Hey Obama! It's nice that you're in the white house, but stop screwing up my TV with your damn inauguration!
Yeah, I know. I don't watch that much television, but I like to have the freedom. A giant party dedicated to the new supreme leader of the new world order is more than I can stand. I can't believe the amount of money they're pouring into a celebration dedicated to someone who is a public servant, and who will likely break the hearts of Americans when he screws it up. What's that? He's not going to make a mistake? He is after all Barrack Obama, A.K.A. son of the black Jesus, the second coming. Give me a break. He's human, and like all politicians likely corrupt to some degree. The old adage 'absolute power corrupts absolutely' still holds true. If you believe American culture, then the President is master of the world, but that will just make his fall from grace all the greater. I confess that I do not know what George Bush senior could have done to hurt his image other than puking on the Japanese head of state, but if you look at the two who succeeded him, then you have to wonder if it's going to be a trend. President Clinton slept with an intern, and President Bush divided the country so badly, as well as mismanaged a war, to the point where most of his own nation hates him. Has there been president since Eisenhower who hasn't had a storm cloud or shadow following him? Even then I can't think of a President who has not manipulated world affairs, or helped to create war.
I'm willing to go back to Afghanistan again. Just one more time. I don't want to be having the same moral and ethical arguments with myself over going a third time. The war is going on too long, and it all started with a 'terrorist attack' on U.S. soil. I'm kind of a conspiracy theorist, and the evidence for 9/11 just doesn't add up to me, but then again maybe I'm influenced by the things that I see, and there's not one right-wing film maker that is out there that has bothered to offer a counter argument about why things came to be. To most people on the right it is what it is, an attack that should have never happened, and the war is now a result of that attack. Maybe I want to believe that things are going to change right away. Maybe I want to believe that the new President will be able to snap his fingers and alter the state of the world. After all his platform was about change, about a new dawning of America. Maybe he'll fix the softwood lumber trade, re-invigorate the automobile sector, find alternative energy, and put man back on the moon and send someone to Mars. Maybe he'll heal the rift in the Middle East, find a way to end all war, and bring the world together in peace. Maybe...... More likely maybe he'll be corrupted worse than he likely is, start another war somewhere, plunge the world further into despair, and potentially be assassinated. Wow. That last piece is scary. But you have to believe that the first black President has someone gunning for him. J.F.K. got hit, and he was extremely popular. Even Ronald Regan had a nut job stalking him. What's makes you think that Barrack Obama is bullet proof? I hope for his sake that everything goes well, because instability in North America is at an all time high between the wars, trade problems, the lousy economy, and a plethora of minor issues. I don't need a phone call in the middle of the night telling me I'm on a Domestic Operation because the country decided to fall apart. The older I get the more tired I get of hearing about young men and women in body bags over a conflict that should never have happened.
So Mr. Obama you better not be a disappointment. I've lost faith in Canadian politicians, I rather not loose faith in international leaders as well. Someone has to be sensible.
Freeman
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
True North, Strong And Free
Arctic sovereignty. It's been in the papers the last little while, maybe more so now than in the last few years. There's questions being raised about how far north Canada's borders extend. The United States claims that the Northwest Passage should be an international waterway, even though it's still very dangerous to traverse, and is impassable for a good part of the year. Either way many countries believe we do not own the north. Bollocks I say.
The only reason our arctic sovereignty would ever be called into question is because of the vast amounts of untapped resources there are in the north. Greed is why the U.S. challenges our claim, our internationally recognized claim, to the north. Bush stated that it will need these resources to continue its way of life. Fine. You want to the north Mr. Bush? You've got Alaska. Now shut-up, keep packing, and don't let the door knob hit your arse on the way out. Hopefully Mr. Obama will be more agreeable. There would be nothing more fruitless than engaging in a war with the U.S. over northern resources. Nothing good would ever come of it. The resources the U.S. needs, namely oil, could just as easily come from the Middle East, or Russia, if they decide to sit down and negotiate a deal over it. If we choose to leave our own land alone then so be it.
No amount of neighbourly bullying should change our stance on developing the arctic. The borders of Canada extend beyond the arctic circle, past Baffin Island, past the Queen Elizabeth Islands, to the northern outpost CFB Alert on the northern part of Ellesmere Island. These are our lands, Canadian lands, and if anyone wants to make claim to that which is ours, then they'll have to make it past the Canadian Forces first, because we aren't giving it up without a fight.
Freeman
The only reason our arctic sovereignty would ever be called into question is because of the vast amounts of untapped resources there are in the north. Greed is why the U.S. challenges our claim, our internationally recognized claim, to the north. Bush stated that it will need these resources to continue its way of life. Fine. You want to the north Mr. Bush? You've got Alaska. Now shut-up, keep packing, and don't let the door knob hit your arse on the way out. Hopefully Mr. Obama will be more agreeable. There would be nothing more fruitless than engaging in a war with the U.S. over northern resources. Nothing good would ever come of it. The resources the U.S. needs, namely oil, could just as easily come from the Middle East, or Russia, if they decide to sit down and negotiate a deal over it. If we choose to leave our own land alone then so be it.
No amount of neighbourly bullying should change our stance on developing the arctic. The borders of Canada extend beyond the arctic circle, past Baffin Island, past the Queen Elizabeth Islands, to the northern outpost CFB Alert on the northern part of Ellesmere Island. These are our lands, Canadian lands, and if anyone wants to make claim to that which is ours, then they'll have to make it past the Canadian Forces first, because we aren't giving it up without a fight.
Freeman
Wednesday, January 7, 2009
Flying Saucers
I just finished watching an interview with Dan Ackroyd involving his theories and beliefs about UFOs and extraterrestrials and such. Surprisingly it wasn't that spectacular, although a lot of the footage was interesting. It did however make me wonder why this still hasn't been cleared up yet. Why has the government not bothered to put this baby to bed? Most people that are out there seem to believe in life beyond the Earth's boundaries, and many still believe that the government is involved in some kind of cover up. So why not just admit it?
I have to wonder if the policy makers believe that if it got out there were aliens visiting earth, that the general populace would drop everything, start praying to extraterrestrial deities, and break out the tinfoil hats. That would be extraordinary indeed. Imagine the ruckus that would ensue, with new age hippies coming out to party, and conspiracy theorist running henny-penny through the streets shouting "I told you so!"
Ridiculous. Most people would probably sit around for a while and say "Huh. Guess I should have seen that one coming. I wonder what's on TV tonight?" Life would continue. The only conceivable interruption would be if the aliens were invading, or if they showed up right then and there on television rocking the Vulcan greeting or some such. Chances are most people, even though they may believe in E.T., do not go through the day thinking about it too much. It pretty much isn't going to be talked about at work, or come up in a church sermon (unless you're a Raelian maybe), or even be discussed at your local comic book store. Popular culture has given us so much fantasy on the subject that even if you had the information handed to you by the President of the United States, you would likely not freak out. The Alien Autopsy video, Area 51, Roswell, and a slew of other topics have become so ingrained in our social fabric that revelation of an other worldly civilization would incite debate if anything, but not mass panic. Someone would laugh, someone would cry, and many others would use it as an excuse to party if anything. Fringe spirituality would take off like a rocket and the 'crazy people' would come out of the woodwork. People would get over it, and gas prices would still be high, 'Friends' would still be on the tube, and TV diners would still suck.
The governments unwillingness to reveal any and all information on the subject was probably one of the worst decisions ever made. Not only did they have to waste money keeping it under wraps, honest people have been made to be publicly discredited and their lives ruined. It's no wonder that no one trusts the government when they spend time making the problems they fight against. When you create war, lies, misspend tax dollars and engage in shady dealings who is going to trust you to take care of them? Public service, in Canada at least, is a sham with a good cover story. The UFO thing is the tip of the iceberg, because if the public ever found out what the government was actually doing away from prying eyes there would likely be revolt. Or maybe that's why they haven't confirmed the existence of alien beings, because as the song goes 'one thing leads to another.'
So let's get past this trivial thing. Come on Mr. Prime Minister. Let's go Mr. President. It's time to tell us what we already know: that we aren't alone, that aliens have been visiting us for a long time, that you've made a mistake and have told us mistruths that you want to set right. No more bullying, or coercion, just the truth. I'd like to know what's coming so I can get my tinfoil hat ready.
Freeman
I have to wonder if the policy makers believe that if it got out there were aliens visiting earth, that the general populace would drop everything, start praying to extraterrestrial deities, and break out the tinfoil hats. That would be extraordinary indeed. Imagine the ruckus that would ensue, with new age hippies coming out to party, and conspiracy theorist running henny-penny through the streets shouting "I told you so!"
Ridiculous. Most people would probably sit around for a while and say "Huh. Guess I should have seen that one coming. I wonder what's on TV tonight?" Life would continue. The only conceivable interruption would be if the aliens were invading, or if they showed up right then and there on television rocking the Vulcan greeting or some such. Chances are most people, even though they may believe in E.T., do not go through the day thinking about it too much. It pretty much isn't going to be talked about at work, or come up in a church sermon (unless you're a Raelian maybe), or even be discussed at your local comic book store. Popular culture has given us so much fantasy on the subject that even if you had the information handed to you by the President of the United States, you would likely not freak out. The Alien Autopsy video, Area 51, Roswell, and a slew of other topics have become so ingrained in our social fabric that revelation of an other worldly civilization would incite debate if anything, but not mass panic. Someone would laugh, someone would cry, and many others would use it as an excuse to party if anything. Fringe spirituality would take off like a rocket and the 'crazy people' would come out of the woodwork. People would get over it, and gas prices would still be high, 'Friends' would still be on the tube, and TV diners would still suck.
The governments unwillingness to reveal any and all information on the subject was probably one of the worst decisions ever made. Not only did they have to waste money keeping it under wraps, honest people have been made to be publicly discredited and their lives ruined. It's no wonder that no one trusts the government when they spend time making the problems they fight against. When you create war, lies, misspend tax dollars and engage in shady dealings who is going to trust you to take care of them? Public service, in Canada at least, is a sham with a good cover story. The UFO thing is the tip of the iceberg, because if the public ever found out what the government was actually doing away from prying eyes there would likely be revolt. Or maybe that's why they haven't confirmed the existence of alien beings, because as the song goes 'one thing leads to another.'
So let's get past this trivial thing. Come on Mr. Prime Minister. Let's go Mr. President. It's time to tell us what we already know: that we aren't alone, that aliens have been visiting us for a long time, that you've made a mistake and have told us mistruths that you want to set right. No more bullying, or coercion, just the truth. I'd like to know what's coming so I can get my tinfoil hat ready.
Freeman
Tuesday, January 6, 2009
Invasion of the motivation snatchers!
Ugh. Work. You all know the feeling. Awakening to the sound of a blaring alarm and cracking your eyelids to a semi-darkened room with the realization that yet again you have to drag yourself back to that ungrateful job. As of late I've been feeling the pinch a little too much.
Where did my motivation go? Am I depressed? Is there something wrong with me medically? Likely not. What has happened is that you, like so many of us, have awakened to the fact that you just don't like the job you have. There's something about it that brings out the worst in you, or makes it almost unbearable. It could be the mindlessness of it, or maybe an annoying co-worker. You've lost your lust for what you thought would be an exciting career, or at least a really fun job. I have to wonder if our problems are rooted in that one word itself. Job.
Anytime something turns into work it usually sucks the life right out of it. After all your hobbies are fun right? And a hobby can be something that you thoroughly enjoy, devoting a lot of time and energy to the pursuit of a self oriented goal. Building that next model rocket, or designing your killer robot. Even experimenting in the kitchen with a new recipe. Somewhere out there someone who is not a geneticist finds genetics fascinating, and reads things about it. Now let's take those rocketeering-killer-robot-building-kitchen-counter-geneticists and tell them that they can do all this full time with actual resources. 'Wow!' they'll say. 'Now I'll be able to really learn about my passions!' Not so fast. There's a caveat as with all things, and the caveat is this: We want results from your hobby. Your pay cheque is now built upon your ability to show us that you've got what it takes, and by pay cheque we mean survival. You can explore all you want, but anything you produce is ours. Now just after writing that I felt my own soul sag just a little. There's two things at play here. The first being the fact that yes you must earn a living because nothing is free. However everyone in this world would like to not have the stress of an axe hanging over them waiting to drop at any given moment. Let's face it in these uncertain economic times most people run the risk of a job loss, or at least their risk has increased. The money you require to 'live' can be taken away at any given point, so it's almost better to learn to live with very little in the first place. Second is the idea of 'Intellectual Property'. This is a big one with me. I am under the firm belief that my work is my own. Yes my employer gave me the resources to be able to achieve my goals, but I did the work, came up with the ideas, and without me my goals may have never been realized for the benefit of the company. But what if I come up with a really great idea that's just beyond the scope of my job, and I act on it during my lunch breaks, or take a few minutes on a company computer to type up something on a word processing program. Does the company have the right to claim ownership of my work then. Possibly from what I understand. Wonderful. So that idea just stifles any want to excel, because now I can't get ahead, and to realize anything above and beyond my job, I have to work at home. Suddenly there's no leisure time. Crap. Life sucks. I think I'll go home and just sit on my ass, numb my brain with television, and wait for bed time to creep up on me. Now I think about tomorrow and how much that is going to suck now as well. Money and lack of freedom have brought me to my knees. I don't want to explore anymore, I just want to cry into my beer at the end of the day.
The job has sucked the zeal out of you. You might as well just pack it in and wait for retirement.
I hate this feeling. I love the feeling of inspiration, which I occasionally get from seeing a good movie, or making a new contact on my radio, even watching a decent documentary. It's probably why I love Discovery Channel so much. The world is a fascinating and vibrant place, full of wonder and enjoyment. But it seems that upon entering adulthood when responsibility and accountability kick in the zest for life diminishes slightly. Life becomes a job, based on your results. Fear of failure is more common than you think, which is why people are reluctant to try anything. Could you imagine someone walking up to you saying "Don't worry about it. You're taken care of. Go and see what's over that horizon." That thought lifts my spirit. I would be grabbing at every opportunity, learning as much as I could, because that's what life is partly about: learning. It's how we go forward as a species, and as a society, but kind of hard to do when you're stuck working a factory assembly line all day, or punching out computer code that you don't care about.
Being 'free' to explore life is something that only the rich can do, and they seem to squander it from where I'm standing. There's so much to learn, and so many things to see and do. For now I guess I'll have to be content with waiting for the end.
Freeman
Where did my motivation go? Am I depressed? Is there something wrong with me medically? Likely not. What has happened is that you, like so many of us, have awakened to the fact that you just don't like the job you have. There's something about it that brings out the worst in you, or makes it almost unbearable. It could be the mindlessness of it, or maybe an annoying co-worker. You've lost your lust for what you thought would be an exciting career, or at least a really fun job. I have to wonder if our problems are rooted in that one word itself. Job.
Anytime something turns into work it usually sucks the life right out of it. After all your hobbies are fun right? And a hobby can be something that you thoroughly enjoy, devoting a lot of time and energy to the pursuit of a self oriented goal. Building that next model rocket, or designing your killer robot. Even experimenting in the kitchen with a new recipe. Somewhere out there someone who is not a geneticist finds genetics fascinating, and reads things about it. Now let's take those rocketeering-killer-robot-building-kitchen-counter-geneticists and tell them that they can do all this full time with actual resources. 'Wow!' they'll say. 'Now I'll be able to really learn about my passions!' Not so fast. There's a caveat as with all things, and the caveat is this: We want results from your hobby. Your pay cheque is now built upon your ability to show us that you've got what it takes, and by pay cheque we mean survival. You can explore all you want, but anything you produce is ours. Now just after writing that I felt my own soul sag just a little. There's two things at play here. The first being the fact that yes you must earn a living because nothing is free. However everyone in this world would like to not have the stress of an axe hanging over them waiting to drop at any given moment. Let's face it in these uncertain economic times most people run the risk of a job loss, or at least their risk has increased. The money you require to 'live' can be taken away at any given point, so it's almost better to learn to live with very little in the first place. Second is the idea of 'Intellectual Property'. This is a big one with me. I am under the firm belief that my work is my own. Yes my employer gave me the resources to be able to achieve my goals, but I did the work, came up with the ideas, and without me my goals may have never been realized for the benefit of the company. But what if I come up with a really great idea that's just beyond the scope of my job, and I act on it during my lunch breaks, or take a few minutes on a company computer to type up something on a word processing program. Does the company have the right to claim ownership of my work then. Possibly from what I understand. Wonderful. So that idea just stifles any want to excel, because now I can't get ahead, and to realize anything above and beyond my job, I have to work at home. Suddenly there's no leisure time. Crap. Life sucks. I think I'll go home and just sit on my ass, numb my brain with television, and wait for bed time to creep up on me. Now I think about tomorrow and how much that is going to suck now as well. Money and lack of freedom have brought me to my knees. I don't want to explore anymore, I just want to cry into my beer at the end of the day.
The job has sucked the zeal out of you. You might as well just pack it in and wait for retirement.
I hate this feeling. I love the feeling of inspiration, which I occasionally get from seeing a good movie, or making a new contact on my radio, even watching a decent documentary. It's probably why I love Discovery Channel so much. The world is a fascinating and vibrant place, full of wonder and enjoyment. But it seems that upon entering adulthood when responsibility and accountability kick in the zest for life diminishes slightly. Life becomes a job, based on your results. Fear of failure is more common than you think, which is why people are reluctant to try anything. Could you imagine someone walking up to you saying "Don't worry about it. You're taken care of. Go and see what's over that horizon." That thought lifts my spirit. I would be grabbing at every opportunity, learning as much as I could, because that's what life is partly about: learning. It's how we go forward as a species, and as a society, but kind of hard to do when you're stuck working a factory assembly line all day, or punching out computer code that you don't care about.
Being 'free' to explore life is something that only the rich can do, and they seem to squander it from where I'm standing. There's so much to learn, and so many things to see and do. For now I guess I'll have to be content with waiting for the end.
Freeman
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