Tree Surfing

I’m getting ready for Steve’s wedding, which is a surreal experience. We’re also trying to clean our apartment. I’m tired and loosing my mind.

Nothing new there.

Benji said he used to read this blog and thought it was good back in the day. So I’m putting a post up in his honor to see if anyone is still reading. Maybe I’ll start posting again. I’ve grown rather disenchanted with blogs over the last year or so. It’s a medium that encourages far to much public navel-gazing. But maybe…

With so much negative news going around I thought it appropriate to give credit where credit is due. Of course since I’m still a little bitter, I’ll prove my point by pointing out those who are failing miserably.

A great round of applause to these wonderful people, counties, and organizations:

India: For their pledge of aid and medicine to the hurricane battered south. They stand out as a great example of the good in foreign countries. Although the USA arguably quite able to take care of itself, the concern and goodwill of the Indian people is greatly appreciated especially compared to those like the Germany’s environment minister, Juergen Trittin who shamefully dared to blame the disaster on America’s supposed environmental negligence.

Wal-mart: While many like to deride Wal-mart for encouraging consumerism and accuse them of unfair wages practices, you can’t help but nod appreciatively at the MILLIONS donated by the corporation in money and goods. Compare that to the warehouse where I work, where the company will match employee gifts up to $20,000. A nice gesture, but come on! If you’re going to help, why don’t you really help? 20 grand is a pinprick when your company is making millions every year. You’re only in it for the PR: Cheap Bastards!

Many Nameless heroes: Those who are actually getting the shit done! Pulling people off roofs, handing out food, giving around the clock medical attention… You are to be commended above all. You give selflessly and ask for no glory. Compared to today’s greatest example of Hollywood idiocy: Sean Penn. Instead of leaving matters to those trained in rescue he gets in a leaky boat filled with groupies and a PERSONAL PHOTOGRAPHER. Gee, I wonder what your goal really is?

Respectable Victims: Those who prepared and persevered. Those who lost everything but still manage to move on without blaming the rest of the country. As opposed to those who freeload, and blame the government for their discomfort.

These people know that the hurricane wasn’t anyone’s fault. They thankfully accept the assistance that is given to them, and make due, being brave, and trying to start over again. They realize the world will keep on spinning, even though their home and jobs were destroyed. They stand up, and refuse to be defeated. They represent the true spirit of American.

I know, I know…
I haven’t written much lately, but it’s better to be silent than to write mounds of horse crap.

Anywho, there’s a lot of stuff going on that has me riled up. The main culprit being: THE BLAME GAME.

Example:

The hurricane was Bushes fault because he hasn’t done anything to stop global warming.
Bush failed us again because the government didn’t respond “fast enough”.
Oh those poor black people are being labeled as looters and if it wasn’t for the those rich selfish white people they’d be doing so much better.

And many other gems. If I had motivation, time and energy: once everyone is safe and cared for I’d travel around the country bitch-slapping everyone who sits and whines about anyone who isn’t doing “enough”. It’s like pulling someone from a burning building, and then instead of a thank you, you get “Where’s my a bottled water, Bitch!”

Here’s an article from a right wing perspective, but it illustrates another line of argument that really pisses me off: Chickenhawks!

And the highlight of my blog reading week was finding this very beautiful, highly controversial post via the Mad Pigeon.
I’m not going to be presumptuous and claim that everything written is the gospel truth. There still is enough opinion and questionable logic to go around, but as a whole I think it sums up my frustrations with recent situations rather well.

You can believe that the government hasn’t done it’s job, but if you believe that simply because you hate Bush and are looking for any reason to smite him, then you need to chill out! There’s soo much hate flying around out there it’s scary! The only thing worse then the hurricane is the firestorm of illogical envy, and hatred that is flaming around recent events.

The hurricane wasn’t Bush’s fault. The job of the federal government is not to prevent idiots from making stupid mistakes, you cannot be free and still expect to be free from the consequences of your decisions. The recent tragedy is horrible yes, but don’t make it worse by adding to the damage. Wash away the mud don’t throw it.

Tell me what you think. But please, please please, don’t be an impulsive idiot. You have a right to any opinion you may have, but if it isn’t backed up by some sort of logic don’t be surprise when I knock on your door with the 2x4 of Moron Reeducation.

It’s true that nobody likes to spend more money then they have too, but I think there are some effects that nobody has thought of, or at least not widespread theories yet:

1.) Teenagers will no longer be able to “cruise” the town for hours on end. The mindless circling for chicks will come with a high price tag.

2.) However unlikely: it may cause people to think about budgeting and spending their money wisely instead of the rampant consumerism that has been going on for the past decades.

3.) The post office will use fuel prices as an excuse to raise the price of postage stamps again.

Some things won’t change:
Poor people will be the worst affected like always.
Rappers will use high priced gas-guzzling cars as status symbols.
Many “middle class” families will still own two or more cars.

As other’s have mentioned now there will be more incentive for people to walk, ride, bikes, and buy “environmentally friendly” cars. However I don’t expect widespread change to take place until gas hits $4-5 per gallon. By then alternative sources such as bio-diesel and other higher priced fuels will become more “affordable” compared to gasoline.
Here’s another view.

I wonder how much will really change; I think only the gap between the rich and the poor. That only means there will be more room in the middle. So all you middle class folk will be able to stretch your legs without kicking anyone.

Tonight after work I stopped outside and talked to an older polish guy we affectionately call “Farmer”. We stood around in the parking lot and talked about all sorts of things: The price of gas, owning houses, the way things were 30 years ago, and other such topics.

I immensely enjoy talking to older people. Many times when my high school friends would throw parties I would end up in the kitchen or living room talking to the parents instead of down in the basement watching dull teen movies. Parents loved me.

I’ve never had too much trouble connecting with the older generations. I talk and listen carefully, prompting them for details where necessary; drawing the wisdom and stories from their memories and storing them away in my own.

One of the projects I’d undertake, if I had the means and the time, would be to buy a digital video camera, and then interview millions of older people. I’d ask them questions about historical figures and events, thoughts on the future and stories from their childhood. By the time I was old I would have thousands hours of interviews. Interviews of normal everyday people, the things that make anthropologists drool.

Perhaps one day if we ever develop artificial intelligence to a self-conscience level (I’m not holding my breath), it could watch my interview and gain an understanding of the generations that preceded it. I’m crazy, no?

How often should one update their blog. Once a day seems to be the optimal level for a more personal blog such as mine. If I don’t post enough then obviously I won’t maintain any decent readership level. Theoretically if I posted too often then my readers would find themselves overwhelmed by too much information.

I never seem to be able to keep up such a steady stream of posts for very long. This is due partly to to my only super power: Fear for me I am Procrastination Man!
Other reasons (excuses) include having a young baby and a pregnant wife. However, these excuses only hold true for one or two days, any longer and you can assume that lack of updates is not due to lack of time, but lack of motivation or willpower.

Community blogs, those with multiple authors, and the great “link-collector” sites such as Boing Boing have a much higher frequency of posts, often numbering 10, 15 or more posts per day. Their readers can tolerate a higher number of posts because they skim to find information that is relevant to them.

I like to rationalize my lack of daily posts away with some sometimes true, although often slightly over-used logic. Quality vs. Quantity. I don’t pretend that all of my posts are great works of art, but I generally won’t post willy-nilly about every thought that crosses my mind. Nothing like a constant spew of navel-gazing, or “what I ate today” posts to drive your readers away.

There is a fine line to walk between writing with sincerity and writing more than your readers really care about. Your readers can help keep you in check by posting comments and questions. Thanks again to all those who have been commenting on my past posts. The feedback is greatly appreciated.