More Global Warming and Climate Change thoughts

Okay, I'll bite, TBC... (good topic, btw)

I'll counter you on this one just for the sake of good old debate.

Firstly, is it highly possible or no - that in the midst of all this debate about Global Warming, the focus is centred far too much on 'people,' and not enough focus is based truly on 'climate' and 'geo' studies at all?

What I mean is - drastic, long-term climate changes occurred before mankind was ever an
issue. Thousand-year long and longer freezing and heating periods have occurred long before
the industrial revolution - indeed - long before scientists think that 'man' ever walked the
earth. The earth is still here - and yes, I do agree that mankind is polluting the
environment - but is there a need to attribute ALL of the 'climate changes' to mankind and
to 'global warming' issues that point a finger almost exclusively at man? Do we all really think that we have been powerful enough and important enough to collectively ruin the earth and cause a catastrophic almost-to-occur-in our lifetime event? (Sounds a lot like Abraham stories to me, verging on the birth of a new religion to me).

Secondly,
When we hear the terms 'experts agree that' and 'overwhelming consensus is that' - are these
phrases coming from media sources and 'advocacy' groups - or truly from intelligent, highly
skilled analysists, experts, and people who are truly qualified to make such statements. Some are. Some aren't. We should check, shouldn't we? We should examine different sources before we go making strongly voiced arguments, shouldn't we?

Heck - even one of my favourite environmentalists and scientists, David Suzuki, has even
been criticized for having an 'agenda' not directly attached to the REAL truth about global
warming. (ie...reputation is a helluva motivation factor).

Lastly,
Do we NEED to take a side here?

I won't...

YET.

I won't say that "Yes, Global Warming is happening and it is because of man."
I won't say, "No, Global Warming is not happening - mankind is fine in the way that mankind
treats the environment."

What I will say is:

Global Warming is happening and nobody knows why yet.

and

Mankind is abusing the environment in a completely heinous way.

The action that I can take is to check reports and sources until I find that I have enough
information to decide what I believe before I go voicing strong and loud arguments.

The proposed 'plans' (like the Kyoto agreement, for one) that 'experts' have drummed up
don't convince me at all that mankind will solve mankind's abuse of the environment with
'harm reduction' methods. Even if such propositions ARE THE ANSWER...there doesn't seem to
be any decent ENFORCEMENT of the plans so that they can be effective in correcting any
global environment situation that we believe might be cause, in part by mankind.

Again - Mankind will not solve problems caused by Mankind when Mankind cannot even implement what looks like a good plan of action for solving problems.

Then again - I come back to this...are we sure that all the global warming problems are, indeed, caused by man? What if the ideas proposed (ANYWHERE, by ANYONE) for global warming would ONLY WORK if global warming is only caused by mankind's abuse of the environment. These ideas would never WORK if implemented against a causal agent that is not really the cause of the problem. That would be like sending out policemen to respond a crime in Boston but giving the policement a Detroit address.

What about 'cycles' that have been going on forever and the fact that the earth was here for millions and millions of years before mankind every got mankind's dirty little money-grabbing, oil hoarding, polluting, abusive hands on her?

I think it might help to continue to treat the issues separately and study them separately for just a little while longer...like maybe for another day or so.

Maybe it's just the Canadian in me, saying "Don't Act Yet before all the facts are in."

Abuse of the environment is a big TOPIC with many branches of issues...
Environmental changes is a big TOPIC with many branches if issues, too...

Perhaps if we don't lump them together just yet - and we learn as much as possible about each myriad of issues within each topic, we'll find some better answers than we are currently hearing about in our media...

The scariest question: What if the earth is supposed to 'cycle' and do what it is doing, no matter WHO is or is not on earth?

I guess I haven't solved any problems today - but I sure did argue with TBC a lot, huh?

Whoops - I meant - SuperTBC!

Glad you're back.

;)

Global Warming and Climate change thoughts

Well, I know we have been through this once already Teeray, however, I never got to post my rebuttal to your thoughts on global warming. In doing this, I remembered an article that I read in newsweek magazine a few weeks ago called "Global Warming is a Hoax". You can read the full article here . Also I found this timeline which helps to explain important events related to global warming. The timeline is here. To summarize the article in a few words, it details how the republican party along with funds from big oil and energy companies fuel the global warming debate and encourage skepticism on the issue in congress and with the general public. The facts are pretty concrete. The report issued by the IPCC (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change), for instance, was written by more than 800 climate researchers and vetted by 2,500 scientists from 130 nations. Compare this with only a few handfuls of scientists who are skepticists of global warming, and you begin to see the real picture. Then take into account the fact that of these few handfuls, many are involved in studies which are being funded by the oil and energy companies. The truth is that President Bush, along with the rest of his party, seem to have problems when it comes to facing the truth, or perhaps they just cant understand it, so I"ll spell it out for them. The earth IS getting hotter due to the greenhouse effect, and the U.S. is fighting an unwinnable war in Iraq. The issues are unrelated except for the fact that our current administration seems to have the same problem as a alcoholic or addict, which is the refusal to face the truth. The only difference here is while the alcoholic or addict is only harming themselves and a few other people, our current government is harming an entire generation of people across the entire globe.

Canadian Penny for your thoughts, Teeray?



----------------
Listening to: Three Days Grace - Never Too Late (Main Version)
via FoxyTunes

SuperTBC has returned!!!!

Sorry Teeray about disappearing for awhile. I traveled to the outer realms of this universe towards a planet called Krypton, or what is left of it anyways. Sad to say there is nothing much left of my home planet. Lois had a kid while I was gone!!! What?? LOL, on a serious note though, I have been very busy offline with my job and family, but slow season for the tourist industry has now arrived so be looking for my face around here a lot more often from here on out. Gosh Teeray where did you take this blog?? I need to get this blog back on track discussing important global issues and political viewpoints again (LOL). Needless to say, we will be leaning away from the Canadian feminist viewpoint from here on out (LOL).

PSSSSTTTT: Hey Teeray, really I just wanted to use SuperTBC as a tag for this blog!!!!


----------------
Listening to: The Doors - The Unknown Soldier
via FoxyTunes

In Search of TBC

Hello,

I'm on a search for my long-lost blogging partner, TBC. If anyone has heard from him, please let me know. I have seen him lurking around from time to time, but cannot quite track the li'l rascal down!

Without TBC this blog is in danger of becoming 'feminized,' 'Canadian-ized,' and point toward Canadian women's issues.

TBC would just HATE THAT...so I'm pretty sure he's going to rush in here pretty soon, in a flurry of activity and posting - to prevent me from BECOMING BOSS of this blog lol

*waves* Hey TBC!

Enter The Contest! The Simpsons Movie!

Enter the Simpsons Movie Contest before July 27th!
Information About The Simpsons Movie Contest
(opens in new window)

TBC, I'm taking advantage of the fact that you've been away for a while. I am getting my entry in for The Simpsons Movie contest that Fox (Yep, Fox TV Network) and Opera (Yep, the browser) are running until July 27! Contest is over just 7 days from now. If you snooze, you'll lose, TBC. (Heh - heh)

Actually - it would make me really happy if you would enter the contest, too, and I wouldn't have any hard feelings if you won the contest and I didn't, but we'll have to wait and see on the 27th about who wins, right?

Fox and Opera are going to select a Random winner who will win official The Simpsons Movie merchandise.

I'm keeping this post short because I've been so excited that I haven't headed over to fill out the contest form yet!

Maybe TBC will beat me there!!

Information About The Simpsons Movie Contest
(opens in new window)

Good Luck, TBC!

Stampede, Final Night Tonight!

Well, Calgary has been more than ACTIVE in the past 10 days. It would be more correct to say that this city has been a bit CRAZY! Cowboy hats and boots, "Yeeeeehhaaaawe" and "Woo Hoooooooo" are present at any time of the night and day. It's quite a phenomenon, actually, The Calgary Stampede.

For 10 days, every summer, Calgary gets 'Cowboy-i-fied' and did I mention the Fireworks?

No, I didn't, so I will now...

Woe to those living in the immediate, surrounding area close to the grounds - whose kids can hear the fireworks as if they're right 'at the show.' Many of these families haven't sleep through an evening in 10 days. Most are okay with this, however, 'cos its Calgary Stampede time and this only happens once a year. (Free Fireworks Show every night tho', too - not a bad deal).

"Bam - Pop - Ka-BOOOOOM" what kid can sleep through that - knowing that pretty colours and sizzlers and streaks across the blackened night sky are attached to all that SOUND?

Yep, tonight's the final night for EVERYTHING...in fact, as I type right now, some of the daytime Rodeo events are all finished, the winners (and losers) all firmly decided. They'll be announced later this evening and contestants will be picking up their awards will be part of the Grandstand Show this evening - immediately following The Rangeland Derby event.

I have a special interest in the evening event because I like the Chuckwagon Races (The Rangeland Derby) the most. I'll be rooting for Rick Fraser again this year and am ECSTATIC that he is one of the top drivers in the final heat of Chuckwagon Races tonight!

GO RICK!

I'm not sure who's reading this blog or where people are from who read this blog, but I hope that some people got the chance to be in Calgary this summer to take part in some Calgary Stampede celebrations. The annual Stampede, 10-day celebration is called 'The Greatest Outdoor Show On Earth" with good reason. Even on some 'non-peak' years where attendance was down overall during the 10 days, The Calgary Stampede has always been considered 'a success,' has never caused a 'deficit' economically, and has been an exciting occassion that brings a ton of people together from all over the world.

The final night is always exciting for me - even if I can't go watch Rick race at The Rangeland Derby. Even if I can't attend, the Stampede Spirit will be all around. People will YAAAAAH HOOO and YEEE HAAAAWE and WOOO HOOOO at the Safeway store nearby, or tip their cowboy hats if I simply take a walk later on this evening as the summer air cools for the night. (A few people who celebrate with drink tonight will still be saying YAH HOO tomorrow morning - though more quietly and through swollen heads that are not too sure if Stampede is over or not lol)

I'll go walk down to the Elbow River later on and watch the fireworks on this final night and for tonight, be excited to be watching the bright lights, sizzlers and kaleidoscope of colours with over a MILLION people all at the same time. Likely, if this year is anything like last year - at about 11:40, traffic will necessarily just STOP in many streets as people in communities located close to the grounds come out into the street to just stand and watch. A few thousand people have the benefit of just stepping outside in their yards to be able to view the fireworks show. No SANE PERSON who is a native Calgarian and who lives in a 'nearby to the Stampede grounds community' will DARE to hop in their car and dash to the store between 11:30pm or so and 12:30am - 'cos they KNOW that 'pedestrians' are all over the place. Pedestrians who can't help but have their eyes skyward, unaware of what's in the street.

Anyhow - it's about 6 hours now 'til Racetime and about 10 hours 'til the Fireworks Display. I'll be back after midnight!

The Stampede Has Rolled Into Town

Hey TBC! I can tell that you're workin' too hard. You're lucky, however, that you're not doing your line of work in MY NECK OF THE WOODS because the Calgary Stampede is kicking off within HOURS from now...many people have already started partyin', whoopin' it up and everyone is a COWBOY in town all of a sudden haha.

Restaurants, Hotels, etc are all PACKED - many 'tourists' showed up over the long, CANADA DAY weekend and will stay 'til the Stampede is over, almost two weeks from now.

Naturally, discussions have already surfaced about the controversial topic of ANIMAL CRUELTY with regards to Stampede events...so - I thought you'd definitely have an opinion on this topic...

I DEFINITELY DO - moreso - because my family are some of the so-called 'inhumane' contestants in Stampede events. My great-uncle was a back-stretch judge for the Chuckwagon Races as far back as the 60's-70's. Steer-doggers, Chuckwagon drivers, outriders, bullriders and the like are in my family...

So - what do you think? Are you 'On-side' with the animals, thinkin' that Rodeo and Chuckwagon animals are treated cruelly? Or are you 'on-side' with the Cowboys?

Let me know...we have a full 10 days to discuss this lol invite your friends - I'm pretty well-versed in this discussion - having engaged in this debate during this particular 'Stampede Season' yearly for about 30 years!

Actually - as you know - I'm pretty freakin' OLD...but to tell you the truth - I was probably about 8 or 9 years old before I realized that OTHER PEOPLE outside of my family had issues with the 'animal cruelty' debate! I didn't know it was NOT NORMAL to catch animals with a rope and things like that...in fact, many of my family actually do this kind of thing (they are ranchers) off-track and on a regular basis today...so you can take one little guess as to which side of the debate I'll be on...

No cheating - you only get ONE GUESS!

haha

:)

Socialite Abuse

I'm wondering, TBC - what do you think of all the controversy going on with Paris Hilton?

Do you think there's such a thing as Socialite Abuse? I feel very bad for Paris and I don't subscribe to the notion that Celebrities understand that they are in the public eye.

Rather, I think that this whole notion is a way for Voyeurs of the world to continue to gawk, comment and make derogatory statements about people - and receive NO CORRECTION for it when their comments are nasty!

I think this is Socialite Abuse.

I know that a general public expects that celibrities DO KNOW that they are in the public eye and that they DO KNOW that whatever they do or say in public is up for discussion...but aren't we, as a general public - just pushing a little too far?

Look at when Mel Gibson got drunk - he's still paying for what he did many months ago. If he was just Joe Schmoe, nobody would blink an eye more than once and Joe Schmoe would not be publicly pursecuted, risk reputation-death and all that stuff.

Who are we - as a general public - to say that Celebrities have to act a certain way? We are BUYING THE PAPERS, watching the TVs, watching the NEWS and do this sometimes just to GAIN smutty, derogatory, controversial information about celebrities.

People like Paris Hilton and Mel Gibson have given thousands of dollars to charity and done other fine works for humanity. But a general public keeps pushing the fact that they acted out in certain ways...

I dunno, TBC - what do you think?

I have recently decided that I will NOT buy anymore newspapers, any more magazines and I no longer watch certain portions of news broadcasts on TV - for the same reasons as I used to - because I don't want to support the media in their HAZING of so many people.

I bought a newspaper the other day ONLY BECAUSE I am looking for a new apartment to live in and am looking for proofreading and editing jobs. Other than that - I will not buy a paper to read about the garbage I see on the front pages. Even if I am interested in a celebrity that I like, I do not buy any 'gossip' magazines. It has been at least 2 years since I have bought a 'gossip'-based magazine. If I hear a story on the news about a celebrity I like and it's information that is valid (like that he or she is in a new movie - or he is giving a speech somewhere in support of something) and not on gossipy topics like 'who someone just divorced' or 'who just got caught cheating' - then I watch on the TV but as soon as I hear gossipy garbage, I turn the channel or turn the TV off.

No matter how awful everyone else thinks that Paris Hilton is - I do not support all the garbage going on in the media about her.

If I purchase a paper or watch news with derogatory information about her - I might continue the discussion about her incarceration, her lifestyle, her faults - and I don't believe that Paris has ever done anything bad to me to deserve that.

I do not believe it is necessary for me to know details about her incarceration - I only hope to hear news soon that any addictions she had problems with are being addressed and managed well - and that statement, I will accept when I hear Paris Hilton make it - but not through some editor's comment about his or her opinion of the 'whole paris thing.' Not from some reporter's biased text or 'story' on tv.

As it stands for me - when I have heard people strike up conversations about Paris' lifestyle and other issues, I have been able to pointedly say, "Yes I heard about some troubles Paris was having - but I don't follow media coverage of her lifestyle or those other issues. I hope that Paris will be as 'okay' as anyone else soon who is experiencing problems with the law and with addictions." In this way, I dont' perpetuate negative discussion about her - but at the same time, I do acknowledge an awareness of some issues going on.

TBC - can you think of a better way to deal with this?

Do you think all this coverage of Paris is necessary?

My theme song is.............

Your Theme Song is Back in Black by AC/DC

"Back in black, I hit the sack, I've been too long, I'm glad to be back" Things sometimes get really crazy for you, and sometimes you have to get away from all the chaos. But each time you stage your comeback, it's even better than the last!

What's Your Theme Song?

Well I can't say this is one of my favorite songs....however it might be somewhat accurate. As far as Sheryl Crow, yeah she's alright. I prefer modern and alternative rock music though, like Daughtry and Hinder over Pop music.

Hey TBC What's Your Theme Song?

My Theme Song from this quiz is actually one of my favorite songs, too.

By Sheryl Crow.

Your Theme Song is Soak Up The Sun by Sheryl Crow

"I've got no one to blame For every time I feel lame I'm looking up" You're laid back, optimistic, and very together Like the sun, people feel warm and comfortable around you

What's Your Theme Song?

Which obviously proves that online quizzes are totally accurate, right?

lmao

Do You Like Sheryl Crow?

A Little Environmental Issue

Okay - So I'm having a little environment issue here in Canada
(again)

Weather alerts, storm warnings...

Yesterday when I got up and went outside - no traffic was moving on the street in front of my house, the emergency vehicles were out and it was a crazy way to start a day!

A TREE fell across the road, crunching some poor guy's truck...

What the heck!?

No - it wasn't a drunken tree.
No the tree wasn't tired.
It wasn't even a lazy tree.

It snowed so wet and heavy within a few hours that the weight broke the tree! Okay so it wasn't the entire tree - just enough of the tree to ruin a guy's pick-up completely and shut down the whole block entirely because there was NO PASSAGE route THROUGH.

Welcome to Canada - don't park on the Street!

LOL

It's MAY!

TBC - did you order this storm and send it up to Canada?

I will kick your behind if I find out you did lol Ya know, you're not supposed to use your credit card to order stuff like that!

Is this your Global Warming? You'd better STOP THAT! lol

If you're gonna order freak accidents - next time, order Accident call number DRIDIOT001THD01 and deliver to the aparment next to mine, okay?

That's "DRIDIOT" (Drunk Idiot) 001 T.ree H.it D.runkard - 01 (Once) - just one time - before he passes out and nearly starts a fire like he did last week okay? Please have it delivered during the 6pm - midnight delivery time - that's when he usually passes out with food in the oven. Just don't send to the wrong apartment number - I already have a full shelf of 'freak accidents' this week. Gotta use 'em up before I stock up on more.

LOL

Sorry - was holdin' that back for almost a week.

Have had a li'l stress here in Canada and have been away from the blog...

Now you know why.

I figured it was pertinent to the blog...I have had 2 ENVIRONMENTAL DANGERS this week that are completely outside of my control.

That's all for now - back to you, TBC...

Environmental Risks of Wind Power

Well in my search for Windmill Photos I got distracted...

.......by the awful story about Wind Turbines killing bats in Pincher Creek Alberta! lol

To my way of thinking, this little CBC News article is kind of dumb-butt!

It says that people are concerned and DO NOT KNOW WHY EXACTLY the bats are flying into the Windmills. DOH! The answer is given early in the article by a Professor Robert Barclay, and the likely solution to the problem, as well.

If you've ever HEARD a Wind Turbine, you'll understand why bats would fly into them. They HUM and 'whistle' and 'moan.' Likely (As Professor Barclay said) they shut off other 'sonar' senses once they hear the turbine sounds - then end up just schmmmmmushing into 'em. (Yes, schmmmmmmushing is a common Canadian term for 'splat/splatting/smushing into' lol). The solution - put those nasty 'deer' whistles on the Turbines or something - whatever the bats DONT LIKE TO HEAR!

So why would I give a hoop about the bats and put them on the blog?

Well (thanks for asking *rolling my eyes* TBC-who-is-probably-sleeping-right-now), people DO NOT REALIZE HOW DETRIMENTAL many of our animals, rodents, and other creatures are TO OUR ECOSYSTEM.

TBC brought up the topic of 'Global Warming' and I might be somewhat off topic here, however, to my knowledge, the problems of Global Warming are multifarious (having great variety).

Here we have a SITUATION created by people who were trying to HELP the Global Warming, energy/power situation. It was a good idea to study and start developing WIND POWER but now it's affecting the ecosystem!

Now what are we going to do???

We have FOUND SOME ANSWERS out in Southern Alberta that will lead us away, as consumers, from fossil fuels and polluting types of fuels used for energy and power...and along the way, we just killed our bats!

The reason bats are so darned important is that they feed off more harmful pests that are both annoying and dangerous to man and our food crops in Southern Alberta - and to tell you the truth, bats - they're actually pretty cute - and they don't make the worst pets, either! These li'l guys eat insects that carry disease - mostly to our food supplies.

Psssst - here's my fave bat pic - li'l one looks like a mini-pooch upside down covered in wings lol
Ohyeah - here's a 'windmill turbine tower' design plan that someone posted online

Over 500 dead li'l guys were found dead in a local area around certain Wind Turbine fields in S. AB, so in effect, that was enough to kill off the benefit of the bats to a concentrated area! 500 bats DO A LOT OF BENEFICIAL good, so their immediate absense right now is going to affect farmers and communities in that local area presently and for the next few seasons.

What is worse.....we've already seen - in Canada and the USA - a very marked decline in bat population due to other not so altruistic man-made factors (city expansions, pollution, etc). Unlike many other types of small mammal or rodents, many bat species DO NOT reproduce in huge numbers or with great speed. Bats are kind of 'fussy li'l things' that don't have a very high survival rate, as compared with most creatures their size.

Anyhow - that's about enough on that, eh? It's hard for me to tackle TBC's HUGE 'Global Warming' topic without getting side-tracked by these smaller issues.

I still didn't find the pics I wanted to of the Windmill 'farms' that I have actually driven by, and can't spend more time on looking, either - heck - there are more BAT PICS to check out, ya know? lol

Before I go, I will make two direct statements about the 'Global Warming Debate':

I believe that much of the information we receive about 'Global Warming' issues - boils down to plain and simple SCARE TACTICS used for Political Momentum...

And if that is so:

The 'global' public is being side-tracked from the real facts that we need to know about the environment (which is in jeopardy, no doubt!) - in order to solve the REAL environmental issues that are happening in our world.

And Now, Back to You, TBC *Handing over the microphone*

:)

Answers To Global Warming - Alternative Power

Global warming...

...basically, when I hear the term 'Global Warming,' I think of pollution. Landfills, smoke, and factory chemical-belching...those are the only pollutant issues I am familiar with - because I live out in the Prairies. I know there are way more kinds of 'pollution' issues from the marine perspective and also in the woodlands and marshes, but I don't have a lot of knowledge of those. QUite literally, I live (happily and luckily so!) in one of the cleanest areas of the globe!

By contrast even with where you live, TBC, I am in a clean environment.

Global warming is a nasty topic that a lot of people don't allow to fall off their lips too often out here where I live! In Calgary Alberta, there is a common notion that we are a wealthy city and that we EARNED our rights to drive a car everyday even though there is a public transit system available. We have old-standing, old-fashioned work ethics in a lot of sectors, and with those ideals, people believe that hard work is rewarded by having choices after the work is done and that so long as something is not visibly harming someone else, we can choose to buy, do, and live the way we want. After all, we worked hard and did our job when we were supposed to. Since most people cannot 'see' visible problems in the environment right now and 'we' have a relatively clean environment in Alberta, pollution and other related environmental problems are other peoples' problems!

Even as a major city, Calgary has far fewer air pollution issues than one might expect. I can only remember a handful of 'air quality' warnings during my whole life. On the other hand, when I lived in Hamilton Ontario for a while, a few years ago, I listened to 'air quality reports' on the radio on a daily basis through the warm months and decided via the reports how long I might stay outdoors to do errands and activities at certain times. The only 'air quality' warnings we have had that I am aware of in the prairie provinces (Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba) have occurred due to seasonal fires - or the occasional natural gas explosion or some kind of chemical spill accident.

So...sometimes 'environment' issues are difficult to discuss with a general public, out where I live, TBC. Many people just don't see a noticeable problem - therefore no problem exists, I guess. Not to mention that - in my area of Calgary Alberta in the Prairie Regions of Canada, our collective wealth is EXACTLY derived from some of the Earth's most feared pollutants! OIL AND GAS! On one hand - we don't 'SEE' a visible problem. On another hand, we PROVIDE the pollutants on a global scale, so at a certain level, there is a LOT OF government HUSH about certain levels of pollution, TBC. There is no wonder for many people - that a general public is unaware of TOXINS, POLLUTANTS, and things like that. In part, some of the general public who don't discuss the topic of Global Warming or pollution - simply don't believe there's a problem. And - RIGHTLY SO - because to their scope of knowledge, they've not been given the information to make them become concerned about certain issues.

A general public has access to many 'Reports' on the environment but this is how some of it works:

When we see a government research report on a certain pollution concentration and it is, say 9%...but we also look at a report from another country and it says 36% pollution problem...

We sit back and say, "Hey we're lower- no problems - the country with the 36% has problems."

Immediately OUTSIDE of my city, however, we've had people dedicated to environment issues for a surprisingly long time. Since I was a child, I can remember 'Windfields'/Windmill Fields out in the Southern Alberta (Pincher Creek) areas. Here's a photo page I found while doing a search on 'Southern Alberta Windmills'. It has factory and 'pollution' photos as well as some fantastic shots of windmills, some 'dumps,' and some people 'cleaning' the environment.

I'm still researching this topic - so I'll update this post within a few hours. I just KNOW I can find a more amazing picture of the Windmills! I remember driving by FIELDS of windmills when I was younger - and when I was grown, I had to take my son by those fields once he was about 7 or 8....and I was worried that the "Wind-Fields" would be 'smaller' when I was grown haha - and that I had only IMAGINED THEM with more than 3 or 6 units per field when I was a kid - but my son and I did find some fields with dozens and dozens of them!

Later........

teeray~~

Love Addiction, Cho, and..... Global Warming?

Alright, well I have taken some time to think, and now am ready to respond. I agree with you Teeray, that many factors were what caused the Virginia Tech Massacre. I also have found another article in regards to the prescription drug factor, which you can read here. As far as Love addiction, yes I do know something about it, and addiction in general, and I agree with you in the fact that many people would not consider it an addiction. There are really several types of Love Addicts. One would be co-dependent people, these are the ones who you always see sticking it out through a bad relationship, because they are dependent on whatever emotional needs this person is fulfilling. Another type, is the person who always seems to be seeing "someone". These people are the ones who will find a new attraction a short few days after a breakup, and just move from one relationship to the next never really being fulfilled. I have been both of these people before, and I believe if you fall into one of these categories, you can easily switch to the other. There are other types as well, actually too numerous to mention here. For more information on love addiction try the site for love addiction.

Ok well I've had about enough of talking about Virginia Tech, and Cho. Its time to send this blog in a new direction, and I have the coordinates right here. A highly political and debated issue currently is the issue of Global Warming. For some information on this check out the wikipedia entry on it. Is man causing it? To what degree are we responsible, if we are? Is it a left wing conspiracy? If it is real, how imminent is the threat? These are questions which we all want answers to, and I will do my best to answer with the information available to me. First off, Teeray, Im sure you and your neighbors are cheering on global warming up there in the frigid north. However, Canada and all the northern region needs to stay cold, for obvious reasons, the main one being to keep the polar icecaps frozen. I will say that I do believe Global Warming is occuring, not only because of the statistics and studies done on it, but also because of all the poison man is putting into the atmosphere. I can't believe that all the CO2 we are emitting into the atmosphere has no negative consequences. However, I have not seen conclusive evidence that this is the only cause of recent weather events and average global temperature increases. I believe that the threat is long-term, however it will take many years to reverse this effect. I believe that the suggestion that this is all political, or a left-wing conspiracy, is complete garbage and in itself the suggestion is politically motivated. My opinion is, that we are at a point where we should begin looking for and using other means of energy and transportation, if for no other reason than for the fact that "we don't currently know what, if any, damage we are doing to our environment". That being said, we have not found another earth as of yet in the entire universe. This earth is similar to our own physical bodies, if we don't take care of it we will not prosper and may not even live. Would you put something into your body if you were "unsure" of its effects? Would you need scientific proof to show it causes harm before you would stop? This is exactly what is being asked on the global warming issue. I believe until someone can prove that CO2 is "good" for the earth, we should begin limiting our energy consumption and CO2 emissions. Yes Teeray, Canada will have to stay cold. You should be used to it by now though!!

Love Addict Just Struck Me, TBC!

Whoa! I must have been all caught up in the serious biz of this blog for a while because I completely overlooked about a paragraph-length worth of words that TBC used to talk about LOVE ADDICT details...

TBC - do you know something about love addiction, or what (I think you do)?

Ya know...
I think that you are on to something again, my good American friend!

Cho got dumped - so he shot up the campus?

Well - not exactly. I'm not really taking this as lightly as it seems (however, you know that I am Canadian - and we Canadians do have a 'different' sense of humour eh?).

Cho was fried on prescription drugs - plus he got dumped by a pretty girl - so he shot up the campus.

Wait a sec...
There's more.

Cho was fried on prescription meds, was a visible minority who sometimes experienced the receiving end of bullying, was a loner, got dumped by his girlfriend - so he shot up the campus.

Cho was fried on meds, was sometimes bullied, was a visible minority, was a loner, was stressed at school, had financial problems, got dumped by his girlfriend, got his hands on guns - so he shot up the campus.

k - you know there's a LOT MORE, right?
However...the question is:

Which intervention - for which serious PROBLEM - could have been the solution to prevent the Cho-Vi-Tech Massacre?

I have decided to take just ONE DAY and not have an opinion on this matter anymore. This means - my TV channels will be promptly changed to an American Bandstand Re-Run station if any 'investigation updates,' any 'reports,' or any 'expert opinions' come on the Great White North Canadian Snow-TV-Broadcast News (haha - yeah that's our only station in Canada on Sundays - not) over here!

My mind is blown now by the sheer count of PROBLEMS that 'boy' was having - but moreso - by the fact that there are OTHERS in North America who are lonely, minority, have had their fill of being bullied, are on anti-depressants or other 'mood-affecting' medications, are having school difficulties, are having financial difficulties, have access to weapons - and of course - might have girlfriends who just don't understand them and who might break up with them tomorrow (Monday) - or Tuesday, Wednesday, you know - anytime.

I am going to retreat into my igloo very soon with the TV shut off so that I can think about the complexities of this whole deal.....(Or, I might nap for a while and take the sled dogs for a run later on lol)

In the meantime, TBC - please type me what you know about this 'love addiction' stuff! I think you're on to something.

And.....this is what has me the most WORRIED of all, TBC - your mention of this love addiction. How many people are out there who expect another person to make them happy, expect love relationships to be fulfilling? How many people do you think out in America and Canada alone have the traits of a 'Love Addict'?

I know an awful lot more than I need to about 'addiction,' myself - so I'm not taking your comments about love addiction very lightly. Partly, I don't think it's something that people think IS AN ADDICTION in the first place. Second thoughts have me wondering - where in the heck do ya go if you're a 'love addict' - to get help?

Not like you should ask someone for a supportive hug or what-not, eh?

So - when it all comes down to it - I am really retreating to my igloo all just to think about what 'love addiction' is - and about what Love Addiction might have to do with insane massacre crimes.


(Psssssssssst hey tbc - ya never figured for your whole life that we would have 'sled dog' as a keyword eh? lol)

teeray~~

As Usual, TBC, You've Foiled My Theory!

It's pretty obvious that I've taken a little while to respond to TBC's latest comments.

Actually - partly, this is because that Arianna Huffington article that TBC provided - to the article, "Virginia Tech Aftermath: Did Legal Drugs Play a Role In The Massacre?" - was very, VERY convincing!

And here, I thought TBC was busy working, SEO-ing and doing various multi-tasking so that he wasn't forming much of an opinion on this matter.....

Boy - was I wrong!

TBC brought me more up to date on the issue - about how Americans are INVESTIGATING this tragedy.

I have to say that in my Canadian coverage (news media, tv, radio, newspapers, mags) that I receive 'up North,' there are a lot of what looks to be 'objective' study about the Vi-Tech tragedy.

I expected a longer 'outrage' burst from the media sources I receive...perhaps this incident had brought a 'clarity' to the public - or - American voices aren't SHOUTING anymore - they are 'debating' and 'informing' and 'problem-solving.'

I have learned to expect many 'uninformed, emotional outbursts' from the North American public when dramatic tragedies occur. I say 'North American' to include Canada in the range of public I am speaking of - because Canadians are often mis-informed by our own media, too. "Drama" receives air-time and show time very often in North American culture - at the expense of 'the inherent facts.' Perhaps this is due to the similar 'freedom of speech' clauses in both American and Canadian Bills of Rights...of which - many North Americans use with abusive or ignorant purpose.

I stand corrected (maybe lol) by the Honorable TBC now - on my viewpoint concerning the 'why' of the Vi-Tech tragedy.

I have more reading to do yet from the excellent links in the Huffington article, and will be back to comment again later.

Another point of view on Cho, legal prescriptions, love, and more....

Ok, well strap on your seatbelts, because this post is about to go all over the place. I will start with my current point of view on Cho, and the Virginia Tech Massacre. First off let me say that what he did is truly horrible, and there is no excuse good enough for what he said. I have spent much time trying to figure out the question that seems to be on most people's minds, and that question is "Why". First off, if you have not seen the videos he sent to NBC news, you can view them here.
Video #1
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oaBdMiJcl2Y
Video #2
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z7V34jIypAU
Video #3
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ldjVrckeZFg

Ok, so a lot of the videos are really kinda hard to understand, and he seems to be talking very fast and all over the place, which I will use to make a point later, so remember this. Anyways, why would someone do something like this. Well I do agree with some of your points, Teeray, of being kind've an outcast, a minority, in a college setting with lots of stress. However, do you realize how many minorities there are in this country? Seriously the minority has become the majority in this country, and I don't believe race has anything to do with this. I think it lies more in the fact of psychological problems Cho was having. Of course all the things you mentioned, all of the predjudices that you claim Cho had issues with were probably partially there, but they do not explain why. Millions of people struggle with all of the same issues every day, however, they do not go shoot people. However, I have a few theories, which possibly both could be the cause or neither, really more of an opinion. My first theory is that Cho, is possibly a codependent person, or a love addict. Keep in mind his stalker tendecies, and that he seemed to be just trying to latch onto someone. He was looking for something outside of himself, to make him happy, because he was obviously not happy on the inside. This would also explain his need to create the video, to "justify" what he had done with excuses. Addicts are great with justification, it makes it easy to do things one would not normally do, always blaming the system or someone else. Just imagine you are Cho, a lonely introverted college student. For several years you have been looking for someone to connect to, even stalking in some cases, and you just can never connect to anyone. Now, remember all this started with a reported girlfriend that was shot first? This is where all of this ties in. Cho finally began seeing someone, and maybe the girl led him on for awhile, or maybe she didn't, but the point is I believe that Cho thought she liked him. Now imagine being in his shoes, and after looking for this person for so long, he finally believes he has found her. All his problems would seem to fade away, because now he has somewhere else to focus his attention, on the girl. Then, all of a sudden, the girl breaks things off, for whatever reason. For someone like Cho, this would be the equivalent of getting a glimpse of heaven, then shrewdly and abruptly being sucked back down into hell. Ok, so everyone goes through rejection and issues with love, but I believe there is one other factor to consider here. This is the fact that Cho was taking Legally prescribed drugs (although we don't know which ones for sure yet) for his psychological problems. Everyone knows that many times side effects of these drugs can be manic, suicidal, or even homicidal thoughts. Ok remember how I said about the video, he seemed to be in somewhat in a "manic" state. Thats where this comes into play. There is also the possibility that he could have been taking illegal drugs, although there is no evidence to support this yet. For a little discussion on legal drugs and the role they could have played read here. So I believe the "why" in this case is a mixture of psychological problems, addictive personality, as well as possibly legal drugs. Any thoughts anyone?

Okay - while you're still thinking about that...

Just a quick question...

Were you rooting for Sanjaya before he was eliminated from American Idol?

I think he'll still go places, anyhow - even thought he was eliminated. He's already scheduled to appear on several talk shows...I think the 'pony-hawk-hair' was awesome LOL kinda strange but he had a lot of guts to sport that 'DO,' eh?

Anyhow - now that Sanjaya is OFF - who are ya rootin' for now?

I kinda like Blake and Melinda.

You'll have to keep me updated next week 'cos I have heavy-duty review classes and study groups next week...finals are almost upon me! lol

Hey - aren't you a HUGE FAN of one of the 'eliminated' males from last session's American Idol? What was his name - Chris, right? Chris D?

The weather is good......

Well, I'm sitting here in Central Illinois Teeray, and the weather is not too bad. We just went through a cold spell here the past week or so, although by cold spell I mean 50 degrees fahrenheit. At the moment it is around 75 and sunny, and I think springtime is finally here, which is nice. Sorry about the weather up there, but its always cold in canada right? Haha, just kidding. Anyways, yes I will read the Kurt Vonnegut book too, although I've been researching on him a little and I kinda think I would like to read a book by him called "Breakfast of Champions". So anyways, I'm sitting here in a t-shirt and shorts in Illinois in quite a chipper mood at the moment. As far as your Virginia Tech post, I have to think about my reply for a bit longer. Rest assured it will be a good one though.

Safer Topic Than The Weather

So it will be safer to keep on discussing War and Terrorism today and stay away from 'the weather.'

Actually - I just trashed that thought because I am receiving, right now, another broadcast about the Virginia Tech shooting.

Topic: Virginia Tech shooting

I'm trying to think somewhat 'objectively' about this event (neh - just tryin' to be 'slightly numb' about this event because it is horrific), but it's difficult to put 'anger' on hold and to see certain details.

Maybe I'm playing "Devil's Advocate" here - but heck - I'm Canadian - it's what I do when I hear about things from the states.....(and, probably only possible because I am reasonably far removed from the 'suffering community').

Devil's Advocate stance:
Cho is a victim, himself, of American Capitalism, of skewed economic, educational, government, and social systems!

(I know, I know, Thomas - calm down...I am SURE you're not going to agree with this, but hear me out and don't delete this when you come in to make your post lol).

The one thing that is nearly always 'FIRST SAID' in media reports is that Cho blamed 'everyone else' and 'the system' for his financial/student problems.

I'm sorry if I can 'identify' with Cho - for I am a higher-education student myself. The details of my financial struggles cannot even be put on this blog because they are NOT BELIEVABLE, but they're true. 'Acquaintance-peers' do not believe my 'poor student status' is as severe as it is, but 'Friend-acquaintances' most certainly do, and those friends cannot believe that I haven't gone insane from stress yet - something as severe as Cho? I have obviously had better support than Cho - because many of the 'items' he speaks of in the home videos he made (I viewed them on the late night news last night) - I could identify with. I, however, am not a VISIBLE MINORITY, I am not Male (people don't expect me to 'suck it up all the time' like thy do with males - who are supposed to be strong, silent, problem-solving), and I am not part of a school with the kind of competition that must surface at Virginia Tech. My place of education is considerably smaller - with noticeable 'support' group information plastered on many walls.

The general public of North America is very MISINFORMED by the media about how things really are for students, minorities, gender, and other groups...and Higher Officials have not experienced the issues that affect students, minorities, gender and other groups, so they - try as they might, and as 'do-good' as they want to be - they cannot solve the problems of these groups! (The policy-makers aren't from the same generation as current students - they don't understand the 'issues' of current-day...they can only pretend to 'get it' and act according to their 'guesses').

SOCIETY and - especially - POLICY MAKERS - DO NOT KNOW the inherent difficulties of 'student life,' of 'insufficient funds' for students, of the sick environments that can - and invariably DO EXIST on most major campuses.

In reality, the student deals with HIGH STRESS individuals ALL THE TIME. They are his or her PEERS and everyone is in the same boat.

Competition is high, drug-use and alcohol abuse is high, and stress-levels are always consistently high on North American campuses. In short, higher-education facilities in North America (I include Canadian campuses, too - many are just as 'stressed.'), are full of high-strung people and this social or personal setting is NOT a healthy one.

Racism EXISTS
Class-distinction prejudice EXISTS
Gender prejudice EXISTS

Many other WRONGS exist.....and run rampant on University, College and other higher-education campuses.

Cho - committed an heinous crime.
He is guilty.
He is disturbed.

No doubts about that.

I'm just saying - while the world focuses on how awful Cho is, NOBODY IS DOING ENOUGH to set RIGHT the educational systems, make campuses safer in a PERSONAL WAY (comfort of students sharing WITH students - not 'guards,' and 'security,' and 'more restrictive rules.').

Also:
The families, friends, peers, and acquaintances of the victims killed by Cho - DESERVE for higher-education and the systems that support higher-education, (government MOST included), to get their 'systems' running properly.

Students like Cho was before this awful crime (he is now a KILLER, but he wasn't a killer last week - last week he was simply another faceless victim!) - deserve for higher-education and the systems that support higher-education - to get their systems running properly.

Cho - deranged, disturbed or not - is a victim of a different sort.......he is a 'SYMPTOM' of what is wrong in the educational, societal and government systems.

I just hope that people will think of these things - no matter how much they might dislike my current opinion and post!

Snowing In APRIL!

Thomas!

I'm comin' over!! Right away.......

So that I can ESCAPE CANADIAN WEATHER!!!

Oh wait! I cannot do that - there are weather warnings. LOL I am not supposed to travel unless it is absolutely necessary!

It's freakin' 2C (35F??) and nothing is really FREEZING, but we still have a 'Flyin'-freakin'-precipitation' warning!

Today's forecast: Snow
Today's Evening forecast: heavier Snow
Tomorrow's forecast: Snow!
Haha - check this out.....For Friday -
- forecast "day"=snow, "evening" forecast, 30% chance of Snow!
Saturday forecast: cloudy with chance of precipitation!

Lemme see - 'precipitation' might mean 'snow,' right?

Anyhow - hows YOUR weather, Thomas?

Hey Hippy Child!

So Thomas, I think that we should read Slaughterhouse 5 over the Spring/Summer - then come back and comment on it...

If you don't have the book, you non-liberal, non-conservative hippy guy - then I found the text at SparkNotes forya!

As a 'financially-challenged' student, I use SparkNotes a LOT!

I have to re-read Vonnegut's Slaughterhouse 5 anyway - because I only got part-way through it back in my 'drunkzone' time of life haha! Because the story jumps around and doesn't follow a linear chronology of events, I think I got confused and planned to 'finish reading it later' LOL.

I decided that this will likely be a book that comes up in my studies (I'm a Lit-English Major). It has already come into conversation over the last year, though I haven't been asked to do a primary study on the book. I asked an instructor about it last week and he said, "Yes, READ IT, it will put a lot of things into perspective about American world-view from the 50's, 60's, and 70's." I was also told that works by Vonnegut 'will be coming up.'

So - Thomas - it would be in the interest of my future career as a writer, student, public-speaker, tutor, and person if you would study Kurt Vonnegut's Slaughterhouse 5 with me before my next regular semester starts...just in case one of my pending classes targets an 'American Works' theme! (I believe there is an American Literature topic class - entirely for American material - coming up - and I will definitely get enrolled for that class once I figure out how to fit it into my schedule!).

So - How 'bout it, HippyChild?

Gonna help me pre-study?

Hmm actually I have never read any of his stuff. Although I remember my father being a big fan of his. Yes, I am a hippy child. Anyways, maybe I should read some of his stuff. I honestly think I would have fit right in with the hippies of the 60's and 70's though. I am really all about peace and love, and cannot see any reason for any kind of fighting that could not be resolved peacefully. I wish there was some kind of organization, worldwide, that would work on peace and poverty, as they are two biggest problems facing mankind at this point, in my opinion. I think I will read sone Vonnegut though, now that you mentioned it. So much for being labeled as liberal or conservative bloggers now, haha.

A Kurt Vonnegut Admirer?

Just wondering, TBC - if you were shaken by the news of the author, Kurt Vonnegut's death...

(Slaughterhouse Five, Cat's Cradle)

Perhaps this would be a reasonable topic - directly following our views about "War and Terrorism in the name of Religion!" I realize that Vonnegut had quite strong viewpoints about War in the '60's...

I'll let you voice your views first...

Good Questions, Thomas!

Imagine, Thomas C (who is an American citizen).....asking a Canadian (Peacekeeping) gal to comment about the topic of 'War'!

Actually - combination topic - 'War,' 'Terrorism,' and 'Religion.'

How perfectly CURRENT!

Like Thomas, almost everyone is always talking about, gaining an opinion about, changing their opinions about, standing up for their opinions about, and thinking about their opinions on these three topics!

I believe that it's hard to learn from mistakes and that, as Thomas said, "...if you don't then you are destined to repeat the same mistakes over and over."

I'm aware that I'm not in the position to be able to solve the world's problems - but if I was suddenly MADE TO (BTW, I would never ask for the job - it would be an overwhelming burden) FIND A PIECE OF THE SOLUTION that would help resolve global conflicts, counter terrorism, and allow various religions to exist peaceably side-by-side, I would only be able to point out several things for people to think VERY SERIOUSLY about...

Here it is:

Laws are made for individuals (all over the globe) so that each person has a guideline for behaviors and what is lawful - and mostly what is unlawful...

People know that if they cross the line and break the law, THERE ARE CONSEQUENCES.

Individuals understand this. Most individuals remain within bounds of the law.

WHO MAKES THE GOVERNING BODIES, WORLD POLITICAL, TERRORIST, and RELIGIOUS ORGANIZATIONS OR POWERS ADHERE TO THE SAME LAWS?

Is there anybody? Is there any organization? Is there any kind of power at all that can ensure that LAWS ARE MAINTAINED?

If there were - if there is - also then - WHAT WOULD BE THE CONSEQUENCES IF POLITICAL POWERS, TERRORISTS, AND RELIGIOUS POWERS WERE TO BREAK THE LAW?

Even if laws are made and even if a society believes they are living under a certain type of government rule, how can anyone be sure?

America is HOME OF THE FREE, but people are ENSLAVED in several realms of their existence - through jobs, families, races (segregated), status, all kinds of things (and each of these items, an unsolved issue in itself). WHERE IS THE FREEDOM? Where is the 'government elected by the people'? While America is collectively very unhappy with the way their country is run, the officials and authorities in power continue to emerge, effectively refusing and denying the will of the bulk of American population!

Canada has similar issues, a model closely resembling America's government, America's social structures, economy, and almost every other thing important in life.

In all this confusion and despite all the struggle in North America, I think that people need to STOP THINKING ABOUT who is right and who is wrong all the time. Instead, if they focus on just following the laws that are already in place, following the principles set in place within the 'code of conduct' of America and Canada, then perhaps some vast improvements would be made.

If you understand the documents that are the backbones of America and of Canada, you will see that despite a few inconsistencies, the PRINCIPLES outlined in the Constitutions of both America and Canada make SOME COMMON SENSE.

Most things written as the backbone guidelines for how Canada and how America should be governed, how the people should respect each other, how the government should enforce the law - IS MOSTLY COMMON SENSE.

The 'guidelines' have become insignificant, and have been blatantly IGNORED!

Even in this age we live in now - with its technology and scientific advances, I think that 'the guidelines' have intrinsic value, however, if they're not being followed or adhered to, they have no 'utility'! That is - they exist and are GOOD, but they're not being applied well, so the GOOD results they should offer - cannot be realized!

Ok, well here's the first post in my first shared blog, which I am sharing with a good friend of mine. If you have started reading this blog now, I will give you a warning that almost anything could possibly be discussed here, there is almost nothing which is off limits, although there are a couple things. Secondly I would like to state from the beginning that I hope not to be classified as a conservative, or a liberal blogger, simply because these classifications are thrown around so much on the internet, and I have many views which fall into both of these categories. There will probably be lots of joking, and lots of debating going on here. The U.S. and Canada are both represented in this blog, as well as male and female so we should get some pretty good discussion going on. Now that is out of the way, I would like to discuss something which has been on my mind, and although, I'm not sure its real good for the first post, I'm gonna do it anyways. Here is what has been on my mind. Wars, and terrorism, in the name of religion really bother me. I have studied a few different religions, and I can't see how this can be done. I understand that the terrorists who are muslim are extremists, but what about our own government, who is obviously christian, should they be classified as extreme as well? I like to consider myself a middle of the road type of guy, I identify with several different points of view, both liberal and conservative. However, I cannot see a reason for any war or act of terror being committed in the name of any religion. Now I realize that this has been going on for centuries, I mean basically the crusades were a war fought over religion. However, shouldn't we as a society, start to become more sophisticated at some point? When do we start to learn from the mistakes of the past, and not repeat them? I admit its been hard for me to learn from my mistakes, however at some point it does become necessary learn because if you don't then you are destined to repeat the same mistakes over and over. I don't know, just something thats been on my mind. Maybe Teeray has got some good insight into this.