Bumthang

I have my permits! I am well-chuffed about getting a chance to explore some more of Bhutan. :) As if it weren't exciting enough, I'll be travelling with a Bhutanese man who is both a licenced guide and photographer. He's published books of his photographs and most of the postcards I've sent have images that he took. I think it will be an enjoyable adventure (and one that comes just in time as I'll need to head to Paro shortly after returning). Paro is where the airport is and home to a number of other interesting sites which I'd like to see before leaving. It won't be all that long before I'm on a plane, and that means Canada doesn't follow long-after.

Just a quick note to let you know that all continues well here in Bhutan. Though volunteering has fallen by the way-side, I am still pursuing the experience as best I can. I am trusting that the in-country travel that I intend to do will show an as yet unseen (by me) side of Bhutan. I am certainly hopeful that that will be the case, anyway.

The adventure is half-way over according to the calendar. Have I reached goals that I may have intended for myself? Probably not, but who knows what the remaining time brings?

Thimpu and beyond

Apologies for any delays in writing but I am not physically connected to a computer here as I am at home. Shock of shocks, I went a couple of days without getting online!

I am writing from an artist's studio. I met one of the artists when I arrived as he helped friends find me a place to live. He and some of his fellow artists and I chatted about Bhutan, Canada and all sorts of things. Though I'm not an artist in the way they are, I have a genuine interest in the range of both fine art and commercial work that they do so that alone has been interesting (saying nothing for the conversation - which was also very interesting).

I'm planning to do some travel to other parts of the country as I've remained in Thimpu, the capital, since my arrival. I may join a couple of Canadians for some travel early next week or I may strike out on my own. In any case, I look forward to doing it in a way that helps me not just see more of Bhutan but to experience more of Bhutan.

I've met a wide range of people already and it's given me a number of insights into Bhutan that I would otherwise never have had. I have plenty more to learn (of course - since that is always the case, no matter where I am) and am looking forward to the opportunities that lie ahead.

Bhutan

Sigh... I'm here, but have exhausted myself catching up other folks directly. Unfortunately, you'll have to wait for details. I can say though that in 8 hours or so here (and with the help of some great folks), I have an apartment, some groceries and maybe even a volunteer opportunity. :)

The Adventure Continues

It truly became an adventure yesterday when Druk Air (Bhutan's only airline) told me that they had no record of me and that I had a visa letter from the wrong government ministry. Funnily enough, it didn't strike me as a big deal. I knew that I needed to contact some people and get things happening, but it didn't really concern me greatly. I knew things would work out. Remarkably, they have worked out according to the original schedule. This is pretty impressive considering not only did I have the wrong documents, but tomorrow's flight was already full. It pays to have contacts, I guess. :)

Next you hear from me, I'll be in Bhutan. As if it weren't going to be a shock anyway, after a couple of days in Kathmandu, I think it will be a huge change. Bring on the change.

P.S. I saw monkeys today. :) For anyone wondering, I did not do my monkey impression for them (but I did feel right at home). ;)

And so it begins...

If you've ever wondered why those relaxing massage chairs that are often found in malls don't have a "turbulence" setting, I think I know why. After not the most restful flight across the Atlantic, I arrived in London all bushy-eyed and bright-tailed early this morning. Luckily for me, I had a date with a good friend for some quality time in London-town. The day has been great and has already found me thinking plenty about what has been and what is to come. I step forward with excitement and just a little bit of trepidation. But first, further visiting. That means no more typing.

By the way, if you're going on a multi-leg flight in the future, put your deodorant in your carry-on. Just sayin'.

Too x 4

Too few days to go. Too few details to go on. Too much to do. Too bad. :)

Me

I have let much time pass since acknowledging the thoughts that were floating in my head relating to my first experiences of hot yoga last month. I fear that the most substantial aspects have decanted leaving some nice clear (read: empty) space with all those great thoughts in the muck at the bottom of my brain.

Still, I do recall that much of my inspiration related to self. Self-awareness and consciousness of self (not to be confused with self-consciousness) were highs of the experience as I live a life full of distractions. Hot yoga saw me concentrating (almost) solely on my body and the pose. This was very refreshing, despite the 40-degree heat.

Though I haven't continued yoga in the past few weeks, I will continue the journey of self both literally and figuratively. In 9 days, I will be flying to Bhutan to spend 4-5 weeks learning, living and experiencing. This will encompass new cultural and physical experiences while including many opportunities for self-reflection. One of the things I look forward to most is the change in distractions. I hope to use my time to capture my thoughts and experiences across various media. If you know me, you know that photography will be a big part of that, but not the only thing. I look forward to writing more and think this experience will allow me to explore aspects of myself while I explore aspects of Bhutan and it's people.

Went to Hot Yoga for the first time tonight. I really enjoyed it. It's got post material floating in my head but it will have to wait 'til the weekend to coalesce.

Today's post is brought to you by the letter "A"

Affection –noun
1. fond attachment, devotion, or love: the affection of a parent for an only child.

Addiction –noun
the state of being enslaved to a habit or practice or to something that is psychologically or physically habit-forming, as narcotics, to such an extent that its cessation causes severe trauma.

How well do you think these two fit together? I think it is definitely possible to be enslaved to a fond attachment whose cessation causes trauma. In fact, I wouldn't be posting it if I didn't see that as a possibility (and in my own life no less).

It's no coincidence that quitting an addictive product/activity carries many similarities to ending a relationship. Is it best to go "cold turkey"? Is it possible not to? "Ya, now I'm down to one line of coke a week..." (JOKE! NOT REALLY!)

Maybe the difference lies in whether the source of the addiction, or more specifically the object of the addiction is a person or a thing. It does tend to complicate things.

Then again, an addiction to affection isn't necessarily about a particular person, but rather a particular attention or connection and that may be human nature - the need to seek out others with whom we feel a kinship or connection.

Addiction is a term that has plenty of implications. I guess I'm just trying to explore the language and the concept.

"it's a lunatic ninja coming through the window"

Can you imagine this happening in Kanata?

From an article on celestial happenings in the great Kingston Whig-Standard:

"Uranus has an 84-year cycle, so for the rest of your life, the planet will never again be as far away from you as it will be this evening."

It's a good thing that they specified that it is the planet. Otherwise, immature people like myself might think it was funny. Tee-hee.

The Fine Print

How often do you read the Terms of Service or End User License Agreement when you set up an account on a web service (e-mail, social networking, etc.) or when you install software? My guess is: not that often. Well, you'd be amazed at what you're agreeing to when you go through those systems. Those are the rules by which the company agrees to abide, and the rules by which they expect you to abide in using their service.

I've seen people get billed for the use of a service that they thought was free because that aspect of the Terms of Service wasn't clear to them. That sucks, but is it worse than giving up rights to your content permanently? Maybe being a photographer makes me more keenly aware of the issues of the latter. In any case, I'm not the only person with a concern.

Facebook recently changed it's Terms of Service, claiming perpetual rights to content that was posted. This caused an uprising of users around the world. Many saw it as an effort to claim ownership over the what users posted. Photographers who make a living from selling their photos were justifiably worried. Well, the uproar has borne fruit. Facebook responded both to explain their intentions (to have the right to use the content to help you share it) and to revert to their old terms of service.

Still, if people hadn't reacted so strongly, most people may not have noted what happened at all. As conspiratorial as it may sound, to ensure our rights are protected, we must remain ever vigilant.

It's always nice to have moments that make you smile (that is a generalization I am happy to make). I had a few today, but one of the most rewarding involved being out on the frozen surface of Lake Ontario. Besides the beautiful location and the good company, I was most pleased to see the enjoyment that others were getting. Specifically, seeing an elderly man with an electric scooter out on the ice exploring and, when the ice conditions suited, sliding around and doing doughnuts. :)

Apologies seem to be the order of the past few months. It seems to be the most common type of post that I write. That's what happens when days and weeks go by between posting. And so it has happened again.

Having an online presence has it's benefits and it's challenges. For me, the greatest challenge has been the extent of my presence and the energy required to maintain it. I'm on Facebook, Flickr, Blogspot, Twitter and of course e-mail (6 accounts - 4 work and 2 personal). As is my tendency, I spread myself to thin.

Plans for an adventure are afoot. But you'll have to wait for that. :)

Lost Opportunity

Governments the world over seem to buy into the economic theory that they can spend their ways out of a recession. Having been chastised by my first-year economics professor for talking in class, I know that I don't have a degree in economics (I should note, that I was explaining a concept to a friend that he had made a particular mess of). In any case, I'm not going to say I know better than the teams of economists that our government, and many others employ. I am though, concerned of with the short-comings in Canada's most recent budget. Sure, there's infrastructure funding, money for social housing, support for First Nations and more. All good things. But where's the forward-looking money? As Obama trumpets the opportunities of a "green" economy Canada cuts funding to scientific research and doesn't look to updating things like our utility distribution networks to better support new approaches to technology like networks to support plug-in hybrid cars. We may/will still come out of the recession, but I think it will leave us structurally behind other countries. Why be short-sighted? If you can immediately influence the economy while seeing long-term benefits, why not do it?

A new hope

Barak Obama is now the President of the United States (in case you live under a rock). His initial efforts and words have related to increasing transparency of government and doing what was promised. That is extremely heartening to me. I may not be American but I believe his approach to governing the U.S. will influence us all.

As people develop a taste for governance that serves the people, that is not explicitly partisan, that wants to remove the curtain behind so much political action takes place, people may come to expect more from their own leaders. This is an opportunity for Canada's politicians to scoop some of the hope inspired by Obama's inauguration. I also hope that if they choose to continue to obscure and fight, that we, the people, will react with the strength seen in the United States.

What kind of a system have we created? An economy that relies on continued growth. Where steady-state is underperforming and where saving money can be a problem.

Sometimes reality is more interesting than fiction: "Porn Industry Seeks Federal Bailout"

Happy start to 2009!

As years end and other begins there is much looking back and fore at what has come and what may yet come to be.

One chance to not only look back, but also to learn is BBC's 100 things we didn't know last year.

Perhaps a momentary hiatus from Canadian political intrigue is in order. I bet you never thought someone would mention the phrase "Canadian political intrigue" and mean it. In any case, this video made me smile. I had heard about Matt and even seen some of his dancing in the past. Still, it made me happy and maybe it'll work for you (even if you doubt that Stephen Harper will learn how to play well with others, despite what's gone on over the past couple of weeks).

You can find out more about Matt at: http://www.wherethehellismatt.com/

With Parliament suspended for the next 7 weeks I honestly don't think the coalition is going to stand a chance. Stephen Harper may have made some serious tactical blunders to get into this situation but you can be sure he's not going to continue his school-yard bullying tactics when he announces their budget on January 27. I have every expectation that there will be a number of things previously requested by the opposition parties which will undermine their argument that he's not interested in making Parliament work. I also have every expectation that it won't be long before he's back to his "my way or the highway" mentality. I am disappointed that things did not continue to allow the coalition a chance to govern as I am more confident in their abilities to represent Canadians than the Conservatives.

Perhaps most disturbing though is the inclination of people providing commentary online to go to the extreme. With so much activity on news sites and the individual commentary running fast and furious, I saw a lot of comments that were unequivocally black or white, 1 or 0. In light of this I found an interesting article discussing the concept of crime occuring where there are signs of neglect, and extending it to online spaces. I think that there are so many unmoderated avenues for people to provide commentary on anything and everything (my blog is a prime example) that people feel they can say anything. Including things that they might never say in a conversation with a "real" person. That also comes with a cloak of anonymity and both seem to make consensus-building difficult. That saddens me. One might hope that democracy relies on the voice of people being heard but I'm not sure that this method is a constructive step towards true democracy.

The fun continues. As the Green's express their support, the Liberal/NDP coalition now has the support of parties that got 62% of the votes cast in Canada's 40th general election. It didn't take long for this to be a rallying point.

Stephen Harper and Stephane Dion both had time on national television this evening to share their perspective on how this process should play out. Stephen Harper didn't do much to change my perspective. I'm excited and hopeful about what the coming days will bring.

All is wild and wooly down Ottawa-way. A coalition of opposition parties is forming (a cabal if you're a Conservative-fan) and it looks like they're fixin' to knock the Conservative party out of power. I've always thought this was how minority governments were supposed to run. You know, finding middle-ground instead of bullying the smaller kids on the playground.

I've heard opinions that the Conservatives have the mandate to lead. I personally don't think that 37.6% of the popular vote gives one party the voice to speak for all Canadians. If the parties that represent 54.4% of the popular vote are working together that seems more democratic. Having said that I a) have never been a big fan of the "first-past-the-post" model and b) I can't honestly say what the likely response is going to be from the majority of Canadians. My hope is that they see it as a burden being lifted and that the parliament can function and represent the view of more Canadians and not the view of how the Conservative party sees us. Having said that, I can also see people reacting with disdain for political gamesmanship in the midst of economically trying times. Sure the (current) opposition parties can argue that they're doing this because the Conservatives aren't acting quickly enough on the economy but even I see that reason sliding by the way-side. Still, I find this an exciting time. Especially after a disappointing campaign and election. Maybe the first Canadian coalition government will surprise us all. It may be just the change we need/want/are going to get.

Howdy friends! (Though I venture that number is getting smaller and smaller, not due to anything particularly offensive I may have done, but rather the one month breaks between posts).

I'm in front of a new computer and it seemed a good occasion to take the time to touch in. It also doesn't hurt that I, ridiculously, set my alarm this fine Saturday morning. It took me a little thinking when the alarm went off to realize that it's the weekend. Of course I was awake by that point so up I got to start making the most of my day. It's just as well as I've got lots of work to be doing. I'll certainly be happy when these major special projects for work are out of the way.

December is right around the corner. That amazes me. Time does fly, and it seems to do so without the necessary planning and preparation. I know, I know, there is a great joy and value to living in the moment. It is something that I need to continue to develop. But I also feel that preparation and planning has a place in ensuring that we are our best selves and do the best job possible (instead of doing things the way we've always done them).

Stars sparkle, but what about the light on your house? It seems that whether you are looking up or looking down, there's always something sparkling. Sure, a city or town looks beautiful from overhead but I find the lights of residential neighbourhoods specifically pretty as all the little things in between my eyes and those lights make for a sparkle of beauty that adds a little magic to the world.

Canada ♥'s Asbestos

Continual apologies for my spotty updates might get old but what can ya do? There's plenty on in my life and the life of others but my reason for posting today revolves around the Canadian government and the unsavoury negotiating positions it can take. Seeing Canada's "Environment Minister" (quotes represent irony) be a voice against Kyoto was quite frustrating. Remarkably, I find that less frustrating than the role Canada has played in ensuring that asbestos continues to be shipped around the world.

While climate change is (thankfully) being recognized as a huge potential risk to all of us, it is largely theoretical (particularly for those who doubted its existence in the past). Even those who have not questioned climate change and its risks have likely seldom seen damage done as its direct result.

Asbestos (in particular forms) on the other hand, is universally recognized as a carcinogenic hazard. Within Canada, extensive efforts have been made to protect people from exposure yet in 2006 Canada stood as the sole Western country trying to ensure the continued free movement of the product around the world. Remarkably, Canada looked to... Iran and Zimbabwe for support. That is would appear to be an "about-face" from most policy efforts undertaken by our government. Perhaps that's just my optimism speaking. Chances are there are more of these unsavoury stances being taken than I am aware of.

Again this week, countries are meeting to discuss a number of hazardous materials (including asbestos). I can only hope that Canada doesn't remain a voice against reason and that we might finally see the value in ending the production and distribution of such a dangerous product.

I'm not going to lie, the Canadian election results disappointed me. I envy many in the U.S. who are looking forward to change (and seem more and more likely to get it). As Canadians, we got what we wanted. I may not have wanted it, but even if we had proportional representation, the conservatives won the popular vote and would/will form the government. I was hoping we'd all be a little more forward-looking. It is interesting that many in the U.S. are craving change while the Canadian response to many similar issues was to stick-tight. I just wish that politics was less about tearing-down others and more about building us all up together. I feel that there is a distinct lack of that in politics.

Oh yeah, I jumped out of a plane today. :)

While it's not a sign of my worldly nature, I've come across two things on other people's blogs and I want to share them with you. The first, a site dedicated to strategic voting in the upcoming Canadian election to ensure that the environment is protected. Vote for Environment is asking you to do just that. In ridings that polls consider to be close races, they advise voters not to split their vote between the Liberals, NDP and Greens but rather to rally behind a single candidate. I see nothing that describes a specific party affiliation, rather they just want to see the environment protected and don't see the Conservative party doing it. Funnily enough, neither do I. My riding seems likely to remain Liberal, both from my experience and according to their site. What about yours?

The second ill-gotten link is a Youtube video from Canada's own Feist. This time she's adapted her song 1,2,3,4 for the Sesame Street crowd. Cute!

Blogging about blogs

I listened to some commentary this evening about how many political candidates have had to withdraw from the race (Canada will be holding a Federal Election on October 14) due to their blogs. More specifically their perspectives, posted for the world to see and saved in perpetuity thanks to the endless servers of google and their caching of webpages.

My mind moved immediately to my own (imaginary) political future and what my opponents would latch onto to bring me down. Any of you who have been reading my blog as regularly as I have posted may have your own ideas. Me, I honestly don't have a specific instance that comes to mind. I haven't railed against too much or made rash statements that I'm no longer willing to support. I wonder if the disgraced political candidates feel the same way. Maybe that speaks to the strength of their convictions or to their inability to understand that not everyone shares their views. Maybe it speaks to the harsh light that shines when the nation's media focuses on any one thing or maybe they deserved it because their views were not palatable to a large percentage of the voting public.

As for me, it'll probably be "No Pants Day" that brings me down.

Things seem hopeful. That shouldn't be noteworthy but, when it is... it is. Challenging times of the recent past seem like distant memories. This is a good thing but I'm working hard to remember what was hard about them and considering lessons that I may learn to carry me safely into the future.

Additionally, projects at work have a good feeling around them. It makes for a nice context in which to approach things.

Sorry for the lack of action of late. Pre-occupied and all that.

At what point does optimism become unreasonable? Is the loss of optimism necessary in a pragmatic world or is it just a sad moment when hope is lost? As with any true conundrum, the truth takes aspects of both and as a result, neither is entirely true. I'm not optimistic about the current state of the world, and especially the type of world any children I might have would live in. But to choose not to have children would, in and of itself, represent a loss of optimism. I do not believe I am alone in my concerns about the state of the world, but does that stop others from becoming parents? Of course not. "Pragmatism" and optimism must live in harmony. Does that help me figure out where I stand. Perhaps. I guess I'll just have to be optimistic that I'll get it figured out.

Kerr

Maybe I should live in New Zealand. It turns out I might be in pretty good company. I know New Zealand is great and running off and doing something new is certainly appealing, but this is actually more about a name. I was reading about a World Names Profiler this morning and thought I'd pop in my surname and see what it had to say. Well, it turns out that my surname comes up more than a 1000 times for every million people in NZ. That's more than any other country (if Scotland is considered part of Great Britain). Scotland itself has the largest concentrations of Kerrs, according to their research, which comes as no surprise considering the heritage of the name. But if Scotland isn't my speed, numerous regions of NZ follow closely, with Australia not far behind. No wonder I felt so comfortable when I visited those parts of the world.

Interestingly, Antrim in Northern Ireland is the city with the largest concentration, followed by some Scottish cities and then Bartlesville, Oklahoma of all places. Maybe a road trip is in order.

Cooking is like love. It should be entered into with abandon or not at all.

-- Harriet Van Horne

Seen at the very tasty Milford Bistro in beautiful Prince Edward County.

The quote was both inspiring and challenging though I'm not sure whether more for cooking or love.

I'm working on my magical goal. I have tried to be the change that I want to see and I feel good about that. Of course, it may not bring magic to me in the ways that I envisioned but I trust that it is taking me in the right direction. Now if only I could feel that way about all aspects of my life. Having said that, the goal that I have set out for myself speaks to all aspects of my life even if I'm not enacting it throughout. I hope that makes sense.

I had a moment of clarity last night in the midst of a cloud of flu/cold-iness. No, I'm not talking about decongesting. Rather, I feel like I had a epiphany about what I want more of in life. It's just one word. That doesn't mean it's simple, but it's a good target:

Magic.

And it keeps getting weirder...

Turns out the woman who loves boogers so much has quite the history.

Pet cloning service bears five baby Boogers

(Im)Maturity wins the day! I couldn't help but post a link to an article with that kind of by-line.

Etiquette lessons from an up-and-comer

It is one week to the beginning of the 2008 Summer Olympics in beautiful (and somewhat less polluted) Beijing. The auspicious 08/08/08 will arrive and with it, many thousands of people for China's "coming-out party". Without digging deeply into my conflicted thoughts and feelings about China's selection as the host country I would like to highlight an article I just read. It references the efforts of the government to change the populace in very direct ways. I find it culturally very interesting as many of the concerns never seemed to be considered a problem before. More than teaching etiquette, they seem to be promoting (largely) western ideals. Who wins? Who loses? I wonder.

Back from the... Well, back anyway.

Apologies to anyone who may still find their way here. My blogging has fallen off severely in recent months and I'm not completely clear on why. Plenty to process has been part of it, I guess. But considering how many things I do to escape my thoughts and responsibilities, I'd have thought the blogging could've served such a purpose (even if there was nothing juicily personal). And so, I'm back. Regularly? We'll see. In any case, you're here, I'm here and that's a good start.

Hi, my name is Justin.

You may remember me from such blog posts as "No Pants Day - Not just for men anymore" and "Your mother is a snowblower".  I'm just stopping by to wish you a happy "Happiest Day of the Year".

Hopefully, I'll be back soon.  Who knows, maybe we can celebrate this happy day together.  Just not now.

Aloha friends.  Sad that a month has passed since I last shared something with you in this forum.  Note that I can't even claim that it was something of interest.  For those of you who have been visiting regularly in hopes of updating I apologize.  That, and maybe it's time to learn more about RSS feeds. ;)

Life has continued, as it is inclined to do (thankfully).  I welcome the arrival of spring/summer though I still find myself spending unreasonable amounts of time indoors.  I can only hope that will change, though my posts may not become any more regular as a result (I know it would be hard for them to become any less regular).

I find myself taking a bit of wisdom from here, some clarity from there.  Perhaps it's the route to happiness and wholeness but I manage to let myself just see it as indecision or indifference.  Sigh. 

You may or may not know that to go with this randomly-updated blog I have an even-more-randomly-updated photoblog. Not to be confused with my flickr account (who's photos are likely cycling to the right ->), my photoblog allows me to make sure that none of the photos I post truly disappear.

Neither this blog or my photoblog are particularly popular. That's fine, I'm not in it for fame. The photoblog in particular gets very few visits. I have found something peculiar about many of those visits that it does get though. You see, I have a "statcounter" on my blogs so I can find out how many visits there have been while also learning a little more about each visit. One thing that I can find out is what page the visitor came in from. If that was a "search" page like google, I can also see what their search-term was. Well, you could certainly have painted me surprised when I found out the most common search term that was leading people to my photoblog. I was surprised at the frequency combined with the content. Most visits were targeting a specific page (and the photo that was on it). This is where I have to take some responsibility. You see, I thought I was being witty when I named the photo. I thought it was entirely fitting, if a little irreverent. Perhaps I should show you the image that is drawing the attention.

I imagine you're asking yourself what has drawn all these visitors. To be fair, I don't think this is exactly what most visitors had in mind. To those who searched for and found this photo, I hope it provided a smile or maybe even a little laugh.

The name? Syphilis.

Improving efficiency and other environmental efforts are commonly thought of as expensive and more "window dressing" than tangible change. Thanks then go to Randall Knox of Adobe Systems Inc. (and innumerable others) for showing the concrete financial and environmental benefits of improving efficiency. Now if only our elected leaders could provide some leadership in this respect.

Man tells police 'I've been raped by a wombat'

I'm sure glad I read news from around the world. Otherwise I might never have found this.

Maybe if I turned my "tightwad" nature towards spending more on others, I'd feel less pain and more happiness around money.

Hello. My name is Justin, and I'm a tightwad.

To be fair, I'm hoping I'm only a quasi-tightwad. Still, I understand the pain they refer to when spending money. One would hope that spending money would be an easier and more pleasant activity as there is little to be gained by just sitting on it. I guess I'm just giving myself room to improve.

Two things I learned today.

1) A bear can be convicted of a crime.
2) There is a genre of music known as "turbo-folk".

Who says keeping up with the "News" is a waste?

Understanding my contradictory nature, I lament that people don't care what's going on in the world and then promptly click on the link to get more juicy details on Heath Ledger's will while bypassing the link about multiple suicide-bombings in Lahore.

As if that weren't bad enough, my ongoing concern about the future of our planet has been eclipsed by my disappointment with CBC for the decision to cancel JPod.

In better news, snow pickles have been captured on film.

Hello. My name is Justin, and I'm a photo-holic.

I got tickets to see Hawksley Workman last night (Thanks E!). While I absolutely loved the show, I couldn't help but take photos. In fact, I can't think of many activities that I have been a part of where I haven't thought about how I could capture it on film. Concerts, trips, walks around the neigbourhood. I always find myself wanting to take pictures (you can see the latest on my Flickr page, by the way) (or on the right-side of the page). There's nothing inherently wrong with pictures (in my cultural experience anyway), but I worry that it gets in the way of merely living and enjoying the experience.

Damn brain! Why won't you mind your own business?!

Bigger. Better. Best. Perfect.

Ugh.

I feel like I can be ruled by those four opening words. I try to avoid "keeping up with the Jones'" but I covet all too often. It is not a pleasant place to be as it implies that the status quo isn't good enough. I think that's the biggest problem for me.

Interestingly, I can those four words out of my life in some circumstances. Sports are usually something where competitiveness comes a distant second to playing well and enjoying myself. Clearly I need to start taking lessons from myself and apply that constructive context to the rest of my life.

Three little piggies.

B.C. is a strange place.

Uhhh... Somebody left their air conditioner on and their door open. It's -20 degrees celcius outside. That is one mean air conditioner.

Another one for the "Duh!" files

Botox linked to severe side effects, deaths: FDA.

While the most severe cases seem to focus on a less common use of the drug, why should it come as a surprise that a form of the botulism toxin would result in side effects?

Things that have caught my eye

- Two articles about a Canadian inventor who has developed something as yet unexplained by the laws of physics. Perpetual motion?

- Exxon wins freeze on Venezuela assets. In response to the "nationalization" of oil production in Venezuela under Hugo Chavez, Exxon went to court and got a hold put on $12US Billion worth of assets in hopes of getting more of their investment back from the government. A part of me thinks that's good as Hugo has made a mess of things by being heavy-handed with these dealings. Still, it reminds me of the immense power of multinational corporations. Canada could face it's own similar challenges as it increases the cost to oil companies to exploit the oil sands in Alberta. And this, when Canada (and Alberta in particular) doesn't seem to be truly looking toward the future. Norway seems to be looking toward the future while taking care of itself and it's citizens today (at least with respect to oil).

- While deemed "accidental", I find it sad that Heath Ledger had prescriptions for oxycodone, hydrocodone, diazepam, temazepam, alprazolam and doxylamine. Sadder still, is the amount of time and attention dedicated to this admittedly sad situation in the face of the truly horrible things going on in the world (as was highlighted well by a friend of mine).

- It's the Year of the Rat.

3,100,000,000,000

That's a whole 'lot o' zeros! It's also the proposed U.S. Budget (in US dollars) for the fiscal year ahead. By the way, that represents 3.1 trillion. Split amongst every citizen of the United States, everyone would get $10,000! Instead, increases are inline with defence concerns: 7.5% for the Defence Department, 11% for Homeland Security and 17% for customs and immigration. Yow! All this while trying to cut $200 billion dollars (over 5 years) from Medicare and Medicaid. I think you can pick up that I am not a big fan of U.S. government priorities. Then again, I'm not a big fan of Canadian government priorities for the most part either. Thankfully they're not throwing the same amount of money around.

Again with the apologies... I find that I can spend ridiculous amounts of time in front of the computer but can't always bring myself to stick around when it comes time to write in here. Maybe it's 'cause it's cold around my computer. Maybe it's 'cause I'm lazy. Meh.

The world presents us with only what we can process. No. The world presents us with everything. We choose what to process and how to process it. Whether we wear rose-coloured glasses or walk a mile in someone elses shoes, how we perceive the world is entirely dependent on our state of mind and the capability of that mind to interpret what it senses. I believe that the world is much more than we perceive in our little human pea-brains. I also think that every once-in-a-while we get a glimpse into a part of the world that we haven't experienced before but are usually so set in our own reality to understand it. It is this belief that brings me to the snow pickle. I mean, what other explanation is there for a pickle, pleasantly iced, presumably crunchy and definitely green, sitting on the sidewalk in the midst of my walk to work? I, for one, believe that Bicks Canada was trying to do us all a service by educating us and sharing with us a different reality through their recent series of ads. I believe that the poor frozen creature that I saw on the sidewalk was a pickle that yearned for freedom, for a life outside of its jar. Success was in its grasp. Its inability to check weather reports and lack of understanding of Canadian winters alas, were its downfall. And so the pickle ended its short life on the sidewalk with its last crunch not being between our teeth, but rather underfoot on a blustery January day.

It didn't need to be that way. The world presented another glimpse into other life. This glimpse leads me to believe that the snow pickle may have had support. You see, I had occasion to witness the common fire hydrant in its natural environment. While ostensibly a tool for our protection, this particular hydrant inadvertently shared a secret. As the light shone with the rising sun, my walk allowed me to witness the hydrant wearing a hat. Knit, and not unlike a toque (commonly worn by Canadian humans in winter - save for those of us too vain to mess up our hair), this hydrant's headgear let me know that it too felt the cold of winter. I realized that it too was in the process of escaping. Unlike its crunchy green friend, the hydrant had a good chance of surviving as it knew the conditions to expect and dressed appropriately. I can only believe that it is far from Kingston now. Perhaps it has joined the ranks of the few, the proud, the train-travelling hobos. It may be far from here now, but I will always remember it, and thank it, for helping me see outside of my life and my experience (and for reminding me that if I don't want to be green and crunchy, I had better not forget my hat).

1/8W+(D-d)3/8xTQMxNA = Blue Monday

You're probably not reading this until at least January 22. If that's the case, start smiling. Why? Because you've made it through the most depressing day of the year. For some (like those with money in stock-related investments) you don't need the calculation above to understand why. But, the equation didn't count on the stock markets. It considers how far after Christmas (and how close to holiday bills coming due) amongst other things.

I knew I felt "off" today. I guess I've got an excuse.

The Snow Pickle is still out there...

Stay tuned for the Snow-Pickle Chronicles. Coming soon.

I'm a big fan of the CBC. Maybe it's a patriotic part of my soul. Maybe it's wanting to be aware of the goings-on of the world. I listen to their radio stations, get excited at the prospects of their tv shows finding success and I read their news on the web. I generally enjoy their approach to news but I must admit I was somewhat disappointed in how they presented a recent story. With sections for news stories covering Canadian News, World News, Business News, Technology, Sports, etc., I was disappointed to see a story about French President Nicolas Sarkozy considering the concept of including happiness in measures of national well-being being shown in the "Diversions" section. This is the same section where they talk about a guy finding a pearl in his oyster meal at a restaurant.

I personally think that considering people's overall well-being and happiness rather than just their financial well-being should be a central effort of a government. Only when these stories are the mainstream stories will we really see governments change their approach.

I have an admission to make about the last post. I do not actually know how long donkeys live. Therefore, I am only guessing at how long three donkeys ages would be. I hope you can forgive me.

Also, for any of you with Hexakosioihexekontahexaphobia, you're safe for a while. But if you were a victim of half-Hexakosioihexekontahexaphobia you'd have a problem as the last post was my 333rd.

Aren't you glad I've been keeping you in stupid posts since 2006?

I've managed to slide into 2008 largely avoiding the tendency for reflection on 2007 or planning what I see happening in 2008. There is a part of me that is happy about that as those activities are somewhat clichéd and arbitrary (just because our calendar year changes does not make January 1 any better than any other day for reflection). Of course, there is also a part of me that considers it an opportunity lost. As I regularly feel my life would benefit from review and planning, I should probably jump at every chance. Alas... I don't think I've started a sentence with "Alas" in three donkeys ages. Alas, while one chance to reflect and plan has passed, each new day brings with it another opportunity. Now, if I could just get around to it, I'd be set.

Hexakosioihexekontahexaphobia

Fear of the number 666.

I bet you didn't know that already. I sure didn't.

Christmas with the family is over, but the holiday continues. I'm sure you can understand my lack of activity here since my brother and I already got enough grief for spending time online over the holiday. Nothing too bad, mind you.

It was wonderful to be together with family and to visit with friends around home. Though I was only gone for a week, I almost forgot what K-town looked like. ;)

I managed to join the shopping hordes on Boxing day. I found myself at a store at 6am on the 26th. If that isn't scary enough, then hearing that some people showed up 6 HOURS EARLIER! That is a little bit much for me. Still, it was good to give it all a try.

Since it's me, I'm happy about my purchases but can't help but be a little uncomfortable with my consumption. I have difficulty with the imbalances in the world, but then I contribute to them. It is a difficulty inconsistency for me to swallow. Yet, I manage to put it out of my mind when necessary. I feel as though that makes me, if not a bad person, then at least not as good a person as I would like. I know that it isn't a helpful perspective for my own personal well-being so I have to watch out. I guess acceptance tempered with an on-going consciousness will have to suffice.

I hope that you enjoyed any holiday time that you might've had and that you have a great year ahead. :)

Happy Holidays! Of course my holiday wishes go out to all but I guess I'm spreading the joy now because I started my holiday yesterday afternoon. So, instead of blogging on office time I'm cozy at home pondering the holiday that is laid out before me. :)

The storm has passed. It left plenty of snow in it's wake. I've shoveled four times since the storm started and I expect that my driveway is soon to be plowed-in again. Ah, the joys of home ownership.

The holiday begins tomorrow. The trick is figuring-out how to use it. I thought I was going to be busy, busy but it looks as though I may have a little more free-time than I thought. I guess there are worse things than free-time.

I hope you've got some free time coming up and that you're looking forward to it.

It has begun in earnest. The snow has started to fall here in Kingston. I'm heading to bed and looking forward to waking up to a full-on blizzard in the morning. It's nice having a grocery store in my backyard. I may even walk the few blocks to the heart of downtown to do some shopping since I'm hoping anyone who needs a car to get where they're going will just forget about it. Unfortunately, I know some people that won't/can't. To them I, I send warm, safe thoughts.

Here comes the silly

After grapling with whether to be silly or smart in my last post I have returned to my silly ways. Michigan Lawsuit Abuse Watch gave awards for the most obvious warning labels in their Wacky Warning Label Contest.

This year's winner (on a tractor) "Danger: Avoid Death."

Another winner (on an iron-on transfer for t-shirts) "Do not iron while wearing shirt."

It highlights the stupidity of a legal system that encourages such over-the-top messaging, but it's funny too. :)

Silly or Smart?

No, I'm not trying to better understand my most influential character traits (we all know the former is much more applicable than the latter). Rather, it was my decision about what to post. I know, I know. I go so long without posting and then I have two possible posts at the same time. It's CRAZY. Not really, but I'm trying to add a little zest. ANYWAY...

I have chosen to stick to the "smart" theme and share with you a site that was brought to my attention through the wonders of Facebook and a fellow former Trentite. The site is The Story of Stuff. Through the effective use of video and low-fi animation, the creators effectively break-down our system of production and consumption into an easily-digestible 20 minute show. In less than the time it takes to watch a sitcom (and likely a silly one at that), you can consider yourself informed about aspects of our consumer lifestyle that may be new to you. Quite timely considering the season, I would say. Enjoy!

Sorry for my extended departure. I know, it sounds like a broken record, broken record. It's not as though nothing is happening in my life. Rather there are some things I will write about and some I won't. For those I will write about there are also times when I will and times when I won't.

I will say that the holiday moves ever-closer. A good thing, to be sure, but I can't help but get nervous as the deadline to take care of pre-holiday responsibilities comes closer along with the holiday itself. It'll all be fine and, knowing me, I should be able to largely put it out of mind once the holiday begins. It's just getting to that point. Ah well... It'll come.

I hope you're looking to the holiday with more excitement than trepidation. :)

Well the weather outside is frightful, but the... furnace is so delightful. I expected to be spending my Friday night in Toronto but when the weather gives you snow, and closed highways, it's probably best to take the opportunity to slow life down. Luckily, as far as the forecasters are concerned, Toronto will still be there tomorrow.

Hi again. I just got back from a conference in Ottawa that kept me away from updating but still pushed thoughts through my head that might well be worth posting. I still need to distill them in my head. That, and have dinner. So nothing further of an update for now but thanks for stopping by. I'm glad you wanted to touch in. I definitely appreciate it.

Heading out of town for a few days. I hope all are happy in the face of snow, cold, sun, strikes and whatever else befalls you (or at least plays a part in your life).

The past is a memory,
the future a fantasy.
It is only in the present that we truly live.

-- Quote from "Snowcake"

I had wanted to see this movie for a while. Who wouldn't want to see a movie filmed in Wawa, Ontario? I quite enjoyed it and recommend it. Stellar cast, moving story. I laughed, I cried, I... Okay, that's a little bit of a stretch. Still, I definitely recommend it.

Quoting Megan Griffith-Greene from "Let's Get Lost" in The Walrus:

Do you believe that the universe is a labyrinth or a maze? A labyrinth traces a single winding path to a centre or exit; you may not know where you are, but you are where you are supposed to be. The way through a maze is interrupted by false paths and dead ends. It is chaos. You have doubt. You have lost faith.

I find it an interesting way of considering things. It seems that life can feel like a maze all too often. Still, I'm inclined to believe it is more like a labyrinth. Does that mean I think fate governs my life (our yours)? Nah, I'd just rather be inclined towards comfort and happiness than doubt and chaos. I hope that's not a bad thing.

Life is a minefield. No, I haven't stepped on a proverbial mine, I'm just acknowledging the point. I'm probably not stating anything new to you but I was noting today how, despite the best efforts, our interactions with others are politically charged (not Liberal, NDP, Conservative, Green, Rhino, etc. political) or at the very least open to misinterpretation and misperception. That's not even getting directly into emotions. It can sure make conscious living daunting at times. Of course it doesn't excuse us from living consciously either.

Sorry intrepid readers, I've been neglecting my postly duties. Even as I type these sentences, I ask myself "what am I writing this post about?" Unfortunately, I don't have an answer which makes this a less than stellar start to a post. Recalling a recent conversation with a friend about blogs I was told that as trivial as what is written may be, it's better than not writing at all. So, call me Mr. Trivial.

Work's going alright. I'm preparing for a conference in a week and a half. It should be good. I'm also trying to ensure that everything that needs to be done between now and then is taken care of. I'm sure it'll all be fine. In other trivial news:

Got $320M+ kicking around? Unsure how to spend it? Try this.

Wanna get really annoyed? If you're like me, you will after reading this.

Man marries bitch to beat curse. No comment. (FOLLOW-UP: That link was the exact title of the story. BBC has kindly changed it. Please don't take it as some misogynistic comment on my part.)

Law and Order

Most of us are law-abiding citizens that try and avoid getting into trouble. Still, there are cases now-and-then when we question whether the laws make sense. Thankfully, the laws we concern ourselves with don't tend to be much like these.

Forward

Whether we notice it or not, we are continually moving forward. Each day sees us growing and changing. Sometimes in ways that we understand as good, somtimes not. Regardless of how we perceive them, those changes make us the people that we are that day and for the days that follow.

Still, it can be nice to create change that you see as positive. Change that truly feels like forward movement. I hope I am making that change.

Physical and Emotional Workouts

This weekend was Goosebowl, a Hallowe'en Ultimate Frisbee tournament. It was an opportunity to see friends I hadn't seen in a while, to meet others and to generally have a good time. While the weather didn't entirely cooperate, it wasn't too bad. It was also a chance to work out my body a little. I have found opportunities to have other workouts too as I have been attempting to come to terms with things in my personal life. Somewhat challenging, but entirely worthwhile. Sounds kinda like life. :)

"..Much more moderate temperatures..." That statement on CBC radio a moment ago likely marks the end of the unseasonably warm weather that we've been getting accustomed to. I knew it was too good to be true so I took a vacation half-day to make sure I could get out and enjoy it. That and get out on a bike (see last post). It served those purposes and even calmed a racing mind. Is that like soothing a savage beast? I guess it can be sometimes.

Bike Crazy

It's finally happened. I've snapped. I have officially gone... Bike crazy. If I'm going to have mental health issues, I could have done a lot worse.

Having been effectively bikeless since last fall it was high time to undo that sad state. Consider it undone... TO THE MAX. Let's just say that I now own more than... 2 bikes. Still, they all have a home with me. In fact, my new home is part of the whole thing. Living healthier (and generally happier) has been a goal that I am having some success with. It certainly doesn't hurt that we are having unseasonably warm weather here. I walked along the beach in shorts today. Comfortably. Crazy! Nice too.

My disappointment in Ontarians weak election turn-out is waning, slightly. Well I think that there were many opportunities lost, at least the Green Party tripled it's percentage of the popular vote. Of course, it is not lost on me that this won them exactly zero seats in our provincial legislature and that had a multi-member proportional (MMP) system been in place, that 8% of the popular vote would have resulted in some actual representation. Yet MMP was soundly defeated. I felt like the attacks on that electoral model didn't hold water. It seemed that one of the main problems was that people didn't know what it was. Without an understanding of the options, people seem likely to avoid the unknown. Oh well. Hopefully the lessons learned from this referendum will ensure better education campaigns in the future (even if it doesn't mean a change in our electoral system).

In other news, a report on land requirements of various diets has determined that an entirely vegetarian diet may not be quite as efficient (production-wise) than one that is largely vegetarian but also includes some meat. The difference seems to be that meat can be produced using somewhat marginal and plentiful pasture-land while fruits, grains and vegetables require high-quality farmland. Interesting. Don't take my word for it though, read the article about it here.

Proportional Politics

If I can't convince you that the referendum being held in Ontario this week (along with our election) is important, maybe John Cleese can.



So, find out more before you go and vote on Wednesday

Referendum Ontario

I was talking with my dad and stepmom yesterday. They mentioned a friend who has recently had her second child and enjoys motherhood so much that she'd like to have five. To me, that's a lot. But not to these people. In fact, they probably think five kids is for suckas. Get this: Michelle, the mom, has been pregnant for 135 months of her life. They've got 15 kids! They have 4 washers and 4 dryers! They just bought a bus from a defunct minor hockey team so that they could go on vacation! Two kids and a dog, this is not.

As my first weekend of home-ownership approaches (as does my first mortgage payment) I can look back and marvel at the fact that I've only had 4 nights-sleep there but it does feel like home. Home with lots of boxes everywhere. I do enjoy getting the place set-up so I am enjoying this process while trying not to let it rule my life. I think it has helped that I don't have cable television at my new place. I hope that I can continue to make good use of the time otherwise sent killing brain cells in front of the tv.

It's Wednesday and I don't live in the same place that I did last Wednesday. I have joined the ranks of the mortgage-payers... er, home-owners. I'm still surrounded by boxes but it's coming together. Unfortunately, it has kept me occupied and not posting. I'll be back. I swear.

Yawn. First post from my new digs. Big thanks to those who were able to personally be a part of the adventure. To those that couldn't, I know you were here in your thoughts. You know you were.

Monday, monday, monday! Moving madness! Everything must go!

I guess I should start packing, eh? ;)

Some of the most important "learning moments" can often come as part of extremely trying times. While the challenges in our lives can often leave us, with the benefit of hindsight, better people, I am thankful that not all "learning moments" need to be challenging. In fact, some can be quite tasty.

Just look what my chicken/avocado sandwich taught me today:

Fall in love or fall in hate. Get inspired or be depressed. Ace a test or flunk a class. Speak the truth or lie and cheat. Dance on tables or sit in the corner. Life is divine chaos. Embrace it. Forgive yourself. Breathe. And enjoy the ride..."

--Solbeam

As I continue to consider people's sage advice about babies I focus more and more on a more immediate issue: moving. Just 1.5 weeks 'til I move into my new digs. Not only are they new digs but they're MY new digs. I hope and trust that home ownership will suit me well. There are many things to consider and an equally large number of things to buy.

Thankfully, I'm using my tendency to procrastinate well. Yesterday afternoon I went to the International Plowing Match taking place just less than an hour outside of Kingston. It was quite the event. Thousands of people visiting a city of vendors, campers, quilters and of course, plowers set up in fields in what could reasonably be described as: the middle of nowhere. It was a great event. I'm glad to have gone. We even saw some plowing. Having lived on farms when I was younger, it was nice to stay in touch with that side of life after living in cities and towns for such a long time. That, and they also had some tasty, tasty treats.

Babies!

It seems that babies are the new black (cool, for those of you who were confused by that statement). Besides those that are already roaming around on their own two feet (or hands and knees), I just came back from a baby shower and found out that two other friends are pregnant.

Not having a "biological clock", I am not necessarily feeling the "tick, tick, tick". Still, it's a relative thing... As those with whom you've shared many life experiences start going through such a transition it's hard not to consider when or if you'll share a similar experience. I certainly don't have an answer to that questions. At least it's a question that I'm willing to keep open. There have been times when I've come out against the idea of bringing a child into the world. I'm not going to lie, I fear what the state of the world will be 30 years from now. Hell, I fear the state of the world 10 years from now. But that is not reason enough not to raise a child. Then again, maybe I need to play the devil's advocate and ask myself what is reason enough TO raise a child. I'm not going to hum-and-haw over it while I type but it's worth considering as part of this growth process. I'l be sure to let you know what I come up with.

It makes me happy that these are some of today's news stories:

"Jogging your way to saggy breasts" (Especially the part about when a woman runs a mile her breasts actually have gone 135m).
"Russian 'sex day' to boost births" (What a great day to choose).
"Led Zeppelin to confirm reunion" ('Nuff said).

There are lots of acronyms out there. Find yourself interacting with the same people in the same environment all the time and you're likely to create and/or learn acronyms to try and make your communication more "efficient". Find yourself in a university environment and watch out! My work reminds me regularly how such efforts to simplify communication and make things more "efficient" can have the exact opposite result for new members of the community. So, why then am I going to refer to another one? Because I can.

MMP.

Momma makes pie? No. Mail more peanuts? Nay. How about Mixed Member Proportional? Ding, ding, ding!

What am I going on about? Well, as Ontario's provincial politicians officially started their campaigns today with our provincial election just one month away (October 10) I think it important to remind people of the fact that this isn't just any provincial election. There will also be a referendum in this election. The referendum is on whether to keep our exisiting electoral system (known as first-past-the-post) or to adopt a new system (Mixed Member Proportional). Mostly, I'm writing about it because I want people to know, and maybe even care about it. For general information on the referendum see the Referendum Ontario site. Basically, the new system would see us vote twice in future elections. One would be the standard vote for your local representative. The second though would be for a political party in general. Seats in the provincial legislature would be set aside for this "party" vote. They would be distributed to pre-selected representatives of each party proportionally to the number of votes each party received.

As for my personal opinion. Any system that will allow for representation that is more in line with the proportion of votes actually received by a party sounds like a good thing. Some have complained that it might lead to more minority governments. I say "bring it on". Politics should be about working together, not working against one another. I for one would like to see our political representatives working together to fulfill our needs as citizens and not trying regularly to either undermine the other parties and their efforts.

P.S. Who'd have thought? This is my 300th post. How'd that happen?

I am going to be well pleased when my schedule returns to "normal". Weekend and evening work is fine every once-in-a-while but I'm ready to stop. Thankfully, I'll be able to very soon.

Facebook, the social networking site, is good for a number of things. Wasting time is among them. Still, good things can come from it. Besides catching up with long lost friends you can find out about new and interesting events that your friends are participating in. Enter "Free Hugs Day". While I couldn't find any worldwide reference to Monday, September 10 being Free Hugs Day, there are a fair few people (hundreds of thousands at last glance) that are intending to consider it so. The concept is a great one as we can all use hugs and seldom get enough of them. Want to know more?

Yes
No

I should be making up for lost time but I would rather be eating. I can say that I'm starting to feel some of the excitement associated with being a new homeowner. It has yet to come to fruition but it is just over three weeks away. I'm looking forward to the part I like the most: setting it up the way I want it. The rest of it: not so much.

Hi. My name is Justin. I think we might've met before. You might not remember me though. I'm the person who usually writes here. It has been an extended hiatus. I've been hiding. Not in the bushes. Not behind a tree. Mainly hiding from responsibilities (including posting).

I share parts of myself through this blog but it is never going to be a complete picture of who I am. Really, only being me provides a complete picture of who I am (and even then, I'm not too sure). I guess the past while has been a time of things that I wasn't interested in sharing. It has also been a time of preoccupation. I have made it through the core of my busiest time at work which is definitely a relief. Perhaps that alone has been enough to shake me from my avoidance and get me posting. Either way, here I am. And here you are. I'm glad we're together.

I know, I know

Yes, yes, it has been forever and a day since I've posted anything. Being busy, buying a house, being stressed and active avoidance all seem to have played a part. Without getting into it or promising to be all that much better in the immediate future, I thought I'd post an article that may explain a lot about me.