Moving

My wife and I are moving in a little over a month. We had been searching for a larger apartment for ages that we could afford. One finally came through.
Now comes the hard part, the physical move. We have to find all of those bloody boxes. We have to wrap all of the plates and glasses. (The ones I haven't already broken that is.) We have a ton of movies that have to be boxed, along with all of those books that have been collected over the years.
Isn't it amazing how much we gather around us?
It won't be easy finding a mover on our budget. When my sister moved, she had to shell out almost eight hundred dollars. There are a few low cost moves in the area, but you get what you pay for with them. Those are the "just toss it in the truck" kind of movers. We have a few really nice things, and it would be nice if they stayed that way.
All things being equal though, moving will be great when it's all over with. We will be in a space where we aren't crawling over each other just to reach the phone. I look forward to getting off of this futon at night. Then there is the kitchen table. We had to get rid of it to make space, and there are a lot of things that would be a lot easier with a table to sit at.
Moving is great, once it's done.

Work, the marvelous and mundane

A couple of posts ago, I mentioned a story character by the name of Odd Thomas, who works as a fry cook in a diner. Previous to that, I had talked about the way we choose our professions and train our kids for them.
I link these two thoughts in this manner. When is a job just what we do to make money, and when is it something more?
I studied law, with the intention of becoming a practicing lawyer. Things didn't turn out that way, but that isn't the point. Along the way, I've held a lot of what people might call menial jobs. I have cooked in a fast food joint, worked in a convenience store and been general kitchen help in a family restaurant.
I have really enjoyed some of these jobs. They were more than that to me. Is it odd to take pride in the best made onion rings in a city? I put my heart and soul into what I was doing at the time. If you really want to, you can make your workplace your own. No matter what the sign on the door says, it's your place, and you keep it as well or as poorly as you want.
Odd Thomas took pride in being the best fry cook he could be. His pancakes had to be the fluffiest, his burgers the juiciest. When I worked at the convenience store, I wanted the shelves to be spotless. I wanted the floors clean enough you could eat off of them. If you can't take pride in a simple place of employment, what is the point of wanting any other profession?
What it comes down to, once again, is the way society looks at the job that we hold. The girl behind the counter at McDonald's is almost invisible. The stock broker in the power suit gets people to turn heads. We have to fancy up titles to make ourselves feel important. You don't want to be introduced as a cook, you want to hear, "My friend is a marvelous chef!" In the corporate world, they make up titles to give people in place of real advancement.
Somewhere, in the bowels of every office complex, is a dark little room with a pasty-faced guy whose job is to make up titles for people who won't be getting raises. None of these jobs involve responsibility or privileges, just longer name plaques outside the cubicle.
Okay, I just channeled "Dilbert" there for a moment.
The point is that we should decide what we want to do based on what we find enjoyable. Society should learn to appreciate all of the jobs that get done, and done well. If you get the Discovery Channel, be sure to watch "Dirty Jobs" once in a while. You never see anyone complaining about how disgusting their line of work is. They are just seeing a need out there, and making it pay for them. Hell, some of them ENJOY the dirty work!
I think a lot of talent is going to waste in colleges and universities because parents have said, "No child of mine is going to stock grocery shelves for a living!" A little direction in life is a good thing, but never stifle what your child LOVES for what is prestigious by society's standards.
To this day, I wonder where I would have ended up if I hadn't gone to university to study. Sure, I may have chosen something I would have to abandon when I became ill, but the time I was there... I could have had so much fun!

Living forever

I'm a firm believer that everyone needs something that gets them out of the house once in a while. As a fairly recently married man (not quite two years), I have to think that this is the saviour of marriages. There is such a thing as too much togetherness. Just ask my wife. She likes the peace and quiet when I get the hell out. Not that she would put it that way.
For my part, I go for a walk every night. This isn't so much a hobby as for my health. My muscles aren't so good, and my weight is way to much. If I don't exercise now, I won't be able to later. Use 'em or lose 'em. This is guaranteed to give my wife thirty minutes without my constant babbling. If I lose a few pounds as a result, hey, it's a win-win situation!
During the summer, I like to fish. I won't eat anything out of this river, so it's pretty much catch and release. Like I said, it's more a case of having a reason to get out of the apartment for a while. Catching fish isn't the point. It's me time, time to just sit and think. When my friend and I used to go out on the boat, we might not even put the lines in the water.
My dad has his own way of getting out, if not off of the property. As a general rule, he has a pile of dirt. Each year he moves that pile of dirt, or wood (anything will do) from one end of the yard to the other. The next year, he moves it right back to where it was in the first place. This is his choice of how to spend his retirement.
My point is, when we are no longer leaving the house for employment, everyone needs to have something to occupy themselves. The minute you stop moving, you stop living. I know of a few cases where people have retired without considering what they are going to do with the rest of their lives. Some were gone within ten years.
My wife's uncle is a prime example of the need to keep going. He is a cattle farmer, has been his whole adult life. He has a bad back and knee problems. By all common wisdom, he should have given up the hard work years ago. The thing is, he wouldn't know what to do with himself. As long as they can haul his butt into the tractor, or he can ride the utility truck around the fence lines, he is going to farm. When he can't do it at all anymore, I have doubts about how long he'll be with us.
He might surprise us though. My grandparents are long retired. My grandmother has the energy and strength of a woman twenty years her junior. If he hadn't smoked for so long, I think my grandfather (her third husband, by the way) would still be out having fun and making a nuisance of himself. They don't have hobbies per say, they just still have a lot of interest in life.
Maybe that is the key to living a long time. As long as you look forward to each day and it's challenges, you will go on. I've always said that the day there isn't something new for me to learn, I just don't want to keep breathing. Fortunately, I'll run out of life long before the universe runs out of mysteries.

Counselling by the untrained

I've been reading a new book that I found at the library the other day. It's titled "Odd Thomas" by Dean Koontz. It's the unusual adventure of a young man by the title name. He is a grill cook at the local diner. Not unlike the young boy in "Sixth Sense", he sees dead people. Ghosts come to him to resolve whatever has caused them to not cross over.
In addition to spirits, Odd sees creatures that amass before large deathly events, like earthquakes and mass murders.
I have always had a certain sensitivity myself, but not to dead people. I work with the living.
People have always seemed to find me when they have issues to work out. They aren't necessarily looking for me to solve the problem. They just need someone to tell about what is wrong. Nine times out of ten, that leads them to the solution. I don't know what it is about how I deal with people that makes the process easier. It could be as simple as the fact that I can listen without judging, or at the very least, not letting my opinion get in the way of what they have to say.
It's something of a responsibility when people talk to you so openly. There is an understanding of confidentiality, not unlike the doctor/patient privilege. Sometimes, it's more like the priest who hears the confession of a horrible sin, and can do nothing about it directly without compromising his vows. It is a promise I take very seriously, though I will intervene if an innocent is in danger.
Why is it that people with problems will come to me, even relative strangers, when they won't seek out professional counsellors? There are a lot of trained people out there that can help. If they don't want to have a record, there are anonymous help line. Don't get me wrong, I like to help, to be a comfort. I just don't get what it is about me that makes me the go to guy.

Menopause and me

I'd like to get a little on the personal side for a bit. This may also gross out any males who may decide to read this post. My apologies in advance to those men, and to the women who may be offended by a guy discussing this topic.
I'm talking about menopause.
My wife is currently going through what has so quaintly been called "the change". It started a couple of years ago, rather ahead of schedule, or so I thought. It's been a subtle change, the occasional hot flash with some attendant mood swings. She gets angry occasionally.
I should point out here that most guys would take that moodiness and complain about it. Frankly, I think Sandra has been down-playing the way she is feeling. By all rights, she should blow up once in while. Lord knows, I do enough stupid things to deserve a tongue lashing. She could use that as a release. Which isn't licence to be a harpy, but at least it would be better if she acknowledged her mood swings externally. I'm not made of porcelain, I can take it.
Men in general just aren't paying enough attention to the way that their spouses feel.
When my wife has cramps and tenderness, I want to know about it. Most of the men I know cringe at just the sight of a pad, and that's while it is still wrapped! I worry if my wife is feeling any extra pain, or if her period is irregular for an extended period.
At one point, my wife was experiencing problems, and I took her to the hospital. Where as most husbands would sit in the waiting room, trying to avoid the details, I went in with her. Pelvic exams are not the most attractive of sights, but my wife was nervous. Where else should I have been? I have trouble picturing my father or my sister's ex in that same position. Don't even get me started on my late father-in-law!
I started writing with the intention of discussing the difficulties of dealing with the "change of wife", but what it comes down to is how men deal with female medical issues. I think if we told fewer jokes and just tried to be a little more supportive, maybe our wives wouldn't get quite so angry with us when their hormones go out of whack.

Going to the mattresses

My wife and I went to price a new mattress recently. The set currently on the frame is about fifteen years old. It has more than it's share of lumps and sags. The situation is made more severe because my wife has severe back problems.
I have just been amazed at the variety of models that are out there now. You can choose from inner spring, pocket coil or spring less now. Prices increase correspondingly. Over those springs you can now have comfort foam, memory foam and quilted tops. If money were no issue, a buyer could conceivably spend months finding that perfect nights sleep. A never ending rendition of the Princess and the Pea.
We actually were able to find a few suitable mattresses. Sandra got up on the one, kicked off her shoes, and declared that she was there for the rest of the afternoon. This particular bed had just the right combination of support and softness that she needs. I think that, should we get that set, she would be able to get a decent nights sleep for the first time in ages. The cat would likely be happier too.
I'm sure you've heard about the importance of getting a good sleep, and how critical the bed is to that end. I don't think doctors stress it enough. So much of our health depends on our being able to regenerate at the end of the day. (Even for those of us who don't happen to be Borg, like on Star Trek.) Our minds need to be able to relax without thinking about aches and pains.
That might be a large part of our lengthening lifespan.
In the middle ages, people slept on pallets on the floor. I just can't see how a body could recover from the days exertions lying on such a hard, damp surface. Up until the mid nineteenth century, most people slept on feather mattresses supported by nets of ropes. Hence the phrase "sleep tight."
Beds sure have come a long way since then. Purchasing a bed has become almost as important an decision as buying a car or household appliance. You are in it for the long term, so it better be good.

Travelling in style

I really like to travel, but really only under ideal conditions.
For example, I like to drive to my destination, but only if the weather is just right. It it's too hot or too cold, it can be hard to get comfortable in the seat. Really hot weather will make you sleepy very quickly. Not conducive to safe driving. If it's too cold, then you are restricted by sweaters and coats. Again, not comfortable.
The other factor for driving is distance. These days, I'm not up to being in a car for more than two hours at a stretch. There may be plenty of places to pull off on the main highways these days, but it can be pretty inconvenient if you are on a schedule of any kind.
This all being true, I enjoy a good drive. One of my dreams has always been to travel across the country one summer. It would be fun to just stop every time you saw something of interest. If you like a town, you might stay for a day or two and get to know the locals. There are a lot of great places in Canada that you never hear about.
One way that I've enjoyed travelling is by train. It's a comfortable environment, the driving is left to the professionals and if you have to go to the bathroom mid-trip, you're covered. The other great thing about the train is that, for the most part, the tracks go through some pretty nice scenery, at least where I live. If you aren't concentrating on driving, you get to enjoy it.
I guess a lot of people are finding the advantages of train travel. I went drop to my niece at the station the other day. The place was packed. Passenger trains have gotten longer and more frequent in the Montreal-Toronto corridor. It beats the cost of flying and is better for the environment than driving.
Then you have water travel. I have longed to have a boat, just something I could take out for a few days on the St. Lawrence or Lake Ontario. There is something peaceful about sitting out on calm waters, listening to the hiss of it against the hull. Given the ability, sail would be my choice. There is much to be said for the quiet of wind power. I once heard that you can hear whale song through the hull out on the west coast. That would be something to experience.
It is getting to be a smaller world, bit it would still be a fun place to get lost for a while.

Dreams, hypnosis and other psychology pitfalls

Last night I was having a dream. I woke up with the feeling that my subconscious was trying to tell me something. It can't have been too important, because I lost it within seconds. It was combining elements of the book I've been reading with what goes on in my daily life.
Dreams are pretty important. Sometimes they are an expression of something that got past us in the day. Psychologists say that they are "an expression of the human subconscious acting out what we are afraid of in the waking state." In my experience, a dream is usually just a jumble of what went on when I was awake, turned into a story for the entertainment of my sleeping brain.
Which just goes to show you that I need to get out more.
Sometimes I use a technique known as directed dreaming. In this method, once you realize you are dreaming, you decide which way you want the dream to go. I discovered it as a way to get over nightmares as a child. If you are falling off of a building and realize it's a dream, you simply imagine flying.
The problem with this is that dreams are strongly connected to memory. By trying to alter the dream, you might inadvertently call up random memories, thus changing the dream again. Not enough is known about the human mind to understand the consequences of messing around in there. There is the distinct possibility of screwing up your short term memory.
That brings me to hypnosis and "repressed memories". You read about police arresting someone based on the memories of a "victim" brought up through hypnosis. The problem with hypnosis is that it is too easy to suggest a memory. It is a state of relaxation that leaves a person susceptible to imagining things as being real. A person in this state can take a suggestion, however faint, and believe it is memory.
Hypnosis is dangerous if played with by the inexperienced. My psychology professor said that he once made an awful mistake that traumatized a young woman for months. He had given her the suggestion that she would not be able to see a person at a party until he lit up a cigarette. When he did, the person just materialized out of nowhere. The woman fainted. If you are going to work with the human mind, you have to think it through and be responsible.
For all of the exploration we've done, there is so much we do not yet know about ourselves.

The boon of the information age

I went on a bit of a tear yesterday about how quickly the available technology has outstripped our need. All of that being true, maybe now would be a good time to note one of the most positive changes that all of this has made. The world has gotten to be a smaller place.
I started writing this blog for fun, just to get out those little ideas that rattle around in my skull. (Like I said in a previous post, I like attention.) The Internet is possibly the largest open forum the planet has ever seen. Still, I've been looking to see where my audience is. So far, it isn't huge, but I've had people read from such places as New Zealand and Spain.
Computer technology has made it easier for people to share ideas regardless of where they come from. A brilliant discovery in the most remote parts of Brazil's rain forests can be part of the intellectual community in minutes. Just think about the ramifications for pharmacological and environmental research. If a new cancer cure or change in climate were found today, we would be reading about it tomorrow.
The possibility of telemedicine is just amazing. It is theoretically possible for a surgeon in New York City to remove an appendix at the south pole. With an aging population, it is now possible for geriatric specialist to care for people in their own homes. Getting help when you need it is a lot easier too.
Education could really benefit from the computer age. Just imagine a future class room. No more chalk boards. A teacher would just write with a stylus on a computer screen, and it would display on a large monitor at the head of the class. Text books could go the way of the dodo bird. Have you lifted a kids backpack lately? Those books are murder! Not to mention expensive. It would be great if books could be produced on discs, with hard copy backups.
While we are working on a faster, more reliable Internet, why can't we make inexpensive tablet computers that students can use, no matter what their economic situation? There is one company that is attempting it. I think we should support that effort.
We have the ideas, now it's time to start sharing them. If we start talking, especially the younger generations, maybe we won't spend as much time fighting over what we THINK the other believes.

Time for speed bumps?

I was reading a story on my homepage this morning. The fastest residential Internet connection on the planet is in the home of a seventy-five year old woman in Sweden. When I say that the connection is fast, I don't mean "Ferrari on the freeway" type of fast. We're talking "space shuttle re-entry without computer guidance" fast. According to the article, the woman can download a feature length movie in just over two seconds.
Think about that one for a second. Okay, she just downloaded an entire episode of The Sopranos, including commercials. Seriously though, we are talking a lot of content in the blink of an eye.
Her son installed this fiber optic connection really just to show that it is possible. His mother is really new to computing. This is her first computer.
What does this super connection get used for, you ask? She reads on-line newspapers.
I told you that story to introduce these questions. When is technology for the sake of technology going to end? Does anyone really need to download that fast? One day we may be to the point where we can actually use this kind of computing power in our homes, but not for a long time. Right now, I think most of us would be satisfied with an Internet connection that is reliable and doesn't cost a fortune every time you download pictures of the kids.
It isn't just our connections to the web that have gotten so extreme. The machines themselves have gotten powerful to the point of the ridiculous. Some of the heavier computer geeks (and that's a compliment these days) are now using computer so fast that they are water cooled. That's what I said folks, water cooled, just like your car.
When I bought this computer, I liked the fact that it had so much memory and a two gig processor. What do I do with this machine? I keep a journal, a blog and pay bills. A simple lap top has the power to do a thousand tax returns, and here it sits, bored. As I type, it works between keystrokes coming up with a universal theorem, saying, "Come on, let's get on with it!" Yet I still find that there are still glitches in the basic programming.
Maybe it's the guy in me, but I can guarantee that my next computer will probably be twice as fast and have four times the memory. I think it's an extension of the old "my car is faster than yours" gene. It took an evolutionary step sideways. It isn't just for guys anymore either. More and more women are obsessed with speed an power. They just tend to be a little more refined about it.
Maybe we should slow down once in a while. The technology will be there when we are ready for it. Perhaps by then Windows Vista will have all of the bugs worked out.

Right place, right time

I've always thought that the key to a successful life was to be in the right place at the right time. Which is to say, that you have to keep faith that wherever you wind up is where you are most needed.
We spend an awful lot of our lives working towards our futures. The pressure is now on children as young as ten and twelve to choose careers. We somehow expect them to know what will make them happy twenty plus year into the future. From that point, they are groomed for a role, at the cost of hundreds of thousands of dollars. Hence we have a society of trained doctors and engineers who drop out before getting degrees who are doing physical jobs that they enjoy far more.
In my own case, I studied towards becoming a lawyer for two years, only to discover that it was not the career for me. What happened for the most part is that I wandered from job to job. I wound up working wherever I was most needed, where I could do the most good. For those of you who believe in God, you could say that Providence was in action. I like to say that the Universe itself was working to put me where I was needed.
I don't think we should spend so much time forcing kids to become one thing. It just seems counter-productive.
I propose that we teach all kids the basics very early. For the first three years of schooling, concentrate on the areas of reading, writing and good math skills. (By the end of grade four, they should be able to do basic multiplication in their heads.) At that point, administer an aptitude test. Find out what interests the kids. When they are fifteen or so, you then give the students a more refined aptitude test, and then ask them what they want to become, and train them with the necessary skills, preferably by experience in an apprenticeship system.
Which brings me to the last part of the system. All career choices should be given the same level of respect. Let's face it, who wants to go to a school reunion and tell everyone that they are a mechanic or a farmer? We look down on these professions, while we value lawyers and computer programmers. Somehow society has forgotten that we rely on carpenters, plumbers and farmers just to live. Why shouldn't fishermen have the same prestige as accountants?
Each of us can do so much for society. We just have to believe that where we are is where we need to be. Working hard at something we enjoy doing can be of benefit to the rest of the world.

Personal home design

My wife and I are having something of a housing problem. We currently have a small, one bedroom apartment, and we really need a two bedroom apartment, for medical reasons.
That's not what this post is about.
I want to discuss architecture.
I am something of an amateur draftsman. Over the years, I've laid out the floor plans of a number of houses. Every sort of house from small log homes to larger farm houses. It's been something of a hobby. A creative outlet of sorts.
We were out for a drive a few days ago. There are a lot of new homes going up out east of us. All of them seem to be these monster dream homes. At a guess, I'd say the smallest would be well over 2000 square feet. What is the deal with these huge places? Is all of that space really necessary? I don't see the point of heating rooms that will never be used.
When I design a house, I work from the lifestyle of the people who will occupy the space. How many kids do they have? Do they host dinner parties, or do they eat in front of the TV most nights? Does someone in the family love to cook, or is meal prep all about the microwave? It seems the best way to come up with a design the is attractive, affordable, and that the owner can really live with.
All of this in mind, I got to thinking about how much space Sandra and I really need. What it boils down to is 1000 square feet. Laid out properly, that would provide enough room for the two of us, our cats and what company we ever have. It takes in my desire for a good kitchen that I can create in. It allows room for the cats to run around and have fun playing with balls of yarn.
Personally, I would get lost in a house much larger than 2500 square feet. Don't even get me started on the chore of cleaning it. Just consider the heating and cooling bills.
Something I have never understood is how designers can come up with plans that don't provide space for a television or a place to put up Christmas tree. Do they even consider the people that are supposed to live there? Model homes just don't live up to the live-in test.
What is the one thing you would most need in your dream home?

Living by example

Yesterday I went on a rampage about television. Specifically, I discussed (or rather disgust) reality shows. One of the formats I forgot to mention was the "Springer" and "Montell" type of show. In case you were born on a cultured planet and haven't seen them, they are trash TV at its worst.
"We'll now bring on a couple of people who hate each other to curse and throw punches!"
As a general rule, people go on those shows as "guests" and describe how the way they were raised has caused all of their problems. It never fails that these flawed personalities find someone else to blame. It couldn't possibly be that they made bad choices in how to behave! If it isn't the parents, it's the schools or government. In extreme cases, blame falls on the devil or alien abduction. The excuses just crack me up.
Just once I'd like to see a person who just got out of jail for beating his wife go on the air and say, "My parents were great, I'm just a jerk."
Never gonna happen.
All of that being said, a lot of our behaviour does have to do with the way we were raised. Good parenting makes good kids, and vice verse. Having well behaved kids reminds us how we should be acting ourselves as adults.
By way of example, the other day, I was out to Tim Horton's with my wife. Being a little distracted at the time, the cashier accidentally gave me too much change, an extra ten dollars. I noticed this immediately and returned the ten. The girl was almost surprised with this display of honesty. This isn't the first time that this has happened to me.
I was raised in a family that had little in the way of money or possessions. What my parents did have and gave to us kids in abundance was integrity. This was done by way of example. When we children were with them, they always tried to behave as they would have us behave. My mother was even careful to watch her language around us. That was precipitated by my first words, "Aw, shit!"
Watch what you say folks, your children are listening.
Of course, these days, parents don't have as much influence on their kids as they might like. It seems like the media has much more to do with what our children think is normal and proper. The music that they listen to and the shows they watch (note how it neatly comes back to television) shapes the morals of the next generation. Don't bother to argue that the parents control what the child watches. The economic reality of today means that we can't always have a parent directly supervising his/her child.
Friends play an important role in the raising of kids today. What the child's peers are doing is invariably what that child is going to emulate. You can try to pick your kids friends, but the minute you try to prevent them from seeing someone you don't approve of, the faster they will gravitate towards him/her. My best friend is having this problem with his son at this point.
As time has gone on, it seems that teens are influencing adults more than anything else. More adults spend their free time playing video games, spending hundreds on game consoles. Speaking in slang and curses is not considered abnormal. If you've spent any time in a factory setting, you know this first hand. Many adults are forgetting how to speak as proper adults.
I guess my point is that there seems to be a downward spiral in the way we are behaving as a society. The implications rather trouble me.
All I know is that I was raised to behave in a certain way. It's the way I would hope that my nieces would behave. All I can do is provide the best example that I can, just as my parents did for me.

The state of television

What is it with television these days? Reality shows, soft core porn and news shows that go on and on about the same old thing. I am really getting tired of what's on the set. I can legitimately call it "the idiot box".
Let's start with reality shows. They are all pretty much the same. A bunch of young, sexy people are put into a tight space and compete to be the worst back-stabber. There are so many of them. You have Survivor, Big Brother, Pirates and Lord knows only what else. I seem to recall that television was supposed to be an escape from reality. What ever happened to dramas, sitcoms and documentaries?
The next category of my complaint is not as severe, yet. Some nights of the week, all you see is ads for those 900 number phone sex lines. Young girls (Too young to be in those kinds of ads, in my opinion.) parade across the screen in bikinis that cover maybe six square inches of flesh. Then there are the constantly repeated advertisements for Girls Gone Wild. Where are these girls' fathers? At least the worst has been contained to late at night on the weekends. My best friend has had to lock out certain channels on his kids televisions.
Finally, what is this obsession with every little piece of fresh news? We have a choice of two all news channels just on basic cable. I think I like my news in doses at regular intervals. Keeps the depression confined to an hour and a half per day. The other problem with the news networks is that they pick one story and obsess over it. Currently, CTV Newsnet is slobbering all over the Conrad Black verdict. How long does it take to say that a CEO is guilty of fraud? How many people do we really need to analyse this for us?
Like I said, I remember when television was an escape from reality. Sure it informed us, but it also entertained. Maybe I'm showing my age, but things have been changing, and not necessarily for the better.

A good read

I've written before that I am an avid reader. One of my favourite authors is Clive Cussler. He writes wonderful adventure novels that revolve around the sea, history and characters that are what America most want to believe in.
Cussler's books started with a man named Dirk Pitt. He is the Special Projects Director for NUMA, the National Underwater and Marine Agency. In his never ending quest to preserve the mysteries of the oceans of the world, he never fails to get involved in the plots of megalomaniacs who want nothing more than to bring chaos to the world, killing innocents as they go along.
Picture James Bond in a wetsuit. Instead of Her Majesty's Service, Pitt struggles for truth, integrity and the good old American way.
Next came the novels from the NUMA Files. These are the exploits of Kurt Austin and his Special Assignments team. The founder of NUMA created this team to handle situations that are best left "off the books" and that the official government networks cannot deal with. In between archaeological digs and environmental rescues, Austin and his friends put away the scum of the Earth, with liberal doses of luck, humour and bravado. The Special Assignments team draws resources from many parts of the NUMA organization and beyond. Kurt says they have the "Hotel California" policy. Once you are a member of "the team" you can never leave.
The newest series of stories is the Oregon Files. A former CIA agent drops out after the cold war, seeing the need for a new defence against the dangers of the world. Hiring the best operatives the world has to offer, he and his crew operate The Corporation from a super vessel disguised as an old tramp steamer. For the right price, they will take on pirates in the Sea of Japan, or rescue kidnapped executives. It isn't really about the money though. It's about getting paid to do what they know is right. It's morality and doing the hard jobs when it counts.
I cannot recommend these books highly enough. They are a good solid read that will keep you on the edge of your seat, or at least awake and turning pages long into the night.
Clive Cussler works on all three series simultaneously. He does this with the able co-authoring of Paul Kemprekos, Jack deBrul and his own son, Dirk Cussler. (Yes, Pitt is named for his son.) All three work seamlessly with Clive to make the stories come alive. Please, go to your library and try these books out.

The pot calling the kettle black

Recently a Toronto reporter called Ottawa a "cesspool" after spending just one afternoon in one neighbourhood. Based on her experience with people she determined were addicts (and there is no confirmation of this) and her claims of seeing drug deals on the street, she has said that Ottawa is a disgrace to Canada.
First of all, Ms. Blizzard, that is a case of the pot calling the kettle black. Just go for a walk down Younge Street. I'm sure there is plenty of crime to be seen, plenty of homeless panhandlers. Was it not in Toronto that several innocent bystanders were shot while shopping on boxing day? Is it not Toronto that has the largest number of gang activities in Ontario? Look to your own backyard before declaring another city a disgrace.
Like various Ottawa politicians (much as I hate to be in agreement with the political establishment) I want to know why she didn't look at some of the other parts of the city. The first place to look would be the War Museum. What about the Rideau Canal? You can't go through the city and not stroll along the canal.
Ms. Blizzard made a point of saying how drug deals were going down just blocks from Parliament hill. Did she go to visit the houses of Parliament? A lot of money is being spent to restore and preserve Canada's history. We haven't heard anything about that. The library of Parliament alone is worth the time of the tour.
I would not dream of declaring Toronto a loss just because of one area. Like Ottawa, it has much in the way of culture and beauty to offer.
Ms. Blizzard has said that she will not return to Ottawa. It's her loss, but if that is the attitude she takes, I think maybe she should sit in her office and consider writing about her walls.

I now pronounce you giant and wife.

Have you seen the news about the worlds tallest man getting married? His bride is a whopping five foot six. This is a couple that can only see eye-to-eye when they go to bed at night. Sure, I could make a lot of crass jokes here, but I won't. There are plenty of other blogs that will do that.
I have to wish them the best of luck. Here is a man who probably had trouble just making friends with women, never mind getting into a real relationship. The news story I saw stated that this was very shy man, despite the fact he has done numerous commercials. From her side, how do you bring home a man who is so different to meet the family? That cannot have been fun.
Apparently the happy couple were introduced by friends. They've been inseparable since.
As much as you might wish them a quiet and happy life, I would be very interested in hearing how the marriage works out. The size difference kind of implies that they will have to learn the art of compromise from day one. Learning to see things from another person's perspective is the most important part of any relationship. This pair have a head start.
The real point is that I don't think there is any difference that a proper, loving relationship cannot work around. It may need a little more patience and willingness to adapt than you might have expected. If you are up to the challenge, the rewards are infinite. Consider the classic story of Romeo and Juliet, though their problem was just family issues.
If more couples started out from a place of understanding and patience, maybe the divorce rate wouldn't be so astronomical.

Is anybody out there?

I am writing this blog more for fun than anything else. Still, I have to wonder, is anybody actually reading these posts, with the exception of my wife? Comments have been pretty sparse. I've spread the word about this blog to just about everyone I know. Perhaps I just don't have anything really compelling to say.
How do people get into blogs in the first place? It's not like a blog shows up in a standard Internet search. From what I've seen, they have to be where a lot of people are anyway. By way of example, Scott Adams, creator of Dilbert, writes a daily blog. It's linked to the site Dilbert.com. It is usually pretty witty or thought provoking.
I guess the important thing about my blog is that it is out there. What I've done or thought about is somewhere on the net, where people can comment or correct me. Not that my wife isn't ready to do that, but I think it would be nice to know if my world view has any basis in reality. That is the real point, I think, to have an additional sounding board.
Well, it's all out there.

Weather woes

Have you been wondering about this crazy weather? Hot, humid days for about a week. After that, days of rain that comes and goes. It's hard to plan anything too far in advance.
Sure, there are good scientific explanations for the weather. It just doesn't seem to matter when you get caught out in a storm.
Sandra and I were on our way home from a doctor's appointment when today's storm started. Lucky for us, the worst of it hit while we were in McDonald's having some lunch. On the ride back home though, I managed to drive back into it. With the heat and humidity, I had the window down a little to get the fresh air.
A small car went by us, and I got hit with a shower of water. Just enough came in to startle me, and the windshield was so covered, I couldn't see a thing for a minute.
I guess the look on my face was pretty funny, because Sandra just roared with laughter. I could see the humour, but it sure did startle me.
We have a woman living in our building who is terrified of storms. She lived on a farm for many years and saw some pretty severe weather. If the sky starts to get black, she starts to hunker down. With the first flash of lightening, she runs out into the hall, where there are no windows. We always know where to find her.
Myself, I've always enjoyed a storm. I like to listen to the rain hitting a roof, counting the seconds between a flash of lightening and the trailing sound of thunder. I've been through a good number of storms in the countryside myself. I guess it's just my childhood catching up with me.
Sometimes this summer though, I've wished for some predictable weather. I'd like to be able to go for my walk in the evening and know that I'm not going to come back wet, cold or wilted in a natural sauna.
As I've said though, what is more Canadian than complaining about the weather? Check back in six months. I'll likely be complaining about the cold and wind.

Warning, controversial viewpoints, next ten kilometres.

Okay, I think it's time I weighed in on the whole "war against terror" issue. This isn't really a very popular subject. It brings out the hottest debate, even among people who essentially carry the same beliefs. Please feel free to express your thoughts.
To start with, fighting a war on terror isn't as easy as one might think. In a standard war, you know exactly who the enemy is. It's the guy wearing the other side's uniform. The latest round of bloodshed involves a side that doesn't "play" by the usual rules of engagement. They act as the rest of the civilian population around them, and then use that population as cannon fodder. The terrorist "army" is made up of children much of the time.
I am in favour of Canada participating in action in Afghanistan. There is a defined enemy, albeit one that follows the new rules. We didn't invade that country so much as go in after a terrorist. The Taliban chose to work with them, and so they had to go as well. I do wish we could take our traditional role as peacekeepers and re builders. The Taliban insurgents just make that impossible.
I think it might be better if the allied forces just started at one end of the country, set up a majorly tight perimeter, rebuild within that area, then expand outward. By then, the people inside the rebuilt area would be solidly on our side. The people just outside of the perimeter would be waiting on their turn. It wouldn't be in their interest to support the terrorists.
Afghanistan is truly a war about religious fundamentalism though. To them, it's a case of us vs. them, Islam vs. everyone else. I don't see it that way. I think it's a case of somebody hitting us (with planes no less) and us going wherever we have to in order to hit back. It was the Taliban's choice to support the terrorist group.
Then there is the sticky subject of Iraq. That was a mistake from word one. There was never any evidence that they were supporting Al Queda or had the weapons of mass destruction. That's why Canada never touched that part of the war. It was going to be a drag-out, long term conflict with no real goal. The people of the United States should have smelled something wrong with that war when we didn't join them. We didn't go into Vietnam either, and look how that turned out.
Now that they are there, I do think it is important that the United States accomplish something in Iraq. Waiting for total peace isn't an option though. Better, I think, to train the Iraqi army and police, then quietly step aside and let them settle their own issues to the best of their ability. Just remember to take all allied equipment when you go. Most of what the insurgents in Afghanistan are using were left behind by the Soviets after their little go-round at occupation.
I consider myself a rather peaceful person. There are times when force is called for, so I support the allied forces in Afghanistan. That said, there is a time to call it a mission and get out. Let's set ourselves an obtainable goal, put all of our effort into it, then bring everyone home for a rest before the next big brush fire.

This is news?

I wait with bated breath the moment my Internet homepage comes up. I have it set on the MSN Sympatico page. In the States, it would be the MSN/NBC page. It has sections of stories that come in and update on a fairly regular basis.
On today's page, one of the more prominent items is a collection of celebrity shots. All of them famous couple caught making out. I looked at this (just the link, not the photos) and just shook my head. This is what passes for news these days?
I will grant that there were a number of legitimate news stories on the home page. None of them were given the same sort of hype. In fact, the serious stories only come AFTER the stupid videos. The first section of the page rotates from one set of links to another, but the idiotic are the ones with accompanying pictures.
It's only a matter of time before our homepages put the tabloids out of business.
Ever wonder how they write those things?
I think it goes something like this,

First writer: God, I'm sick of following the Olsen twins! If there's a small tree around, you lose sight of them.

Second writer: Hey, at least you weren't out in the woods during mosquito season looking for a guy claiming to have clear pictures of Bigfoot.

Editor enters waving pictures: Okay, whoever can write the weirdest story to go with these pictures wins a trip to Hawaii to look for Elvis!

I think that's about as close to the truth as you can get. The worst part is that all of these writers went to journalism school and have student loans to pay off. I'll bet they all would rather be writing books.
It makes you wonder just how easy it is to entertain the masses, doesn't it?

Writer's block

I've been sitting here for the past half hour trying to think of something to blog about. Nada. Maybe I'm trying too hard. The problem is, I've promised myself certain things when I started this blog. One of them was that I wouldn't make this a forum for my personal problems. I also swore that I would not write anything that could be considered "indiscreet" or "gossipy".
At times, those promises can be a little constricting.
I had thought to write about a problem a friend of mine was having, but that would have been "indiscreet". I tried writing around it, but it didn't work. It came out a little too, I don't know, preachy and self-righteous.
There are things going on in my life that I could right about, but that would have broken the first rule I laid down. Besides which, I hate to sound like a whiner. I hate to listen to that sort of thing, and I'm sure you do too.
This is where fiction writers are working from an advantage. What they are writing about is disguised behind the characters they are writing about. They can talk about embarrassing events or stuff that has happened to them. After all, it isn't themselves they are writing about.
Journalist also have the advantage of writing about a particular subject. If they hit a stumbling block, they can just go back to their research. Besides which, they are writing for a specific audience.
I don't even know if anyone is really reading this. Hello, is anyone out there? (If you hear a tapping on your screen, that's just me.) Of course, blogs are written as much for the author as for the audience. It's a way of getting your thoughts "out there" where they can be looked at from a fresh perspective. Besides which, comments can give you a new look at an idea.
Okay, now we are getting to the nitty-gritty of this post, the purpose of a blog.
In my case, a blog is really just a chance for me to empty a little of what is going on in my head. Hopefully, my audience finds this thoughtful, insightful or amusing. Trying to make people laugh or think has always been a hobby of mine. I'm not ashamed to admit that I like attention. I just don't deserve a lot of it.
Okay, that came off a little whiny.
There is the problem with emptying one's head. It reveals every little flaw. I'm not sure who said it, but there is a quote that goes, "The only bad thing an autobiography reveals about the author is his memory", or something to that effect. That is another thing I want to try to avoid with this blog.
This post isn't all that interesting, but the title says it all.

Good writing

I am an avid fan of the comic strip "For Better or For Worse" by Lynn Johnston. Every morning I log onto the computer and go to the website (http://www.fborfw.com/) and get my daily dose of the Patterson family.
For those of you who aren't familiar with the strip, it is the ongoing saga of the Patterson family. In 1979, Lynn started writing about John and Elly Patterson and their two children. Somehow, the strip evolved so that it runs in real time, the characters age as we do. This means that there are birth, marriages and deaths. It's not unlike peeking into the lives of your neighbours.
The story arcs never fail to strike home with me. When the family dog died, I swear I was actually in tears. (I still get a little upset.) It is a slice out of every life, this comic strip. It's so easy to forget that these are fictional people.
That is the sign of truly great writing, when the reader suspends reality for a while. Some of the best authors that I know of are JK Rowling and Clive Cussler. I never thought that I would be putting a comic strip artist into the same category. Yet Lynn Johnston has created a world so real, the readers actually debate the fate of the various characters, and what they add to the story.
This was most evident in the story arc about Lawrence, who "came out" in the strip a number of years ago. Some of the mail Lynn received was less than polite. The story was a sign of the times, and how far we still have to go.
That's the other sign of good writing. It should reveal as much about the reader as it does about the author. When I get into a story, I like to wind up understanding a little bit more about myself than I did before I opened the book. Sometimes I don't like what I find. Some stories have opened up the Pandora's box of my prejudices and fears. Not to mention my complete ignorance of some subjects.
With me, the danger of good writing is that the real world falls away for a time. A bomb could go off under my chair, and I would never notice.

Cats, children and trying to get things done

We have two cats. The youngest is called Isabelle. We got her from the local animal shelter. (I highly recommend this, by the way.) In some strange way, she became MY cat. She sits on my lap all of the time.

While having a cuddle cat is nice, it is very much a problem when you are trying to do anything with your hands.

Cats are a lot like two and three year old children. They demand all of your attention, all of the time. Everything has to be done on their schedule. It doesn't matter what you are doing. Whereas children are mostly vocal about wanting your attention, cats take a more physical approach.

Isabelle hates for me to be reading, for example. She will get herself between me and the book, so that I cannot ignore her. When I am on the computer, she gets up beside me and pushes my hand, which is trying to manuever the mouse. I accidentally click just as she hits, and everything goes down. She will also get on the arm of the desk chair and push me over until I am leaning just to reach the keys.

Needless to say, our keyboard is perpetually covered in fur.

Just like little children, cats also know how to get our attention. They find those little buttons and push. With our older cat, Taffy, that means scratching (despite not having claws) on the nearest door. If that doesn't work, she nips at any exposed body part. Isabelle rattles the cupboard doors. It's the equivilent of a child screaming "Mommy" in your ear.

Her favorite technique involves head-butting me in the nose. She has a hard little skull. One of these days, I'm going to be in the hospital, explaining to the nurse how my cat beat me up. They'll need an anesthetic just to keep him/her from dying of laughter.

We don't have any children. That's fortunate for us. I think we'd die just trying to get to the bathroom in the morning.

When push comes to shove

We have all been hearing the warnings about the way we have treated the environment so far. It has gotten so that you can't watch tv without hearing the dire predictions of catastrophe from global warming. Let's be honest, we've screwed up.
Last night I saw an interview on the Discovery Channel with a guy who said that global warming is the moral issue of this century. By that, he means that it isn't just about the science anymore. It's about what kind of person you are. Do we care enough about what we are doing to make sacrifices?
The guy went on to say that, in order to stop global warming from destroying us, we in the developed world have to cut our energy usage NOW by ninety percent.
Let's think about that for a second. That means that we have to use our cars only once every ten days. We have to keep our homes cooler in the winter and warmer in the summer. By all rights I should not be posting this blog. I'm using electricity just sitting here in front of the computer enjoying the breeze from the fan on the desk. By all the moral indicators of our times, I am an evil person, who cares only about his own needs and desires.
I do however think that, when push comes to shove, we can actually make a big enough difference as individuals to improve the environment. Each of us doing the simplest things at the same time can make the changes palatable.
Sandra and I have stopped getting plastic bags at the grocery store. For just a dollar each, we bought reusable bags that are stronger and hold more. They will last for at least a year, are made from recycled plastic bottles, and when no longer useful, will be recycled themselves. Just eight dollars prevents roughly six thousand bags from winding up in the landfill each year. We just carry them in the trunk of the car.
I've taken up driving techniques used by "hyper milers". These are people who competitively wring every last mile from a drop of gasoline. It's as simple as not letting your car idle for more than ten seconds. By driving no faster than the posted speed limit, I save about twenty percent in fuel costs. Inflating tires to the maximum pressure can save another five percent. You get the idea. One man drove his Toyota hybrid in this manner. The best mileage he ever achieved, 200 miles per gallon!
Okay, so we can all save a little bit of energy here and there. That won't bring us down to the ninety percent savings that we need to meet the goal the gentleman in the interview mentioned. However, if we replace our current energy production technology with clean energy from wind, hydro, solar and nuclear (we'll forget about the environmental cost there for the time being) power, and use the most efficient appliances, we can make the goal.
According to one government study, if we all just replaced our old light bulbs with compact fluorescent bulbs or LEDs, we could afford to shut down one coal fired plant. Sandra and I have replaced two of our lamp bulbs so far, and seldom use the overhead lights in the living room.
So, we can have an impact without too much inconvenience to ourselves. It just takes a little forethought and planning. When push comes to shove, just how much are you willing to change to reduce your negative impact on the environment?

Fourth of July

I just wanted to wish the Americans a happy Fourth of July.
I have had my beefs with some things about the United States in the past. I can't always support the foreign policy, for example. I also find the American approach to dealing with health care and the disabled both confusing and a little less compassionate than I would like.
On the other hand, we in Canada have our own set of problems. I'm sure you don't understand us either.
Americans on the most part are very passionate people. The nation was forged out of the fires of injustice and the battle for freedom of determination. I think this is what makes America as strong as it is. Once the clear majority feels something needs to be done, everyone jumps on board.
The only problem is that it's so hard to see if the majority wants something done. The government and lobby groups tend to lead in the decision making process, and the people either follow along and get on with life, or have to make a major protest to change things.
As one American put it, the system isn't perfect, but it's the best we've got.
Celebrate the birth of the United States. It may not be perfect, but it is the home that your ancestors fought for.

Maintaining a vehicle

My wife and I are having the exhaust on our car looked at tomorrow. It hasn't been right since we had most of the components changed a few years back.
We went to visit her uncle shortly after it was done, and he took one look and told us it wasn't right. Various pipes were hanging way to low. We would scrape just going over the curb at the bank. On our way back from a family gathering, the catalytic converter decided to let go on us. The shop that did the repair after that didn't hang anything right either.
I miss the days when cars were built to be reliable, and easily repaired, the exhaust being a prime example. Years ago, a car would have the exhaust hung by at least four u-bolts, and the pipes were clamped together. It was strong, and you didn't have to weld all of the pieces together. In the current configuration, if one part goes, the others might go.
My father used to keep the family vehicles running. He would occasionally have to replace or rebuild the engine. We would go out to the woods and get some poles to put up a tripod. In his prime, he would have the old engine out and the new one in within four hours. Every part was fixable by anyone with a few decent tools and some practical experience. Now, he won't touch the things. Ever since front wheel drive and fuel injection became common.
I tried to replace the spark plugs a while back. The last one broke off on me, and I had to pay my mechanic to remove it. Since then I have refused to do anything myself.
I dream of designing a car that is simple and reliable. I don't care if I can't do work on it myself, but it should at least be inexpensive to have it done, when it is needed. There are a lot of specific things I would have to design into it, to suit my needs. Basically, I think I need to have a talk with General Motors or Ford.

Ideal community

Yesterday, I discussed what being Canadian was all about. What I didn't think to mention was our sense of community. We are inclined to think of ourselves as a smallish, welcoming people, for the most part.
I live in a small town, so I know a thing or two about community, I think. Feel free to correct me, but you just don't get the same sense when you live in the city. Lord knows I didn't when I lived in Ottawa for a number of years. There may be groups, based on ethnicity, religion or area, but it's not easy to get into one of these. If you are not born into this niche, or sponsored to it, you are usually considered an outsider for a long time.
For me, the ideal community would be in a small village-type setting. Everyone would know each other, to a fair degree, and rely on each other in time of need.
That, I think is one of the defining characteristics of a community. Each individual goes about their own lives and concerns, but when one is in need, all lend what support they are capable of. Self reliance is a good thing, but the combination of abilities and points of view cannot be surpassed. Hilary Clinton said that it takes a village to raise a child. She was quite right, a child needs the combined knowledge of the community to learn how to make choices as an adult member of society.
Another side of this combination is ethnic diversity.
If I were to found a colony tomorrow, I would strive for as much cultural and ethnic diversity as possible. Without differing viewpoints, there can be no growth, and solutions to problems may be unavailable. In an isolated geography, genetic diversity is also to be desired.
What all of this points to is a village of between five hundred and two thousand people.
Beyond the people is the geography and physical layout of a community. This would also include the approach taken towards the environment. A community is only as healthy as the land and water that supports it.
I like the idea of combining the best of technology with some of the old traditions of land stewardship. We should really think about the consequences of what we do as thoroughly as possible. Think of a life of self-supporting farming and home crafts, with the technology of computers and communications. Working outside of the community would be good too, creating connections with other communities and organizations.
Isolation is not good for any community under normal conditions. It prevents growth and change.
I will freely admit that I am an idealist. Many will find fault with my idea of what makes the ideal community. That's the beauty of the universe. Who says there can only be one kind of community?

Canada Day

It is Canada Day, and I guess that shouldn't be allowed to pass without note.
I have asked others what it means to be a Canadian. Perhaps I should answer that question myself.
I guess the first thing to be said about being from this country is that we feel we have the God-given right to complain about the weather. In the winter, we complain about the windchill, in the summer, we complain about the heat and humidity. (not to mention the mosquitos) On the other hand, where but in Canada, with our once cold and snowy winters could you get the invention of the snowmobile?
The other uniquely Canadian trait is our ability to laugh at ourselves. This is most true on our east coast, where even the Newfie knows every Newfie joke, and can point to their family as the source. We are so modest in our nature that it seems only natural to keep our accomplishments low key.
Which isn't to say we haven't done some great things. A Canadian authored the UN code of Human Rights. A Canadian invented basketball. A Canadian invented the telephone (Yes, Bell was a Canadian). Canadians have been at the forefront of peacekeeping efforts around the world, cleaning up the messes when diplomacy has failed.
So, happy birthday, Canada! May we always remember what a great country you are, even if we choose to keep it to ourselves.

Welcome

Welcome to my new blog. I hope to post something here every other day or so. If you arrived here via my facebook site, then you know me already. If you found me some other way, then you will get to know me.
Stay tuned.