Abortion...

Why is that when taking to a socialist, it always comes down to abortion? I was recently chatting to a friend who has been spending a lot of time convincing me that Sarah Palin is "not ready" for higher office. Honestly, I don't know if she is ready for higher office. I don't know that Obama is ready for higher office - or for that matter anyone running for the office... So how does one prove that anyone is ready for a job?

First his argument was that she is calling for drilling in Alaska. What's so bad about that? If I was the governor of Alaska - I would call for drilling as well - and he actually admitted that he agreed with me. The impact of drilling in Alaska is irrelevant to the energy crisis as well as the environment.

Then, it was her religious beliefs. As an atheist, I do not discriminate against religious beliefs - Obama is supposedly religious - so why draw the line in one place or the other? Jesus is the son of god / Dinosaurs lived 4000 years ago - what is the difference?

So then, of course it comes down to abortion. Last time I checked, I don't need an abortion. I think abortion is an outdated issue - one from my mother's generation. OK - so let's have a closer look. Christians believe that anyone who does not accept Jesus will go to hell. Does that mean that if we elect Sarah Palin she will force everyone to become Christian? Then why does her personal belief in abortion even relevant here? Does he really think that electing a VP that is a conservative Christian will reverse abortion rights? Please!

It's almost like they have a rehearsed list of issues to rattle off - You are a woman so you must be afraid of losing abortion rights! Whatever....

To Bailout or not?

I have always wondered why people believe in God... It's a beautiful idea on the surface - but makes absolutely no sense if you look at it in any depth. When I speak to many believers, I get the feeling that it is a combination of fear and hope. Fear of not having someone to look after - or some sense of absolute right and wrong - and hope in something external.

The bailout is the same deal. Every one is afraid and wants "something" done! Whatever it may be. Everyone has "faith" in the government / economists / pick an authority figure...and everyone is Hoping it will fix something.

Hope and change! That's where it's at... but I don't buy it for a second. It's a tempting idea - but rewarding people for their mistakes just doesn't sit right with me.

Globalization...

...is a wonderful thing!

Spike Lee's new movie passes the muster of Political correctness here in the US - but the Italians don't have any Slavery related guilt - so they don't like it when a foreigner - irrespective of their skin color - paints unflattering pictures of their history.
Here's the article.

The tragedy is that there are enough real stories to tell. The story of the African American WWII fighters could have been told without vilifying the anti-fascist partisans. Now, however, both the American Blacks as well as the European with a fascist history - and both used to retelling stories to meet their end - have to deal with one another!

Globalization rules!

Stupid Europeans

I am so sick of my Euro-Trash buddies spewing nonsense about America....

Here's an enlightening article on it...

The fact is that it was Europeans that colonized most of the world - were responsible for the biggest genocide, started 2 world wars...Hitler / Stalin / Mussolini - let's see who else? Stupid Europeans!

The End..

I had to post this...It seems appropriate in response to all the doom and gloom coverage in the media... Credit of course XKCD.com - and the title for the comic is "The end is Not for a While"...

Chicken little emails...

I am getting a little tired of my left leaning friends and their chicken little emails......

It seems like every one of them has taken it upon themselves to tell me about some perceived imminent threat by sending me emails and opinions from other complete morons... When questioned, they just back peddle their stance and try more chicken little tactics.

For the record - I don't care that the globe is warming (and I am willing to wager that my carbon footprint is much smaller than any of theirs), I don't care that some politicians believe in god (look at what these morons believe in ... Marsh is correct - there is no talking to believers - so how is one "faith" better than other?) - I don't care about abortion (and I do not burn bras either - that is for aging lesbo feminazis of yester years - I buy expensive bras and know how not to get knocked up! And.. think that people who have abortions ARE baby killers! Please!) - and I don't want the government to take care of me "cradle to grave" They are so not my "masters" - stay the heck out of my business!!!!!

Jiddu Krishnamurti...

Listening to Krishnamurti interviews online...

Some of his points make sense but others do not. He sounds a lot like the entire Jesus / protestant ethic - about life is suffering and suffering cannot be improved upon. A bit depressing for me. On the other hand he has the whole Hindu - do the right thing irrespective of the result thing. No consideration for the moment of clarity - epiphanies. All knowledge is incomplete and so irrelevant. We cannot do anything for the future of the mankind? Thoughts are irrelevant. No change can come through thought alone. What is one to do?

He makes the point that no revolution has changed the human condition in general. But aren't specific changes better than nothing?

The mind is impersonal and does not reside in the individual. One needs to step out of the self to access the mind. He touches on the whole observer is the observed bit... very quantum physics-y.

Attention is the contact between the mind and the brain. When the self is gone, there is energy allowing attention.

I'll have to think about that.

Edge of reason

From time to time there are periods in my life where I am just restless... ichneumon flies set into my being...I feel trapped - like a caged animal, desperately wanting to run away.

I have had this feeling so often that I am beginning to get used to it. However, I know better than to settle into a comfort zone - that will not do for me. What brings this on? Why so often? It is, of course because I am the most unreasonable person I know.

To quote on of my favorite quotes from George Bernard Shaw :

"The reasonable man adapts himself to the conditions that surround him... The unreasonable man adapts surrounding conditions to himself... All progress depends on the unreasonable man."

So, I find myself looking back and finding that the times when I feel like running away are the times when I have encountered a situation I wanted to change - completely - and never bothered. I guess the choice is mine at the end of the day. I could either change everything around me - or I could change where I am. In recent years, I have been choosing the later more and more.

"People are always blaming their circumstances for what they are. I don't believe in circumstances. The people who get on in this world are the people who get up and look for the circumstances they want, and if they can't find them, make them."
-- Mrs. Warren's Profession, 1893

I wonder what my circumstances will be in the near future?

My collection...

Meridith once introduced me as the one who "collects interesting people". I liked the description at the time. I've used it to describe my self since then. But now that I come to think of it, it is a very sad statement of me. I'd rather be the one who has interesting experiences than the one who collects people with interesting experiences.

Not that there is anything wrong with being surrounded by interesting people... I have no time for the mundane. However, have I substituted my life's experiences with those of others? The last thing I want to do is to live vicariously through others. Is that where I am headed?

I undoubtedly am pleased with my collection of people - I wonder if I am as collectible as them?

Slowly dying...

I think that you have a finite number of quality moments in time - the length of you life, however depends on how many quality moments you spend. You may live to be a hundred and slowly deplete you moments in redundant trivialities of life - or live a very short and intense life...This is why so many talented people die so young - and others like me - linger on...

I look back on my life and see some of these quality moments - my move America, my taking up a new career, me pursuing the love of my life, me having my kids.... but the rest is just filler moments - moments of no consequences at all.

I have a feeling that I will linger on...

How I spent my summer...

I got an email today from Gordon title how I spent my summer - it got me thinking...

Let's see ...

Had another birthday. Ken bought me a motorcycle for my birthday - a Honda Shadow 750. It is sweet! It took me FOREVER to pass my riding test...I had never ridden a motorbike before - so it was definitely an adventure!

What else? We went to Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands. Puerto Rico was ok - we visited El Yunke and it was VERY crowded. Did not care for it all that much - especially after having been to the rain forests in Costa Rica. The best part was the Bio Luminescence bay in Viaques - that was absolutely magical. Old San Juan was the usual Central / South American / Spanish conquered city... Charming, but once you've seen a few of them...

The US Virgin Islands were pretty much a tourist trap. Every one just looks at you as a cash cow... It was very beautiful - but I wouldn't go back - ever!

So now we're back and the school starts this week for the kids... usual stuff.

A while...

Ok - so the summer has come and gone and boy was it hectic!

It's been a while since I posted, and life has been busy. Let's see - I had a birthday, we went on vacation to Puerto Rica and US Virgin Islands, we bid on a property in Murphy, North Carolina and the bid was accepted, and I bought a motorcycle. That about covers it.

Another Gas Incident...

Before I mention this incident, I have to set the stage for the prior ones...

There was this time when we were driving through the driest desert in the world.. the Atacama desert. So, we were driving and came up on this ancient natural oasis - Quillagua. So we stopped and in my broken Spanish I ask the lady behind the checkpoint where the closest place to get Gas is. "Iquique". Iquique is hundreds of miles away from where we are and we have less than a quarter tank. So, we load the car on the back of Javiar's flat bed truck, ride to Iquique and the rest is history...

Then there was this time in California when we were traveling on the coastal highway coming from Eureka via Shelter cove towards For Bragg.. and suddenly it turns into a treacherous mountain dirt road...and after driving tens of miles we realize that we were low on gas. So, we drive downhill without using gas, run into some Russian Campers and purchase gas from them, and make it to Fort Bragg.

Then there was this time when we arrived at the local climbing gym - and on our attempt to get back home we realize that the car is out of gas. So, we get Peter to drive Ken to the gas station, purchase gas, drive home.

So - coming home from our latest trip to North Carolina - you would think that we'd keep an eye on the gas, right? No such thing. After dark in the Osceola national forest and we figure out that we are low on gas. No worries - we have enough to make it to the next town...but then the gas light comes on. So, e draft behind a big truck trying to save what little gas we have left. And we stop at the first exit that indicated gas...and the gas station is closed!!!! So, we take the next exit, find gas, and go on to create more gas incidents....

Oh - did I mention that in each of these cases, we had a GPS that ran out of batteries just as we needed it?

Sick...

I am the most impatient person I know... I am even more impatient when I am sick!

I hate being sick.

wandering through life...

Things are starting to get routine... and I hate ruts!!!

What can I do to stir things up I wonder???

Kit's turning 13... my youngest is a teenager. I am old! I've been in a midlife crisis for the last 5 years, and it looks like it may last a few more decades. It may just turn into an end of life crisis!

Comics

Laal's writing a comic strip...

I used to write when I was her age. I didn't have the internet to post to, though...

I think she needs to post her comics online. She'll get some reader ship. I don't know if I like her comics because she's my kid - or because I just like them. I hope it's the latter.

The comics are based on an alternate world with imaginary species of creatures.

Update! She has a blog - which is super secret!!!!!!

Trip to Crowders

Went on a climbing trip to Crowder state part, NC. Drove all night, climbed all day, camped, climbed all day, drove back all night! I had forgotten how much fun road trips could be...

I climbed well - however was not very good with keeping up with the guys when it came to the hikes... In any case, it was a load of fun and I may plan on another trip in April. Can't wait!

We stuck to top roping and easy climbs - but we had a lot of fun....can't wait to get out there again.

Say no to Sarcoidosis...

Ok - so I don't have Sarcoidosis, but then again, I may have Rheumatoid arthritis!

Hard to keep it straight. The hands are looking better - but are no stronger. If anything, I am getting weaker everyday. Not climbing as much - working too much. What was that resolution a while ago???

What will I remember from my forties? This nifty project I am doing for work... or the fact that my hands got worse and I had to give up climbing.

:(

Mixed Lucent and Sclerotic areas....

... on me frigging bones!!!!

So - is it or is it not Scleroderma? The name suggests skin issues - but I really have no skin issues... So we do more tests - screen for TB, HIV, god only knows what....Hopefully we'll figure out soon what is wrong with my degenerate hands...

Did I mention I feel old? So I am planning a climbing trip at Crowders this weekend - that will make me feel a little younger.

The quest for a cure continues....

Life, liberty...

Life - I had no choice in... and pretty much is a given thing for a while. Really don't get into too many life threatening situations. Liberty - well, that's a choice too - why live in a country where there is no liberty. I grew up in India and immigrated to the united states - both provide ample liberty.

It' that last one - the pursuit of happiness - that is the biggest issue. What makes me happy? My family - a very out of control kind of situation there...and climbing - and guess what - I have been diagnosed with arthritis! So there goes that....

So once again I find myself wondering what is the purpose of life? Liberty? Happiness? Suffering?

Namesake

So, I finally saw the movie namesake. I don't get it. It was a slice of life movie with a slightly misguided young guy. I really don't get it. No clue what the hoopla is all about.