Friday, February 27, 2009
Such Powerful Words
A veteran was talking on the radio today about how he would love to own a farm, and how he felt that using a shovel to farm is as empowering as using a weapon at war. He also said that he would like to return to Iraq one day, but rather as a farmer and not as a soldier. I was really touched!
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
Conversation Anyone?
Ten years ago, my friends and I used to go to the local coffee shop for a good conversation. These conversations frequently spread to include strangers too. Rules were unspoken, really, but everyone seemed to know that they were always welcome to join in our conversation. It was a friendly place to be. Of course, we may never see them again. Hmmm, wait a minute! Is this starting to look like an intellectual one-night-stand? I guess it is. Is that so bad?
I must admit that I am missing this sort of instant conversation. You'd think that they are not too hard to come across, right? Starbucks and other coffee shops are on every corner and almost always full. But it is different. These conversations are getting harder and harder. Why?
My first blame goes to computers and cell phones. Everyone is at the coffee shop with their computers/cellphones looking busy and unapproachable. I can never tell if they are laughing about a joke that we are making or an email they just received.
Then, people usually go to a coffee shop either alone or as a couple. That's a problem! Think about it, if you are alone at a coffee shop, chances are you are not going to start a conversation by yourself, you are not likely to interrupt others' conversation - although some do, and I admire them for that. A couple is even worse. A couple at a coffee shop is inert and self sufficient. Most of the times, it feels like an intrusion to ask them for an extra seat at their table, let alone strike a conversation with them.
Finally, the environment at coffee shops has changed. Naturally, coffee shops are in it for the profit, and so they need the speedy turnaround. If you walk into a coffee shop, you will not find those cosy leather couches and arm chair surrounding a "coffee table" anymore. You will find tables for two, maybe a cosy chair or two by the fireplace, and maybe a table for four. Even if you try to join several tables together to seat a number of friends, you will end up blocking passages and creating a mess.
So, no coffee shops, got it! But if I am yearning for one of my good old intellectual one-night-stands, where should I go?
I must admit that I am missing this sort of instant conversation. You'd think that they are not too hard to come across, right? Starbucks and other coffee shops are on every corner and almost always full. But it is different. These conversations are getting harder and harder. Why?
My first blame goes to computers and cell phones. Everyone is at the coffee shop with their computers/cellphones looking busy and unapproachable. I can never tell if they are laughing about a joke that we are making or an email they just received.
Then, people usually go to a coffee shop either alone or as a couple. That's a problem! Think about it, if you are alone at a coffee shop, chances are you are not going to start a conversation by yourself, you are not likely to interrupt others' conversation - although some do, and I admire them for that. A couple is even worse. A couple at a coffee shop is inert and self sufficient. Most of the times, it feels like an intrusion to ask them for an extra seat at their table, let alone strike a conversation with them.
Finally, the environment at coffee shops has changed. Naturally, coffee shops are in it for the profit, and so they need the speedy turnaround. If you walk into a coffee shop, you will not find those cosy leather couches and arm chair surrounding a "coffee table" anymore. You will find tables for two, maybe a cosy chair or two by the fireplace, and maybe a table for four. Even if you try to join several tables together to seat a number of friends, you will end up blocking passages and creating a mess.
So, no coffee shops, got it! But if I am yearning for one of my good old intellectual one-night-stands, where should I go?
Monday, February 23, 2009
Chronicles of The Bitchin' Trio: Ah, The Good Old Dating Days
At the gym, there is a group of girlfriends who work out together and bitch their brains out about their dates and about men in general. I have seen them a number of times already, but this looks like it is going to be an ongoing thing, and so I am all prepared to help mankind learn from their experience.
Day 1: "men like bitches" You can't treat men nicely. So let's say your boyfriend calls you, don't answer. Send a txt message or two but don't spoil him by giving him the illusion that you are eager to talk. Also, boyfriend taking two jobs is a no no no. He can take the second job, but he won't see her anymore.
Day 2: Men don't listen should be given only two chances to act on a woman's requests. If she needs to ask a third time, then there is no point in sticking around. "A man not listening that early in a relationship is not a good sign".
Sunday, February 22, 2009
Movie Review: Where On Earth is Osama Bin Laden?
Not at all what I expected, but interesting movie.
I expected more of the Michael Moore style, I suppose. A lot of facts, shutting doors, exposing those at the top...etc. Which would have been interesting, but this one was different.
It was about someone who is about to become a father. He starts worrying about how to best protect his unborn child. One of his biggest worries is terrorism, and so he decides to end that by finally finding Bin Laden.
He travels through out the middle east and on to Afghanistan, Pakistan. In each country, he stops and asks average people on the street where they think Bin Laden is, and how they see the United States.
At the end of his trip, which was full of adventure, he realizes that since terrorism is everywhere, and no country is really safe from it, then even if he catches Bin Laden, it wouldn't make any difference.
A very mellow approach compared to what I was expecting.
It is funny that he starts his trip in Egypt. Egypt's friendliness didn't fail him. He interviews people, he is invited to their houses, met with a smile and open arms. They even mentioned on several occasions that they love the Americans, but it is rather the American policy that they resist.
Of course, Egypt is not exempt from terrorist attacks. A bomb went off in the middle of Cairo today. While extremely sad, it is still very mild when compared to what the rest of the region is seeing.
Throughout his trip, most countries met him with equal friendliness. The exceptions were: Israel, where no one wanted to talk to him except the police, and one lady; Saudi Arabia, where people were terrified of him (or perhaps their destiny if they were to talk); and Afghanistan where people were happy to talk to him, but the conversation was interrupted because extremists started attacking.
The reaction of Israelis and Saudis was particularly shocking to me. I would have guessed that they would be the first to opt in and extend their hospitality. Of course, I don't know what he said to them in the first place to generate this strong reaction. Perhaps I need to learn more about this region.
Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nnBt2nH_FF8
I expected more of the Michael Moore style, I suppose. A lot of facts, shutting doors, exposing those at the top...etc. Which would have been interesting, but this one was different.
It was about someone who is about to become a father. He starts worrying about how to best protect his unborn child. One of his biggest worries is terrorism, and so he decides to end that by finally finding Bin Laden.
He travels through out the middle east and on to Afghanistan, Pakistan. In each country, he stops and asks average people on the street where they think Bin Laden is, and how they see the United States.
At the end of his trip, which was full of adventure, he realizes that since terrorism is everywhere, and no country is really safe from it, then even if he catches Bin Laden, it wouldn't make any difference.
A very mellow approach compared to what I was expecting.
It is funny that he starts his trip in Egypt. Egypt's friendliness didn't fail him. He interviews people, he is invited to their houses, met with a smile and open arms. They even mentioned on several occasions that they love the Americans, but it is rather the American policy that they resist.
Of course, Egypt is not exempt from terrorist attacks. A bomb went off in the middle of Cairo today. While extremely sad, it is still very mild when compared to what the rest of the region is seeing.
Throughout his trip, most countries met him with equal friendliness. The exceptions were: Israel, where no one wanted to talk to him except the police, and one lady; Saudi Arabia, where people were terrified of him (or perhaps their destiny if they were to talk); and Afghanistan where people were happy to talk to him, but the conversation was interrupted because extremists started attacking.
The reaction of Israelis and Saudis was particularly shocking to me. I would have guessed that they would be the first to opt in and extend their hospitality. Of course, I don't know what he said to them in the first place to generate this strong reaction. Perhaps I need to learn more about this region.
Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nnBt2nH_FF8
I Hate Bombs!
What is the purpose of mass destruction anywyas?
It kills innocent people, why?
It destroys beautiful history and architecture, why?
It ruins memories, why?
WHY?
What a shame.
Those who created them should be ashamed. But those who trade them and those who use them should be....I don't even know what to say. Much as I would want to bomb them, I figure it would be a very cheap way to do it. They may even take pride in being bombed.
I suppose that if it were up to me, I would first have them rebuild what they have ruined of schools, houses, monuments, streets, hospitals...etc by their own hands and with their own money. Then, I would have the families of those killed by their bombs decide their destiny hoping that they wouldn't be too merciful.
Thursday, February 19, 2009
Drugs? Are You Joking?
So the price of cocaine is down. The penalty for carrying marijuana has been reduced. The government has been cutting money to rehab centers knowing that relapse will drive addicts to crime to get money. Of course, the government is not cutting off money for the fun of it, they just don't have the money to keep these centers fully functional.
Still, is it me, or is there something extremely...well, wrong with this picture?
Links:
Decriminalizing Marijuana
Governor Chris Gregoire on budget cuts, including rehab funds
Falling Cocaine Prices - Yahoo News
More About cocaine - BBC
Still, is it me, or is there something extremely...well, wrong with this picture?
Links:
Decriminalizing Marijuana
Governor Chris Gregoire on budget cuts, including rehab funds
Falling Cocaine Prices - Yahoo News
More About cocaine - BBC
No GMO? How Do You Know?
First, I will try to explain the difference between genetically modified and genetically engineered.
Farmers have been genetically modifying foods for centuries to enhance/eliminate certain features. Without genetic modification, we wouldn't have nectarines, apricots, grapefruit, seedless grapes, the incredible varieties of apples, corn, oranges...this list is very long.
As simple as possible, the way genetic modification works, most of the time, is to take a branch of one fruit and stick it in the tree of another. Why they did it? To fight certain disease or fungus, to improve/eliminate certain traits. Now take out a big magnifying lens and look at this process inside the seed/cell. A scientist sitting in a lab goes through the DNA of a seed and snips it part way through to introduce part of something else's DNA. It may be a plant or an animal or any old organism that carries the desired trait. That would be genetically engineered.
In this country, there is no FDA requirement to include genetic information on food labels. However, now it is becoming a "fashion" to include the term "no GMO" on the package somewhere. Instead of GMO, the package may also say no GMI, GMF, GEI, GEF, or GEO. It is a selling point for those who are more aware of these terms. Of course, they can sell their products at a higher price by adding this information.
What is so bad about genetically engineered ingredients anyways? In reality, nothing, because there is no research to show that it is good or bad for certain. It is this uncertainty that is worrying people. Genetically engineered foods have been blamed for allergies, cancers, and disorders to name a few. Maybe, it is true, maybe not. I don't know. Genetic engineering has also been responsible for the success of certain fruits and vegetable in unfamiliar climates, which provided food to countries that otherwise would have suffered drastically from lack of food. Is this a good thing or a bad thing? That would be one big debate for another blog.
OK, back to the point for this blog, how could a company know to say for sure that their products contain no genetically modified or genetically engineered ingredients? I can almost guarantee that there is no way for them to tell if their ingredients are genetically modified. How about genetically engineered? The problem is that cross pollination takes its course, this is nature, and there is hardly any way to control it.
So, companies out there that are so proud of their non-genetically engineered/modified ingredients, how do you know?
I have sent emails to several companies asking them how they knew, and no one ever answered me. I also asked a local farmer, and he too had nothing to say.
Links:
Wikipedia's defenition of Genetically Modified Food
The Future of Food DVD
Farmers have been genetically modifying foods for centuries to enhance/eliminate certain features. Without genetic modification, we wouldn't have nectarines, apricots, grapefruit, seedless grapes, the incredible varieties of apples, corn, oranges...this list is very long.
As simple as possible, the way genetic modification works, most of the time, is to take a branch of one fruit and stick it in the tree of another. Why they did it? To fight certain disease or fungus, to improve/eliminate certain traits. Now take out a big magnifying lens and look at this process inside the seed/cell. A scientist sitting in a lab goes through the DNA of a seed and snips it part way through to introduce part of something else's DNA. It may be a plant or an animal or any old organism that carries the desired trait. That would be genetically engineered.
In this country, there is no FDA requirement to include genetic information on food labels. However, now it is becoming a "fashion" to include the term "no GMO" on the package somewhere. Instead of GMO, the package may also say no GMI, GMF, GEI, GEF, or GEO. It is a selling point for those who are more aware of these terms. Of course, they can sell their products at a higher price by adding this information.
What is so bad about genetically engineered ingredients anyways? In reality, nothing, because there is no research to show that it is good or bad for certain. It is this uncertainty that is worrying people. Genetically engineered foods have been blamed for allergies, cancers, and disorders to name a few. Maybe, it is true, maybe not. I don't know. Genetic engineering has also been responsible for the success of certain fruits and vegetable in unfamiliar climates, which provided food to countries that otherwise would have suffered drastically from lack of food. Is this a good thing or a bad thing? That would be one big debate for another blog.
OK, back to the point for this blog, how could a company know to say for sure that their products contain no genetically modified or genetically engineered ingredients? I can almost guarantee that there is no way for them to tell if their ingredients are genetically modified. How about genetically engineered? The problem is that cross pollination takes its course, this is nature, and there is hardly any way to control it.
So, companies out there that are so proud of their non-genetically engineered/modified ingredients, how do you know?
I have sent emails to several companies asking them how they knew, and no one ever answered me. I also asked a local farmer, and he too had nothing to say.
Links:
Wikipedia's defenition of Genetically Modified Food
The Future of Food DVD
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