Sunday musings

Numbers.
Just numbers.
Some with meaning and some... without.
In America next weekend, the championship of American rules football (sorry to my friends the Yanks, it is not a world championship) takes place under the grandiose markings of Roman numerals.
Pretentious?
Yes.
Meaningful?
Nope.
The insane number of people killed by Ebola since last year this time - meaningless really.
The insane number of people killed by that dirty civil war (many say funded by Russia) in the Ukraine - meaningless really.
How does one relate to those numbers anyway?
Don't think you can in all honesty.
One sheds a mental "tear" at photos and videos of corpses strewn about - then you shrug and carry on.
The number of dollars CEO's of large companies receive for firing people in order to generate profit on the bottom line for avaricious investors - just numbers aren't they?
People celebrate folks who live into their second century.
Amazing considering that in the last century life expectancy was in the 50-60 year range.
But still - just a number.
And then....
208 is a number.
Divide it by 52 and there you go - the number of years this blog has existed as of this posting.
It started out one early Sunday morning, born out of frustration and a sense of futility at strange, weird, goofy, evil and incomprehensible actions of people around the world.
Heck, this blog has tilted at any pompous human windmill and everything from strange German words to debris flow from a tsunami to emergency winter housing for those less able to afford so.
It talked of black organic tomatoes and of the admiration I have for three young ladies that have been part of my life.
Week after week, the work of putting thoughts and emotions on electronic "page" forged a routine that never varied, whether on my Island here on the Left Coast or wondrous Kihei town in the Sandwich Islands, magical Buenos Aires,  cheerful Toronto and quiet Briercrest.
Week after week, trying to keep focus and not allow the blog to devolve into whiny blather.
Hopefully successful.
Perhaps not always so.
But one tried.
Where does the blog go from here now?
Not sure my friends.
Not sure.
I have seen readers log on from all over this darn world.
Humbling is the word that I use.
Never thought folks would read my ramblings more than once.
I was wrong it seems.
Heck - I even got a couple of comments from you!
How cool is that?
And no, the readership is not in the millions per week, heck more like 40-60 on average and still, remarkable to me at least.
I repeat - where to now?
I read this past week a blog where the writer "signed" off because he said it was "time".
I understand what he meant by that.
And yet....
I still feel that there are a few more stories and grumbles to vent in me....
What do you think?

take care out there,
flatlander52

Sunday musings

Sometimes one wonders how, if at all, people think.
Seriously, do folks let their petty jealousies and envy completely skewer their view of the world?
Why the heck do they only get happiness in their sad attempts to drag everyone else else down to a lower socio-economic level than their own?
Specifically the almost unholy vicious glee of those anonymous keyboard hacks on social media that cheered the announcement this week in Canada of the closing of 133 American owned Target Department stores.
Do they not have a single gram of intelligence or compassion in their brain cage?
Do they not realize that over 17,000 TAX paying employees will be out of work?
Do they not realize that those 17,000 may apply for social support - paid by the rest of the working folks?
Do they not realize that store closings means less property taxes paid to cities that in turn provide services demanded by these chortling fools?
Who picks up the tab for that?
What is wrong with those people?
 Arrgghhhh.......
Maybe the Interweb should be dismantled and banned.
For all the good it does, look at all the bad - heck evil, it allows.
Reputation destroying media campaigns, sometimes based on nothing.
Instructions on how to destroy.
Promotion of racism, bigotry, hatred.
I dunno... I know everyone wants "free" access and information from the Interweb but when crazies and evil folks pervert it - are restrictions needed?
A worrisome thing.
I have no answer.
The PC crowd - that is to say, the Politically Correct talkers - have gone overboard with relentless attacks on anything that is not "vanilla" bland.
You cannot say anything that might offend a single person or they will unleash their digital wrath on you.
A lady in the United States is reported by media (1 person makes this newsworthy?) to be outraged/offended/humiliated -take your choice - after she saw taillights on a school bus that in her unbiased opinion, illuminated the sign of Satan.
Come on.
Really.
There is a famous saying " that for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction" and rest assured that this has happened many times in history and for all the good that has changed in western society in terms of rights for minorities, gays, cultural groups - well the forces that are opposed to this will eventually become aggressive in opposition.
And that is wrong and sad my friends.
Why cannot the middle ground work?
I dunno but I fear for the future.
Over in Germany in the city of Leipzig a mob of 600 people stormed the downtown area on Thursday evening, attacking local government buildings, smashing shop windows, destroying police vehicles and spray painting anti-fascist slogans along the way.
Really - this is how intelligent civilized people act?
 Not really, just an excuse to destroy and loot behind a mob face with less fear of being arrested and charged for being a criminal.
Cowards.
Less than a week before the elections in Greece and the party touted to win is promising free spending on the populace as a plank.
This has got to worry the bankers and governments as Greece has been considered a professional welfare case country in the European community and mainly kept financially afloat by Germany and France and England.
That will end at some point and the hardships the Greeks have endured the last number of years may seem like a picnic compared to what happen when the money spigot finally shuts off.
And not a word in North American media about this.
Wonder why.
A top European rights official warned Spain on Friday that it risked destroying its asylum system if it passed a law authorizing police to immediately deport migrants from its north African territories.
Germany imposes a road tax on on highways used by out of country vehicles (tourists).
All signs of a retreat from world integration and a push to isolationism.
And who pays for this?
Yes, the lonely taxpayer.
Huh.
Get used to it.
Oh well.
Enough already of the gloom stuff.....I saw the first Spring plants for sale at the local shops this week. Primroses for $1.29 each were the big item but already the shelves are filling and with the robins back in full force, it looks like we are in the last throes of what has been a mild "winter". Hard to imagine being back on the prairie flatlands and looking forward to another 3 months of snow and the like.
Turning into a west coast wussy it seems.
Enough to make me want to stamp my sandal shod feet and spit out some chai latte!

take care out there,
flatlander52

Sunday musings

The horror in Paris...what more to say than what has filled the air around us for so many days already?
Why is it that a religion like Islam is so dishonored by so-called adherents?
They are not true believers are they?
No, just "people" so twisted that they pervert a great religion for their own gain...the exact opposite of what the religion talks about.
Let them fade into obscurity - no better punishment than that.
Cowards all.
The cartoonist David Pope speaks for all civilized people in the cartoon below

So oil prices continue to slowly fall and no decrease in air fares right?
Hmmm...
Whatever....
The big German bank -DB for short warns about overvalued Canadian housing.
It warns of a housing crash and the fall of Canadian civilization.
About time.
Every other country in the Western world has been hit with this tag since 2008, now it is Canada's turn.
Hmm...
Whatever.
American President Obama is promising to veto an oil pipeline construction project that would carry Canadian crude oil through America to refineries in the American Gulf States for processing. He cites lack of American jobs and all profit going to those dastardly Canucks. Of course he is wrong and spinning this to placate his political base.
Hmm...
Whatever...
The winter cold has really whacked many parts of North America this week and there is no really good thing to say about it except what we used to say on the Prairie Flatlands - "at least it keeps the darn mosquitoes away!" But we should as a society make a better effort at emergency housing for those homeless folks - they can and do die sleeping outside in this cold whether on the streets of Briercrest or the streets of Washington.
And yes, this really does matter.
I have on occasion taken media folks to task over silly and poor reporting and lazy work ethics. And many do deserve this but they really may be contributing to a modern day lynching mind set in people via the breathless coverage of social media diatribes.
We have seen way too many reports of a media storm erupting as a handful (at times and on other times many, to be fair) of people - usually hiding behind a keyboard - viciously and many times without facts attack a person or company just because....
The most recent examples occurred in Canada and the United States.
Canada - where some students in a Dentistry College posted a number of stupid comments on a Facebook page. Instead of being reprimanded and possibly further disciplined the University basically destroyed these peoples future by its' public over reaction. This was prompted by quasi blackmail from some professors who originally complained and decided that the University was not acting immediately on their demands. So they went to the media, used social forums and demonstrated against this "misogyny" until the University responded.
Overkill fueled by the media.
In the United States, a well known black comedian has been accused, tried and convicted in the social media without a formal judicial charge, trial or conviction. Whether he is innocent or guilty does not seem to matter to those attacking him on line or in front of TV cameras.
What happened to innocent until proven guilty in America and Canada?
Overkill fueled by the media.
We are witnessing the tyranny of society by the few with apparent assistance by the media ever hungry for 24/7 news - whether accurate, unbiased or just a damn lie as long as it can be broadcast and get ratings and advertising dollars.
This is the democracy and equality that our previous generations gave their lives for?
I think not.
And we all lose.
Period.
Anyway, good things still happen on this planet of ours.
We won $10 on a lottery ticket this week and by my reckoning, have only spent about $100,000 on tickets over the decades to be so fortunate!
My "daughter" the author has recently shown me a few glimpses of her latest book as it emerges from her mind and keyboard and golly, is it a hum dinger!!!
Rest assured I will be posting a link soon as it is published.
I do so admire her and her talent.
And yes, it seems that in a few short weeks,  we will be back to the Sandwich Islands as we just cannot seem to get enough of that fabled spot.
So be prepared for the odd pineapple photo!!!
take care out there,
flatlander52

Sunday musings

New Year, new thoughts ( or so most hope!).
Air Asia crash was the third one in 12 months for an Eastern world airline. Many attribute this to an increased demand for air travel and lack of pilots. Left unsaid is how darn crowded the skies now are in that part of the world and how there is a lot of every day horrible weather occasions there. And NO- I will not refer to them as "events"-what nonsense perversion of the English language is this these days?
Anyway, the only difference in this sad event is that some bodies and possibly the main wreckage have been found whereas in the other two - nothing. At least those tin foil wearing conspiracy folks will have no venue to babble forth their inverted view of events, all based on the mysterious "them" doing it to the trodden down "us".
Or a case one could say of "them" stomping on "them"!
Air transportation sure has changed over the last 30 years hasn't it?
Where once seats were spacious and meals tasted like food (and free) now we are packed tighter and tighter in every new plane that is unveiled and even more disappointing is the total collapse of any form of civility by the flying public. Manners and politeness are the exception not the norm. Smelly, shoeless drunk fools and parents incapable of parenting mewling infants rule the skies and woe to the passenger that dares to object to chaos of the masses - they become pilloried on social media and verbally abused by one and all.
Oil continues to slump and hover around $50 USA dollars a barrel and many folks do not understand a possible social and economic blow to some economies such as Canada that will be. Much revenue is pulled via taxation on sold oil and this pays for social programs and general revenue. With this disappearing - well, no need to be a rocket scientist to figure out that something is gonna have to suffer - right? Yet folks are shown on TV smirking over how they are spending about $25 a week less on filling up their vehicle. rest assured the savings do not get put into the bank or used to pay off a credit card or four. Nah, more like another pack of smokes, more latte drinking or entertainment. Those that will in all likelihood be facing reduced welfare payments or social assistance - well too damn bad right?
Unless you are the one that needs it.
Then it is a big deal.
As Spock once said, "the needs of the many versus that of the few" and sometimes we as a society that professes to care, need to "pay" a little more to make sure those without can survive.
And this does not include those namby pamby tree hugging causes that truly are the luxuries of a pampered group.
Troubled times ahead I think.
Many folks are polarized over the so called thaw in relations between America and Cuba.
Perhaps they should see exactly what it actually means.
It does not mean that tourism will explode overnight to Cuba.
It does not mean American style democracy will explode overnight in Cuba.
It does not mean "free enterprise" factories and business will open overnight in Cuba.
It means the opening of a US Embassy for now.
No more.
Time and the change of the political regime via age in Cuba will need to happen.
We need to remember that there is a complete political class on that Island that thrives under the present system and they will literally fight to the death to keep the existing status quo - no doubt about that.
So all the posturing by various political groups, especially in the United States, well, is a little, can one say - off the point?
Speaking of being wrong - what the heck is with the media love fest with stupid tag lines when reporting news or weather?
What intelligent reporter can talk about hashtag whatever?
You know silly bugger crap like #Santabomb for a normal winter storm?
Or #stormofthecentury?
Or #weathernado?
This babblespeak from supposedly trained and educated broadcast professionals?
Oh no indeed.
With it now being 2015, we can expect the political wars leading to the next USA Presidential elections to start in earnest. Total legal gridlock may be the result as each political party tries to score electoral vote points instead of being concerned about doing the job they were elected to do.
Too bad.
The world needs a strong and focused America more than ever these days.
Maybe it is wrong to question the motives of those well financed "greenies" that slag oil producing countries like Canada but ignore, say, Russia or Saudi Arabia or Venezuela for the exact same thing but someone should- right?
And also, where are these vocal chaps when talking about deforestation of the Amazon?
Right?
And where are they when it comes to Chinese coal power plants?
Right?
Here on my Island, a local controversy is emerging among the citizens of our largest city in regards to the wild deer population. Once again, well intentioned but wrong folks have for years been leaving food outside for the "poor bambis" and of course the result is that the deer have lost all fear of man. There is a yearly huge damage cost as a result of cars hitting these deer as they run across streets in the centre of the city. Also the deer can and do carry disease but now that a limited cull is proposed - well, you would think that the 5 horsemen of the Apocalypse were amongst the citizen.
Heck, the people are more incensed and involved over this item than they are over, say, the homeless, Ebola, AIDS, you name it.
Ah, living on the Left..err..West Coast, what an educational experience it can be.
By request I leave you with this graph of a year in the life of Canada.

Remember my mentioning last year (OK- last week is still last year technically) that on my wish list was to take a submarine ride sometime?
Well............
Stay tuned.........
Take care out there,
flatlander52

Sunday musings

Come and gone in a blink...what the heck?
Yah, you wait 51.75 weeks for Christmas and that's it.
Done.
Finis.
Toast.
History.
Humph.
So now the short few days of ennui before the start of the New Year and the world slowly cranks up to speed again.
All the things that seemed to be far in the future - you know, "next year country", well, all of a sudden it really is next year now for crying out loud!
Time to plan the year unfolding and making sure all checkpoints are identified and slotted in some sort of timeline.
Did I mention learning to sky dive maybe? 
Oops.
I suppose the submarine excursion yearned for, well did I forget to mention that as well?
Oops again.
Drats.
Speaking of oops - it appears that I am the cause of an uproar online these days due to yet another small "oops" that happened in last weeks' blog.
Yes, someone actually does read the blog!
How cool is that???
Anyway, apparently when I modestly mentioned that we hung Christmas lights this year on our ramshackle abode, well........instead of the photo of the 3 tiny l.e.d. bulbs spasmodically flickering dimly in the night, a photo of the lights from the folks across the street was inserted!
And now the buggers want and demand royalty payments from your impoverished blogger!
Oh the pain.
Hmm...
Maybe they will be satisfied with a hand delivered copy of one of my travel vignettes from Goats R Us Productions?
Maybe.
Maybe not.
Oh well.
 I have been asked to make a few predictions (wild guesses actually) about some items of interest for the year 2015 so - here goes.
1. The petro dollar - down now but by mid year back up-up-up again.
2. Crimea - quiet now but hmm, could be a smoldering fuse there.
3. Ebola in Africa - this will not go away quietly.
4. Civil unrest in America - scary thing that.
5. Canadian election - possibly more of the same.
6. Argentina debt and inflation - worrisome to say the least.
7. Odds of me winning the lotto? Still less than zero
That is it for projections and in all likelihood all wet except for number 7 and that will be something to look forward to.
That being said, one would be remiss if, at this year end blog we did not thank all that took a few moments to read the odd blog during its almost 4 years of existence.
Not sure at this time if there will be a year 5.
Not be easy to do this week in and out and not become stuck in a whiny groove endlessly repeating the same old rant.
Some say that that is too late.
Others demure and still enjoy the words.
So with this, the last blog of 2014, I leave you with a few photos and thanks and best wishes for a great 2015.

take care out there,
flatlander52

Sunday musings

Well, it is the last Sunday before Christmas and as is the norm, the pace of my life has slowed to a crawl which is OK.
It is difficult to get wound up about this and that around the world.
Just not so into it right about now.
So....let's catch up on a few things and people alright?
Remember over the years ( can you believe that we are almost done with the 4th year of this blog?) my talking about my three "daughters"?
Well, one is now a mother twice around and this winter her house has been recognized online as one of the "sparkle" homes (Christmas light festooned that is) in the city we used to live in.
Pretty special person she is.
"Daughter" number two is vacationing right now in a sunny and warm spot with her better half and looking forward to the upcoming wedding of one of her own daughters.
Pretty special person she is.
"Daughter" number three continues to weave her literary magic with three books published in the last year and yet another in the final stages right now.
Pretty special person she is.
And yes, to all you naysayers reading, these are not my actual daughters but I would have been proud and honoured to be their actual father.
They have enriched my life over the years.
What better continuing Christmas present could one hope to ask for?
And receive?
Thought so.
On another small, yet totally immodest note - a vignette from my own film production company (thanks for asking - it is called Goats R Us Productions!) is making the rounds of the Interweb!
And there is talk of possibly an invitation to the Short Film Festival held on the Sandwich Islands next year, now who woulda thought eh?
We had friends and family visit us throughout the summer this year and loved to show them our "new" home here on this fabulous Island.

And yes, sometimes it seemed a little chaotic but when all was said and done - it was a lot of fun.
We continued to explore this Island called home and spent a wonderful time on the shores of the wild, west side - truly awesome in scope.

 Visited the Prairie flatlands after 3 summers away and was re-introduced to wind and mosquitoes the size of small ponies but still nice to do again.

Flew in a floatplane for the first time - striking yet another item off our so called "bucket list" and wow, what a treat that was for us to experience.

Heck, even put up Christmas lights for the first time in over 30 years - what is going on here?
Perhaps I can put that on the shoulders of Mrs. Claws?
Ya think?

And yes, we were so very fortunate to once again spend precious time on those marvelous Sandwich Islands - second only in affection to my own Island.
And yes, many decry the place and criticize the sometimes over the top schmaltzy portrayal of life and the people that live there but there is a certain magic that no one can deny.

So....in the spirit of goodwill that exists so briefly among us at this time of year, count your blessings and take a moment to savour what you have.
For many it is not anywhere near as good as what you might complain about at times.
And truly...take care out there,
flatlander 52

and of course- Merry Ho Ho from the Elves!!!

Sunday musings

Solitude.
Quietness.
Reflective time.
Went for a walk the other day in one of my favourite haunts amid a gentle drizzle just to appreciate some of the things I have in life.
With it being a tad cool and wet, the usual number of folks walking about were not as numerous as is their normal wont.
And that was just fine.
Stopped at the base of an arbutus tree and saw water droplets glistening on a woodland fern.
Shimmering silver sparkles on a day with limited sunshine.
A pair of hummingbirds thrummed by in the search for food - food and even more food.
So determined and so tiny.
Further along the walk, a small river fed by recent rains thundered and roared filling the silence of the walk with its all encompassing volume.
Ferocious and compelling.
A deer walked out from between a stand of trees - saw me, seemed to nod and then slowly turned and continued on its solitary way - similar to my own.
Kinda put me in my place in the scheme of things.
Further along, stood by the resting place of some totem poles that had been "retired" and returned to the ground to become one with the land again.
Could only stare and wonder.
Walked by an empty swimming pool that echoed with the memory of playing, laughing children of the summer just passed.
And smiled.
It is a big world we live in, isn't it?
And people live in all kinds of ways.
Some opulent.
Some tacky.
Some so desperately needing.
Some so blessed.
Some so cursed.
One could go bonkers grieving for the ones that have so little future and so little to live for but there is so little that one can do by themselves.
And yet... every little bit does help if only a little.
If a person can develop a pattern of doing the small things - peoples lives can improve, if only a little.
So yes, the once a year conscience driven donation to a food bank works.
Giving away old furniture/appliances to the needy rather than selling or trashing works.
Paying it forward as it is called - truly helps those that need it the most and is a good thing.
Just think, it could be you in dire straits and not some unknown face in the news video -right?
Sometimes a walk like that calms you down and puts a perspective on certain things back into your vision.
Not a bad thing at all.
The world continues to spin in its own puzzling ways as well.
Greenpeace, an organization that many people admire did a horrible thing this week in South America. As a visual form of protest promoting renewable energy - they desecrated the historic Nazca line drawings in Peru.

What excuse is there for this?
They lose credibility in my eyes when they are worse than what they profess to despise.
As Pogo said - "we have met the enemy and he is us."
Why?
Over in America it seems that the fiscal cliff was averted due to a compromise among leaders including the President. This means no Federal government shut down for a year now.
That is a good thing and not just for America but the whole world.
And already vague non attributable news sources are muttering about interest rate increases possibly starting in the upcoming year in North America and Europe.
And that might not be a bad thing.
With such low rates as we have had for the last number of years, many, many people have taken out loans to purchase items possibly not really needed and the resulting personal debt levels are reaching scary levels these days.
Time for a breather perhaps.
It all depends on how any possible rate increases are implemented and the amount of any increase will be critical.
Moderate and balanced increases will halt the debt load increase.
Large jumps will financially destroy a generation.
Over on the Sandwich Islands, at the Lahaina Cannery Mall last weekend saw the kickoff to the holiday season with the arrival of Santa and the Angel Tree giving project sponsored by the Salvation Army at the Mall.
As well free entertainment, the always welcome Hula Show is presented to shoppers.

And who cannot enjoy the Hawaiian salutation to Merry Christmas?

Here on my Island, once again this year the noted Saskatchewan artist, V. Morhart sent out his limited edition Christmas card greetings to a select few folks and as always, is very appreciated.

take care out there,
flatlander52

The holiday season kicks into high gear Saturday, Dec. 6, at Lahaina Cannery Mall with the arrival of Santa and the Kahiau Angel Tree giving project donation drive in partnership with the Salvation Army Lahaina Outpost. - See more at: http://www.lahainanews.com/page/content.detail/id/531040/Santa--Angel-Tree-giving-program---song-and-the-holiday-spirit-arrive-at-Lahaina-Cannery-Mall.html?nav=8#sthash.cllrEsIR.dpuf

The holiday season kicks into high gear Saturday, Dec. 6, at Lahaina Cannery Mall with the arrival of Santa and the Kahiau Angel Tree giving project donation drive in partnership with the Salvation Army Lahaina Outpost. - See more at: http://www.lahainanews.com/page/content.detail/id/531040/Santa--Angel-Tree-giving-program---song-and-the-holiday-spirit-arrive-at-Lahaina-Cannery-Mall.html?nav=8#sthash.cllrEsIR.dpuf

The holiday season kicks into high gear Saturday, Dec. 6, at Lahaina Cannery Mall with the arrival of Santa and the Kahiau Angel Tree giving project donation drive in partnership with the Salvation Army Lahaina Outpost. - See more at: http://www.lahainanews.com/page/content.detail/id/531040/Santa--Angel-Tree-giving-program---song-and-the-holiday-spirit-arrive-at-Lahaina-Cannery-Mall.html?nav=8#sthash.cllrEsIR.dpuf

The holiday season kicks into high gear Saturday, Dec. 6, at Lahaina Cannery Mall with the arrival of Santa and the Kahiau Angel Tree giving project donation drive in partnership with the Salvation Army Lahaina Outpost. - See more at: http://www.lahainanews.com/page/content.detail/id/531040/Santa--Angel-Tree-giving-program---song-and-the-holiday-spirit-arrive-at-Lahaina-Cannery-Mall.html?nav=8#sthash.cllrEsIR.dpuf