So I have been busy to the point of hiding while I work, and haven't posted much recently either here on my personal blog or else where. Pretty much pretending to be off the net in order to get some things done that HAD to get done.
For those in the know, we are at the last leg of a long journey that will end with us getting a farm. It has taken a few years, in fact a couple of years longer then we thought, but I believe that it will be well worth it. Sometimes, you just need to finish unfinished business, legal and otherwise. As for where the farm will end up being, either here in British Columbia or Ontario, it isn't 100% decided on yet, but I am strongly leaning towards Ontario. There just isn't enough good land left here in BC to make it worth while.
I have been keeping up on the news about the coming election and I have to confess some things that might piss off a few of my friends, but before I confess let me clarify a few things first.
There are several topics in politics that I view as important enough to change my vote. Some of these things are left leaning, and some of them lean to the right, so I tend to look at the individual rather then the party, in which way I'll vote. Failing to find out the answers to these issue and where a candidate stands on these issue I then vote the party line which has been for a number of years the green party.
There are certain rights that I believe that every human being should have represented in Parliament, the right to own property isn't enough for me, I'm more interested in property rights, similar in scope to the way “British Common Law” looked at it originally in Canada when this nation was first a nation. I find that those on the politic left end of the spectrum tend to lean towards a 'collective mind set' instead of an individualists viewpoint. concerning private property. It's an Oxymoron issue for me.
People tend to vote in their best interest. If you rent, you pay more attention to the politician that is sympathetic to your needs as a renter. If you own your own house, you pay more attention to the other guy. I am always looking towards the future, and even though I am renter, renter's right are at the bottom of my list. I will own the farm come hell or high water, and be prepared for either, and therefore will vote according to my interests in the matter. The majority of land in British Columbia is owned by the crown, the price of land here, even though we are starting to feel the crash, is still so over priced, I have no trust in the real estate market here at all.
My brother, only a couple of years ago said that the real estate market would never come down 27%, that was before what happened in Florida, I guess I was right.
If you were a hard worker who saved his pennies, would you invest you money in the real estate market that was predicted to crash but hadn't? Or would you rather invest it in an area that had already? That's the way I look at Ontario versus British Columbia, I knew that the market itself would tell me where we are going to buy the farm, and at the time had no idea how bad the land here was for farming to begin with, had I know this, I never would have moved to BC in the first place.
But there is more...
One of the other issues that really bothers me when it comes time to vote is GUN CONTROL. I hate knee jerk reactionaries, I immediately distrust the entire party which uses an event in the news to change a law. I am not a gun nut, my gun collection in the past has been limited to a hunting riffle, a BB gun, and an Italian P.38. As far as other things which can be described as a weapon, (besides how made explosive for fun and tree trunk removal) have been limited to a sling shot or two, and several archery bows.
I love hunting, I love the idea of filling the deep freezer with deer meat (I hate moose meat for the record), and I love to fish. PETA and the like will hate me for that, and my friends will be confused since they know that several times a week all i will eat is vegetarian meals. I eat vegetarian for health reasons, not moral reasons, I don't like eating food that I have not grown or hunted myself.
I agree that we should have stronger laws for 'Gun Crimes', but that does not translate to stronger 'Gun Control', to me the difference is the same for 'decriminalizing marijuana' compared to 'legalizing marijuana'. I don't smoke pot either for the record, although I will admit I have in the past, and will not rule it out of my life in the future for medical reasons. The thing is, when people find out that I am willing to accept pot for medical reasons, and that I believe it should be decriminalized, they seem to think I think it is OK to smoke it for recreation purposes, sorry folks, THC is not only addictive, it makes you paranoid, makes you lazy, and some how turns you into a person I would rather not hang out with. I'm not a pot head, and don't ever intend to waste my brain with the stuff. Oh... and if you smoke pot for recreation purposes, stay the fuck away from my kids. Clear enough?
Other issues on the political side on my life.
There is one party that I will never, ever, vote for. The Liberal Party. To me, they are as far away from a 'common sense revolution' that you can get. Almost every party line since Mike Harassment in Ontario they have ever puked forth that I have heard has been on the opposite side of my view points, that is not a good track record.
The NDP, have been traditionally pro union, which I myself have been as well in the past, but it seems to me that they have left the left when it comes to workers. I am CONSTANTLY amazed at the number of split contracts here in BC for unions, my own kids, friends, and friends of friends are victims of a slow union busting technique that is slowly undoing everything that even the 'News Boys' fought for that I wonder why the NDP did nothing when they were in power. I view them as nothing but sell outs now.
This pretty much leaves me with the Greens and the Conservatives. (And the Workless Party in provincial elections) And as much as I am a strong supporter for Adrian Carr and Ben West, I don't like a lot of the things I see happening in the Green Party at the Federal Level.
The Green Party has made election promises to 'shift taxes', that means an increase in capital gains tax. My Opinion?
ARE YOU NUTS! Capital Gains Tax works out to 80% in Canada already!
UPDATE: Re: Capital Gains Tax, I have received a letter concerning this from Patrick which I will comment on after I'm finished a website transfer. Please check back here soon.
They also want to “amalgamate Catholic school boards into single public board”, ever hear of 'church and state'? Did you know that the Green Party wants to decriminalize all drugs? That might sound like a one in their favor, but not when it also includes 'expand safe injection sites for hard drug users', there is nothing safe or smart about the government covering ANY COSTS in regards to helping users taking hard drugs. They need direct INTERVENTION, not another hand out. The Green also want to “invest in programs for marginalized youth rather than more police officers”, those include 'community centers' this comes from the mind set that it takes a community to raise a child. SORRY FOLKS, IT TAKES A PARENT TO RAISE A CHILD. Packing misled children just compounds the problem, you need to eliminate the self-feeding cycle, and get the parents help, not removing the parents from the equation. And lastly, they want to “Expand Alternative Land Use System” rather ENFORCE THE ARGICULTURAL LAND PRESERVE SYSTEM WE ALREADY HAVE.
I won't be voting green this year. Hello Harper?
More on this later.
Wolfe
POST UPDATE: (Oct 2008)
I haven't had time to to come back to this. At the present time (after the election) my opinion of the Federal Green Party of Canada hasn't changed. I didn't vote Green this year, and for future reference I doubt that I ever will again in a federal election. In provincial elections that might be a different story, but regardless I am appling the following rules to whom I vote for from now on.
1: I must know who the individual representative is in my riding is, to the point that I know what they stand for on key issues that concern me.
2: I must know that the representative in question will stand up for those issues, regardless of what the party line is.
3: The representative I vote for, does not have to have a chance to win, but they do have to have the heart to keep with it even if they don't win.
Global Warming Real or Not?
Written by Wolfe
Friday, 12 October 2007 15:32
I must admit it took me a while to realize what the major issue is about when it comes to whether or not global warming is real or not.
I think the major problem is a language barrier that people seem to target fixate on.
They argue if it is a fact, or a theory; natural, or man-made; left-wing propaganda, or right-wing denial.
So, in my humble opinion, my answer is all of the above...
First let's deal with the fact versus theory argument. If you look at the earliest reports concerning global warming you realize very quickly that it is in deed a theory. You see a theory, and I know I've mentioned this before, is something that someone thinks gives reasons to observed events, and/or predicts events.
For example:
Let's say I start collecting apple seeds from the apples I buy at the local grocery store. And after I manage to grow some apple trees I notice that none of the apples look like those I bought originally. I could develop a theory that the branches those apples came from were spliced onto another tree to help protect the fruit from frost bite. If this was my theory I could test the theory by splicing branches of my apple trees onto various other fruit trees. My theory would predict that my apples would be better off after the next frost, but I might discover that frost makes no difference, but the trees they are spliced onto do. My theory would change, and become more accurate.
In my little apple SEED example, there are certain observed facts that warrant a theory, my apples do not look like the grocery store apples that they came from. It then begs the question, why? The only way to find an answer to that is to test ideas, and try to alter the out come so that you can get a better educated guess, you ask yourself “what if such and such a known fact is involved” repeatably until something starts to fit. Like farmers sometimes splice branches onto other trees. Then you test your “what if” to see how close they are to facts.
In the case of global warming, the fact is that the planet's average temperature over an observed period of time is getting hotter. This makes us ask why? because we also know that mankind has been putting into the atmosphere tonnes of pollution we consider if the two known facts are related, and if any other facts are involved and begin to form a theory.
It is also a fact that global warming is natural, anyone who knows about the last ice age will have to admit, that cooling and heating of the planet's mean temperature has changed from time to time. But the rate of change involved has no basis in being natural, and has only occurred during the time of humans. Therefore we can create a theory that although global warming is natural, the “Rate of Global Warming” is not.
Which brings us to the question of left wing propaganda and right wing denial.
According to Websters Dictionary propaganda means the spreading of ideas, information, or rumor for the purpose of helping or injuring an institution, a cause, or a person. I would take it as a matter of understating that environmental groups which tend to be “left-wing”, spread information about global warming in order to help further their cause, myself included, but this does not mean it is untrue. Replace any claim of propaganda with the word marketing and you are might be left to your own abilities to discover the truth of the matter, something you should be doing anyway.
The Webster's dictionary also states that the word denial means refusal to admit the truth or reality.
'nough said
- Wolfe
Unions
Written by Wolfe
Tuesday, 24 July 2007 11:36
When I use the word “Union” I am actually using it to describe two different groups.
“Labor Unions” in my opinion are an association of employees for the purpose of maintaining, or improving the conditions of their employment. Whereas “Trade Unions” have a purpose to control the certification of their craftsmanship and the progression of members from apprentice to journeyman. In most cases the definition has a lot of cross over between the two in real life.
When I think of the history of unions I often first think of The Newsboys Strike of 1899 on the Brooklyn Bridge. It was literally a trade union of ten thousand homeless children fighting over ten cents. Now the event is part of infamous history, but at the time an increase in the cost of newspapers, which effected the wage earned by the lowest class of society went mostly unreported. They won by the way.
When Unions first started, they were opposed by the employers with violence, threats, and even murder. Since those days, the United Nations have accepted that it is a basic human right to join a union, and it is listed in the charter as protected right, as well as the right not to join one.
Unions in essence are the reverse side of the coin to corporate ownership of a business. They are not anti-capitalists, but rather a balance to the capitalist system, to prevent the abuse from which they resulted from.
When I think of the business world, and in particular trade unions in the auto industry, I believe that they were an essential part of a maturing society. Both from the point of view of securing basic human rights in regard to labor, but also in ensuring the quality of craftsmanship.
There is one problem with unions that older unions members would tend to agree with, it is the same problem that happens when a society forgets why a law, or right is declared. The younger generation did not go through the hardship that resulted in unions making certain demands of employers, and as a result they tend to let these items slip from the bargaining table thinking less of those issues then their fore bearers.
Here in British Columbia I was surprised to learn that Safeway employees have two separate contracts, one which controls the wages of laborers whom have been with the company since it's earlier agreements with the union, and one for employees which joined the union after. The wage difference between the two groups is huge, and it was an interesting twist on union busting, apparently someone forgot about divide and conquer tactics of management.
I am in favor of Unions, I believe that collective bargaining is essential to supporting worker rights. However, I do see a better alternative. Unions have only two interests by their nature, the benefits and rights of employees, and the continued existence of the company they work for. They are at odds for the most part with employers who have as their bottom line an interest in profit, and whom only look after their employees to a minimum in order to keep the ones that promote profit. This creates a conflict between the two groups, and does nothing for the environment, animal rights, and sustainability.
Co-Operatives which use consensus building modules, beat unions in all these regards. By default they look after the needs of sustaining the business, and worker rights because the employees, investors, customers, and employers are all one in the same. Individuals make up Co-Ops, not legal a persona of profit hungry papers. Things that concern an individual rule in a consensus, therefore issues such as animal rights, environment conditions, and long term sustainability are brought to the forefront of management meetings.
Co-Operatives do not cover all the basics of employment, essential services such as public and civil servant job would not be suited for such a module. That is where unions and public oversight committees become necessary.
Just my two cents worth.
- Wolfe
Vancouver the Good?
Written by Wolfe
Saturday, 26 May 2007 01:02
For the last couple of weeks I've been in a rut. Between some papers that need to get done, and other odds and ends that needs to be finished, I've been running around in circles trying to figure out what to do next.
As a family things have been getting a rough. Maybe it's Yo-yo karma, maybe it's just bad luck, but things have been happening that are starting to get on my nerves.
One of the first things that happened was one of my kids fell off his bike and broke his arm. I have to admit for a 12 year old, he was really good about it. He didn't freak out, but kept his cool the whole time, never even flinched when I took him to the hospital to have it set, it was a green-bone fracture, and had to be broken by the doctor the 'other way'. He was happy to get a donut out of the deal, and all his friends to sign his cast. Tough kid.
I got conned as well in the last couple of weeks out of some work that would have gone to pay off some debts, but actually ended up costing me money. I've been thinking a lot of just doing my artwork full time. I was looking at getting a grant for a research project, but after making some inquires with the powers that be that control my wife's pension, it wasn't worth the headache, they are worse then Revenue Canada. Besides, hopefully something that is in the works will be settled real soon, and we can leave all such things behind us.
I have also been busy with some things that have made me notice how much the Lower Mainland has changed here in British Columbia. If you have ever lived here in the past you know that BC was the best place on earth no matter who you were. Although jobs have never been the top here, there was always enough for anyone to start over here. The cost of living in BC wasn't to bad either. Recently however things have gone cockeyed. There are more jobs, the income has increased, but the cost of living have gone threw the roof. Rents and real estate are at an all time high, with no chance of them coming down for at least three more years, and likely not soon after that. Good paying jobs are here, but when you take in rent, the increase in the cost of food, and the price of gas being higher here then anywhere else in Canada it gives you pause. With all of that I could still find myself here in ten years if it was not for one thing.
I have friend who paints for a living, he paints all kinds but is currently on a dinosaur kick. We were talking over coffee about how polite people are in different parts of the world, something I mean to talk to Phil about when he gets back, and the subject of how Toronto used be called, “Toronto the Good” came up, compared to Vancouver.
When I came here to settle almost twelve years ago, I was amazed at how polite and friendly people of British Columbia were, even the police. (Remember I'm one of those radical activists eh?) There didn't appear to be wide spread social problems like in Toronto, New York, and other places I have lived. Recently, however things suck. Even the activists are getting on my nerves with trashing government offices claiming to be evicting them for the cause of the poor. People are becoming rude.
It's a sign of the times, with all the crap we've gone threw here recently I wonder why the hell we ever left Ontario, at least there it hasn't become worse. In fact in a recent quick trip to T.O. i was amazed at how clean the streets were there, somebody is doing something right.
Intelligence versus Smarts
Written by Wolfe
Thursday, 03 May 2007 09:19
Not many people realize that they can learn anything; they think it requires a high IQ to attain certain knowledge; that simply isn’t true. Being smart is something completely different, and there are more people that are smart then are intelligent.
Take for example something as difficult as paying your bills on time. Smart people know there are penalties involved in paying late, so they pay on time, people with high IQ’s have the highest debt load, maybe they spend to much time trying to think of ways to come up with the money.
The misunderstanding that it is more important to have a higher IQ, then to use more common sense comes from those who not only have a high IQ, but have learned to use it wisely, they are also smart. Einstein, Steven Hawkins, and others have had the same problems as the rest of us; they just came to the answers faster, and also had the smarts to publish their results.
Students with high IQs fail more classes and subjects in middle and high schools, then those with below average rates. There are two reasons for this; the first main reason is that the pace of the lessons is so slow it literally bores the teen to tears. The second reason it that having a high IQ doesn’t mean you’ll develop good social skills, logic and reason have little to do with empathy, and you need that to create a network of friends. School can be a lonely place for someone who the rest don’t understand.
It is likely that your own boss has a lower IQ score then yourself, but remember, he is likely also smarter, you are the one doing the work. It takes more then a high IQ to learn certain things, not everything can be absorbed into the grey matter via a book. Practical know comes from years of hands on work, you just can not learn that you need to twist the handle of a pipe binder just so in order not to kink the pipe.
Imagine that an IQ test measures is the same as an acceleration test for a car. The better the engine can convert energy to speed the faster the car can go, an old clunker will still make it from Vancouver to Toronto, but the sports car will get there faster. IQ works the same way, if you score below average on an IQ test, you can still learn what you need to know to be an engineer, and the person that has a high IQ will just learn it faster then you.
"When asked by an anthropologist what the Indians called America before the white man came, an Indian said simply, 'Ours.'" - Vine Deloria, Jr. (American Educator, Writer, Lawyer and Activist, b.1933)
20 November 2008
SEED
