I decided to cruise through some social media today to see what has been going on in the world while I worked. On Facebook, alone, I found all kinds of status updates and shares about how ridiculous Donald Trump was, what people got for Christmas, what people were in hot water for not getting someone anything for Christmas, how bad the Star Wars Prequels were, two separate articles about Harley Quinn in the new "Suicide Squad" movie, numerous pics about people's fitness lifestyles, and what to do if your "fat pic" goes viral.
Surprisingly enough, I didn't see one mention of quite possibly the most terrifying thing ever.
Did you see that? Did you actually read that article? The North Pole actually made it to ABOVE THE FREEZING POINT. Granted, it was for a period of less than six hours, but the fact remains, this is a part of the planet that, in winter, is usually colder than Mars. Above freezing temperatures have only happened three times since 1948. Meteorologists and climatologists are calling this event "extremely terrifying". Think about that for a second. Scientists are using the phrase extremely terrifying. This is being generated by a "historic" storm that dropped both snow and tornadoes in Texas within the last few days, and is causing massive flooding elsewhere. It is possible that the North Pole could reach the 40s for a time.
The problem is, no one seems to care.
I tried to raise this as a point of discussion with someone today, and their response was that the government is changing the weather patterns to "screw with the economy" What?!! How the hell can a rational person deny the existence of human-initiated climate change, but be willing to accept the fact that the government has the Sci-Fi power to control the weather just to tweak Wall Street to its liking? Faith in humanity: -277 points.
Anyone who knows me, or at least has read my writings (some of them are here--look through the archives), knows that one of the main things I harp on is to learn history and keep up on current events. One of the reasons we've gotten away from "Government by the People" in this country is that no one pays attention to what is actually happening! Do not let the media distract you from what is important. Screw the latest "break the internet" fads and dig around for what is actually happening around you. Confirm through multiple sources, rather than believing anything the media feeds you (and I mean reputable sources; not "Jim-Bob's 24-hour 'The Truth is Out There' " conspiracy site).
Remember, Carl Sagan said it best: "The Earth is the only world known, so far, to harbor life. There is nowhere else, at least in the near future, to which our species could migrate. Visit, yes. Settle, not yet. Like it or not, for the moment, the Earth is where we make our stand. It has been said that astronomy is a humbling and character-building experience. There is perhaps no better demonstration of the folly of human conceits than this distant image of our tiny world. To me, it underscores our responsibility to deal more kindly with one another and to preserve and cherish the pale blue dot, the only home we've ever known."
Wednesday, December 30, 2015
Thursday, December 24, 2015
Wassail! . . .Again
This year, I didn't send Christmas cards.
It's not that I didn't want to, so much as the fact that I kind of suck at it. I tend to overthink things like written sentiments and, as such, end up never getting much more than a few out before the deadline, if any at all. This year, I make a decision; I wouldn't send any out.
Christmas has lost some of its zing for me, over the years. As a small child, I can remember how special the holiday season felt, starting out with a long weekend that revolved around cooking a ridiculously oversized bird, leading into several weeks worth of toy commercials and impatience, to be capped off with gatherings of family, another large meal, and an exchange of gifts. Granted, the pile of electronic toys and books and other paraphernalia was a large part of the distraction from normal life, but the gatherings of family and friends and the stories they had to share were definitely the best parts.
Gift-giving for the holidays is traditional, yes, but anymore it seems like we view it as an obligation. If you don't believe that, plop yourself in the middle of a crowded store at three in the afternoon on Christmas Eve and watch the expressions on the faces of the shoppers. They are there because they forgot something, discovered they didn't get an equal share for everyone, or just plain haven't started shopping, yet. By that time, the need to get something--anything--for the people on their list degenerates from picking out something thoughtful to just wandering the aisles and grabbing the first thing that isn't quite so hideous as to cause their ostracism, whether temporary or permanent. This is, of course, what drives the rush on the post-Christmas "return week".
Beyond all of that, though, is the "War on Christmas" that we hear so much about. "Around here, we say 'Merry Christmas'!" That's fine. Just don't forget that, between November 1st and January 15th, seven of the world's major religions are celebrating around 29 different holidays. That includes Pagans, whose traditions provided the formative DNA for many Catholic celebrations and observations. If someone offers a "Happy Hanukkah" or even a "Brightest Blessings", it's not because they want to oppress your beliefs; unless they are clairvoyant, they have no idea what you celebrate. They are simply offering their traditional greeting for peace and unity of the season. Return the favor and get on with your life, happy in the knowledge that someone thought well of you that day. Remember, the word "holiday" is derived from the old English "hāligdæg ", meaning "Holy Day".
To all of my friends and family, those I see often, and those I seldom see anymore, I wish you an excellent holiday and a joyous Yule. May your gatherings be filled with stories both enthralling and embarrassing (those are the best, sometimes), and may you see good health and prosperity in the coming New Year. Know that you are missed, for all the days that we are apart, and that the fleeting times we may speak in the electronic realm are never enough.
God bless the master of this house and the mistress also,
And all the little children that 'round your table grow.
The cattle in your stable, the dog by your front door,
And all that dwell within your gates, we wish you ten times more.
It's not that I didn't want to, so much as the fact that I kind of suck at it. I tend to overthink things like written sentiments and, as such, end up never getting much more than a few out before the deadline, if any at all. This year, I make a decision; I wouldn't send any out.
Christmas has lost some of its zing for me, over the years. As a small child, I can remember how special the holiday season felt, starting out with a long weekend that revolved around cooking a ridiculously oversized bird, leading into several weeks worth of toy commercials and impatience, to be capped off with gatherings of family, another large meal, and an exchange of gifts. Granted, the pile of electronic toys and books and other paraphernalia was a large part of the distraction from normal life, but the gatherings of family and friends and the stories they had to share were definitely the best parts.
Gift-giving for the holidays is traditional, yes, but anymore it seems like we view it as an obligation. If you don't believe that, plop yourself in the middle of a crowded store at three in the afternoon on Christmas Eve and watch the expressions on the faces of the shoppers. They are there because they forgot something, discovered they didn't get an equal share for everyone, or just plain haven't started shopping, yet. By that time, the need to get something--anything--for the people on their list degenerates from picking out something thoughtful to just wandering the aisles and grabbing the first thing that isn't quite so hideous as to cause their ostracism, whether temporary or permanent. This is, of course, what drives the rush on the post-Christmas "return week".
Beyond all of that, though, is the "War on Christmas" that we hear so much about. "Around here, we say 'Merry Christmas'!" That's fine. Just don't forget that, between November 1st and January 15th, seven of the world's major religions are celebrating around 29 different holidays. That includes Pagans, whose traditions provided the formative DNA for many Catholic celebrations and observations. If someone offers a "Happy Hanukkah" or even a "Brightest Blessings", it's not because they want to oppress your beliefs; unless they are clairvoyant, they have no idea what you celebrate. They are simply offering their traditional greeting for peace and unity of the season. Return the favor and get on with your life, happy in the knowledge that someone thought well of you that day. Remember, the word "holiday" is derived from the old English "hāligdæg ", meaning "Holy Day".
To all of my friends and family, those I see often, and those I seldom see anymore, I wish you an excellent holiday and a joyous Yule. May your gatherings be filled with stories both enthralling and embarrassing (those are the best, sometimes), and may you see good health and prosperity in the coming New Year. Know that you are missed, for all the days that we are apart, and that the fleeting times we may speak in the electronic realm are never enough.
God bless the master of this house and the mistress also,
And all the little children that 'round your table grow.
The cattle in your stable, the dog by your front door,
And all that dwell within your gates, we wish you ten times more.
Thursday, December 17, 2015
So Comes the Bluster of Winter. . .
Good evening, friends.
It's been a while since I've used my Blogspot to radiate my odd bits of escaping brain gas into the ionosphere, so here we are. Coffee at hand, I find myself reflecting on the day's events, even as the snow that has so long been absent from our midst piles up around my tarped snowthrower.
Today was another of my noteworthy busy days, beginning with some light woodworking and compiling some book orders to ship out. I have to say that I am pleased with the performance of Cooking for Adventurers, as it is attracting a larger audience than I had first anticipated. I was a bit wary of making my first, full publication attempt a work of nonfiction, but what do I know? On the other side of the coin, I am still working on "Equinox", the first of my science fiction series. I can say with a very reliable measure of confidence that NaNoWriMo is NOT my cup of tea. I made significant progress, but could not force the plotline along in such a rushed fashion. I did, however, solve a few plot holes that had been plaguing me over the development of the outline, so I will continue in the coming months. Along side of that, will be coming "Cooking for Campers", and "AAAAAIGH! And Other Noises your Electrician Shouldn't Make". As with CfA, I will start posting some little teasers as things develop.
Pleasingly short and sweet was the visit I made to the local optician to pick up the replacement lens for my relatively new and supposedly scratch resistant glasses. They were warranted, so it didn't cost anything to fix, but I am regretting not talking her out of the old, scratched lens. It would have been nice to have a monocle for the next time we play Monopoly.
I have taken measurements and made sketches outlining the evolution of the Makerspace's Alpha Site. Today, I finally made my mind up on what type of lighting I want for the video studio, and I hope I will be able to fabricate it without breaking the bank. I am already looking at the unfortunate prospect of dropping a few hundred dollars on a snowthrower for the shop, as it would suck to have to clear that large space out by hand. Trailering the machine we have at home would also get old after a time (most likely the first one).
But I digress.
Right now, I am working on the season's upcoming workouts, which will be featured on my YouTube channel as AKA episodes. Everything will be tailored as the 'Everyman' (read everyperson) workout, focusing on functional strength, rather than merely aesthetics, and will require minimal equipment, which can be easily substituted. Watch this space, kids. . .
Anyhoo, I realize I am rambling, and should probably get to bed. The coffee's gone, anyway. One parting thought, though: If you have any love for yourself, stay away from eggnog-flavored coffee creamer. That is all.
Goodnight from the Hinterlands.
--Bob
It's been a while since I've used my Blogspot to radiate my odd bits of escaping brain gas into the ionosphere, so here we are. Coffee at hand, I find myself reflecting on the day's events, even as the snow that has so long been absent from our midst piles up around my tarped snowthrower.
Today was another of my noteworthy busy days, beginning with some light woodworking and compiling some book orders to ship out. I have to say that I am pleased with the performance of Cooking for Adventurers, as it is attracting a larger audience than I had first anticipated. I was a bit wary of making my first, full publication attempt a work of nonfiction, but what do I know? On the other side of the coin, I am still working on "Equinox", the first of my science fiction series. I can say with a very reliable measure of confidence that NaNoWriMo is NOT my cup of tea. I made significant progress, but could not force the plotline along in such a rushed fashion. I did, however, solve a few plot holes that had been plaguing me over the development of the outline, so I will continue in the coming months. Along side of that, will be coming "Cooking for Campers", and "AAAAAIGH! And Other Noises your Electrician Shouldn't Make". As with CfA, I will start posting some little teasers as things develop.
Pleasingly short and sweet was the visit I made to the local optician to pick up the replacement lens for my relatively new and supposedly scratch resistant glasses. They were warranted, so it didn't cost anything to fix, but I am regretting not talking her out of the old, scratched lens. It would have been nice to have a monocle for the next time we play Monopoly.
I have taken measurements and made sketches outlining the evolution of the Makerspace's Alpha Site. Today, I finally made my mind up on what type of lighting I want for the video studio, and I hope I will be able to fabricate it without breaking the bank. I am already looking at the unfortunate prospect of dropping a few hundred dollars on a snowthrower for the shop, as it would suck to have to clear that large space out by hand. Trailering the machine we have at home would also get old after a time (most likely the first one).
But I digress.
Right now, I am working on the season's upcoming workouts, which will be featured on my YouTube channel as AKA episodes. Everything will be tailored as the 'Everyman' (read everyperson) workout, focusing on functional strength, rather than merely aesthetics, and will require minimal equipment, which can be easily substituted. Watch this space, kids. . .
Anyhoo, I realize I am rambling, and should probably get to bed. The coffee's gone, anyway. One parting thought, though: If you have any love for yourself, stay away from eggnog-flavored coffee creamer. That is all.
Goodnight from the Hinterlands.
--Bob
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