and reminded once again as to why we have to get the hell out of here.

Honestly.
Without seeming hostile or bitter, but just observational, I am constantly reminded of how all of our 'individualism' and 'free spirit' attitude here is really just an excuse for egotism, greedy actions and plain old rude behaviour.
I long for a world where people are nice, polite, honest, hard-working and non-violent - and while that may never come to pass, I'll take a bit more maturity anytime.

Stay tuned for more fine examples of humanity showing that the 'me' generation is only growing stronger.

*sigh*

See . . . OH, two

When I was a kid I would sometimes sleep completely under the covers, for many reasons.
Of course, there's the everpresent boogey-man (or 'boogerman' as Mr. Burns so eloquently put it) hiding in the closet or the unknown hand ready to strike from under the bed.
Sometimes I was just cold and wanted to be all warm - your own warm breath can do that, if you've brushed your teeth before bed.
Every now and then I just wanted that feeling of quiet and solitude - of being in my own little world.

Whatever the reason, though, I ALWAYS wondered one thing - how, if I'm under this bed and every time I breathe in I use up a certain amount of oxygen and every time I breathe out I expel a certain amount of carbon dioxide, how is it that I don't just run out of air that is fit to breathe and succumb to the stale carbon dioxide-filled atmosphere I've created in there.
How . . . HOW???

Somehow, it just works out.
Now, if I could just stop thinking about the coat on the chair in the corner of the room . . .

No Misteriosis

All kidding aside and condolences to those who have suffered . . . is it really a surprise that we are having yet another food crisis?
Seriously, if you actually knew how most of your food was made, preserved, transported, handled and all the rest, you probably wouldn't eat at all.
And, of course, if you're a meat-eater (a pox on you all *L*), then it gets even worse.

You can take your health into your own hands, though - not by demanding the government inspect food better or make super great labels to read, but by eating more simply.
Shop at the farmer's market. Buy local and organic produce.
Buy less processed and packaged foodstuffs.
Buy less food per shopping trip but shop more often.

I'm surprised that people are still surprised when these bacterial outbreaks happen, as if we live in a safe and sterile world - if only, then maybe we wouldn't have to many mouths to feed. HA!

I'm often at a crossroads with what to think about the whole situation anyway. On the one hand, we should all have access to safe food. On the other hand, how many of us know or care or take the time to make these decisions properly. On the other hand, maybe this is nature's way of balancing things out - after all, for those that know me, know that I advocate the reduction of the human population as an essential step towards overall world peace, health and safety. On the other hand . . .
Too many hands.

Survey Says!

Did you know that your opinion counts!? Really!

I thought mine did, at least until I started taking surveys.
I like taking surveys and voicing my opinion.

Since I've signed up for and been involved with two national survey companies, however, it's making me feel like I'm still living very far outside 'the box' (while living inside this box apartment).

You see, I take a lot of surveys, but oftentimes don't even make it all the way to the end, or even past the first set of questions!

Sometimes, I'm too old.
Sometimes I'm in the wrong location.
Sometimes I'm the wrong sex.

But invariably, it has to do with the content itself.
The type of companies that commission surveys are invariably the type of companies I don't support in the first place - those that aggressively market useless, harmful or frivolous products to the masses.
I don't drink a lot, I don't smoke at all and I don't visit fast-food restaurants.
I don't watch TV, listen to the radio or read newspapers much.
(HOW the hell do I know what's going on, you ask?)

The surveys I do get to partake in are usually more general and all-encompassing.
I get excited when I get to have some input regarding the environment, recycyling, personal responsibility and options for using less.
It's amazing how you feel good about yourself when you're able to contribute to something and perhaps make a difference.
I long ago vowed to do that simply by being myself and letting everything else happen as it may.

Of course, every now and then I'd just like to make it past the first question.
As times change, which I think they are, I have a feeling that the first question is also going to change, thus opening the door for Steve to feel like he's an active part of society, once and for all.

Four Thousand Fifteen

Days.
That I've 'known' Nila in this lifetime.
Very shortly after we met, I had a dream of her and I (and her father, the shopkeeper) in an old general store in the wild west, so perhaps it's been a bit longer . . . ya think?

Today is the 11 year anniversary of the evening we met.
Today is therefore the 4015th day that I've woken up happier than the day before.
I still smile every time I see her, even if I just returned from going into the other room and back!
We still hold hands, sit on the same side of the bench at restaurants and walk down the street smiling and laughing as we entertain ourselves.
We fall asleep holding hands and often wake up the same way.

Nila is my best friend and my true love.

Below is the story of how we met . . .
___________________________
I met my true love, my soulmate, on the internet at 10:30 in the evening on the 21st day of August, 1997. I'll never forget - it was only the second or third time I had chatted on the 'net, and was just looking for someone to talk to, during a dark, lonely period in my life. Never in my wildest dreams did I imagine what was to happen.
It all started innocently enough, during an evening of conversation in an open chat room (the Canadian room at 'The Park'), when one of the people in the room asked everyone what their favourite movie was and why. So, being the open and honest person that I am, I replied to the room, using the nickname 'Scorpion', that I loved 'Dances With Wolves' because it spoke very deeply to me about what we, white people, have done to the native north americans, and it made me feel very ashamed of 'my' race from then on. I even said that I cried afterwards, and was unable to speak about the movie for a short time for all the emotions it brought up. That's when a fiesty girl chimed in, using the handle 'Alarum' (a song off the recent Tea Party CD, Transmission) and sent me a private message, saying simply, 'Scorpios don't cry!'. And I messaged her right back saying, 'Well this one does, and isn't the least bit ashamed'. From there, we kind of forgot about the chat 'room' we were in, and just talked to each other. I asked her what her name meant, and that led to talking about the Tea Party, and music in general. She asked if my handle alluded to the fact that I am a Scorpio, and I replied it did, and that led to us talking about us both being Scorpios, and what typical traits we shared. As the night went on we talked for over 3 hours about life, about music, about being Scorpio, about anything and everything, and didn't want to say good-bye, even that first time together. I didn't sleep much that night, but simply tossed our conversation around in my head, already anticipating hearing from her again. Something clicked. Something was not just a little bit right - no, something was exactly right, for the first time in both our lives.
Every day after that, we e-mailed or chatted online, asking each other every question we could think of, and stating our likes and dislikes, which always earned a positive reply of 'Me too!'. For weeks, we communicated this way, and not once did we disagree on anything about life or what interested us, both of us knowing and feeling that the other was being completely open and honest. It seemed surreal at the time How could anyone else be so perfect, we both thought!.
One topic we discussed a lot was music. We are both music lovers, and learned quickly that we shared most of the same interests in music. Although separated in age by 13 years, there didn't seem to be any music that one of us liked, that the other didn't know about. I was simply astounded by this circumstance, as I had just written a 'wish list' for the perfect partner, and a love of music was definately near the top of the list. Here she was.
So, as our talk of music continued, we would often put a quote from a lyric at the bottom of our e-mails to each other, or just use an appropriate lyric in conversation. We also got used to finishing each other's sentences with a lyric, or simply finishing each other's sentences! One day, at the bottom an e-mail, were the lines:
'confess what you crave
a life without pain
you'd kill for the taste
but the hurt still remains'

Surprising myself, I recognized the lines right away as being from the most recent Tea Party CD, Transmission. Nila, being a huge fan of the Tea Party at the time, had influenced me to buy this CD, as well as their first two CD's. In fact, I actually had one of their CD's, 'Alhambra', but had never really listened to it until I met her.
The song that the lines come from, is 'Emerald', and when I read the lyrics closely -felt the lyrics go through me - I cried for knowing exactly how she heard the song when she would listen to it. I replied to her the next day, explaining how I felt when I listened to the song as I know she did, and that I knew what it meant to her. She replied back right away, and said that before we had met, when she heard that song for the first time, she knew she would marry the man who fully understood the meaning of the lyrics to 'her' song, 'Emerald.'
Upon reading her reply, I knew 'I am that man', and so I asked her to marry me, the first time we met . . . and, of course, she said yes. We have now been together for 5 years and 63 days as of the hour of my writing this, without ever spending a day without talking, and then after living together, having never spent a night apart. Although not married 'on paper', we know we have been 'married' forever and always will be.
We are going to see the Tea Party one week from tonight - the fourth time we've seen them (3 of those, together) Sometimes, I wonder what it might mean to the writer of those lyrics, Jeff Martin, if he should know what his words meant that night to these 2 music-loving Scorpios. And sometimes I wonder what he meant by the words he wrote. Every time we see them perform, I look at him and smile, knowing that it doesn't really matter, because we know. And that is the power of music, the power of love. So, what did those lyrics mean? Well, that's a secret, our secret, and our connection, although if Jeff were to ask us, I think we'd tell him.

No Canadian Mettle

I'll have to say that I'm not really surprised that Canada doesn't have any shining round rewards yet at these Olympic Games.
Actually, I don't really follow the Olympics anymore (I used to be a sports fanatic), but I do keep an eye on things.

You see, Canada is a nice country. With nice people. So, it would follow that we have nice athletes.
I've already read a comment from one of our athletes who finished fourth and was overwhelmingly pleased at the result.
I don't get that. If you're not there to win, why go?
Did they not see the video of the wrestler throwing down his silver medal in disgust?
Now that, I respect.

In watching sports during my youth, I was always nervous and apprehensive when it came time for a final including a Canadian. Of course, I was always cheering the 'home' team, but I was never truly confident.
I think this is fairly representative of our fair country, and I think we should own up to it a bit more.
We are a young nation with a young identity, built on peace rather than conflict.
By contrast, our American neighbours fought fiercely for their independance, freedoms and the rights that go with it, and to this day, they are still very competitive.
Back an American into a corner and s/he will probably come out fighting.
Back a Canadian into a corner and s/he will probably smile and ask what's wrong.

I don't think there is anything inherently wrong about our national disposition, I just think we should acknowledge it.
Instead of the government and others coming out partway through the Olympics and admitting that we need to pump more money into sports (to save future face?), it would be nice if we just admitted that that is the Canadian way, and if we win some medals, well then that's fine too.

Great athletes are born and are made. Nations with more people simply have more chances.
Nations with a focus on sports have more chances.
Athletes with a competitive spirit alongside natural talent have the best chances.

Canada will always have some chances and I'm fine with that.

If you ever despair about our Olympic plight, just remember . . . we still have hockey and we haven't declared war on anybody in a long, long time (even then, we were really just tagging along).

Oh yeah - and we have Rush! Heavy mettle, indeed.