Saw the picture...Couldnt resist.

One ring to rule them all

Pictures of the ring that came down in the family.

Israel conflict

So its the day after we created a mini big bang. Now what?

When the going gets weird, the weird turn pro

Hunter S Thompson

So, its a warm Tuesday morning after scientist have accomplished what some would say as a work of god. Scientist yesterday, generated a 'mini big bang'.

I am starting to think I may be saying this far too often, but these are strange days we live in.

Black holes of unemployment. Random missile appears over southern California void of an explanation. President spending a conquest budget for a trip to Asia. One of the most rural countries in the world,Yemen is allegedly trying to kill us westerners, by sending printers with suspicious powders on them.

And we just keep going, some of us with our heads beneath the sand, and some of us conscientiously watch the events unfold as we chew we are nails awaiting what wacky event will befall us next.

Yesterday I watched a video of a Lord from the UK who explained to the British government, that he is contact with an organization, not just any organization, but a secret organization. I could smell the cold blooded scales all over this as he elaborated, 'This group wishes to pay off more than 75 Billion dollars of the UKs debt, no strings attached.

This organization x is something to keep an eye on, the elite do not just give away money, not without an expectation of a favor to be paid back. We all remember the financial crisis of 2008, when we watched our Govt's bail out the big companies. Government Motors?

Well now it seems maybe, a group is possibly doing the same thing. Maybe certain financial doom is in our future and the only way to sustain the social contract would be to literally sell it to the reptiles.

Who knows?

Its too damn early, the gut rot is getting to me.

Just had to write something this morning.

Talk about touchy.

If there is one thing that constantly stalks my thoughts, it's the Israel/Palestinian controversy.
So many opinions, too many sides to an already "Too-big issue". Is it really a religious dispute or does it reach much farther than we perceive? Is it all politics and regional control and intimidation? Might I suggest, as mentioned, are factors in the "Too-big issue".

Yet, what am I to do. The young adult from Canada, just sickened by the pictures I see. And sure, some might suggest, you could find disturbing images in western societies. But, Never have I ever walked down the street and been prosecuted right out for my "assumed" beliefs. Who am I to say something is wrong? Right?

I am only a college student in Ontario, in the suburbs of Toronto, also known as the GTA (Greater Toronto Area). I don't experience sniper towers or threats of security forces taking my or a loved ones children hostage, to cowardly use as a shield. That is not my world. That is not my reality. Yet, the images I see haunt the deep realms of my heart. I often use empathy before radical doubt to analyze a situation, one that is social anyways. Lets put my self in the shoes of a Jewish settler. And not even one of the extreme, just a casual citizen of Israel that has immigrated there with in the last 50 years. I would imagine they take great pride in both their faith and their culture, as everyone in this world has the right too. They as many groups of faith and culture, mourn and remember the unforgettable past. I would see the high light of my past as the holocaust, as it was then the focus of persecution was essentially realized on a global scale.(And even as they taught us in my catholic school, the holocaust has taught us how the world requires tolerance and that everyone has an objective value with its self should be treasured and respected.)
I would take pride and display confidence in the arrival of my fellow comrades in a place we could call our own...A mother land.And every time I would think of my mother land, I would think of the United Nations and the American government. For their great contribution and dedication to the place we would call home would be only be possible all because of them. Every time I would think of my past I would think back to the historical global event that the entire world reached out and aided a victim of genocide. Even though, their views were not directly related to the views of the jewish community, they were evidently aware of what was right and was wrong.And with that I would be thankful, for every one on this planet, regardless of who they were. For it was the actions of those who were aware of what was right and what wrong, that made the example for which a state aided by the same people should be ran. And everyday I would wake up and thank thy almighty god for those of every race and faction, for it is a sign, that regardless of what was right and wrong, or certain or uncertain, that we are all in this together.

Yes, that is how I see the average person, and if I was a Jewish settler, those would be my thoughts... I would imagine, then again I have not been subjected to the cultural conditioning and they don't have Christmas there, so I am clueless really.

I can now try the same exercise, but from the Arab citizen with in Israel or even Gaza and or the west bank.

My first immediate instinct as the same for Israeli's, is the overwhelming sense of pride. I also imagine that I would be brought up everyday, praising Allah before all others and be thankful for the gift of life let alone a family if it were applicable. Yet after the pride and culture shock of being an arab in what else but another western occupied land, my immediate instinct would be, I have nothing possessive. Maybe a few physical things that I could carry dear to my heart and could be transported by hand easily, I also think about the scrutiny I would face from opposing forces and the people that currently occupy the land, which my ancestors would have lived comfortably on. Yet, my heart, along with the grace of Allah would tell me to love all humans and aid my understanding that all would be judged individually. However I feel my surrounding would expose me to the radical ideas of those who understand what is "right" and what is "wrong". I would fight my instinct to oppose them, yet their reasoning and explanation for their radical ideas seem so pristine, followed with even some of the teachings in my holy book, it would all make sense to fight and even possibly kill.

It is much easier for me to put my self in the shoes or sandals of a jewish settler versus an arab who has occupied the land for such a measurable time. I believe there is the possibility for peace in the land of the holy. Yet, the forces that be will always use the rude sense of reality to manipulate peoples opinions whether they are a few miles of a monumental event or thousands of kilometers from an unspoken murder fest.

Oh, how the wind speaks multitudes.

It's a chilly one tonight, as is my Budweiser. Been home for about an hour, since my arrival, I have done nothing but shower and chug back a few beers. Sometimes I think to my self. 'Is it bad, I come home and one of my priorities is to have a cold one?' 'Am I going to far, by having a few drinks by my self.' However sip by sip, I relentlessly put all the negativity to disposal. This is life, not TV. I mean, if I really had a problem, for one, I would have not bought beer. It would be a major error in the ways of a 'true' alcy. To be honest I haven't even touched my petite baggy of sub-china greenery. Not now, not yet. Soon. Oddly enough, its one of the only substances in the world, where a user can sit with it in front of them, and actually wait for use, in the hopes they wont waste a trip contrary to crack, which doesnt last 5 minutes in the hands of its user. But enough about the substance abuse.

Well today would be the conclusion of my 'first week' of school (considering how slack frosh week was). If there is one thing for certain, it's the morale I have for school. I can't even imagine my self in high school, let alone grade school, yet my mother would assure you I did a 180 and rocketed 100 feet in the air. But eh, now I'm just another student, no special treatment, fair game all around.

I feel as if the characters I meet in my classes are a mysterious bunch. I am use to predicting peoples habits or attitudes, yet this journalism crowd, they are a hard bunch, or at least some of them. I often find my self questioning other peoples knowledge or at least observing how ignorant they are. Usually a few sentences is all it takes, yet once again, these are a mysterious bunch. When questions are asked in class, it is rare to hear a voice, at least when we aren't talking about shenanigans and pot. But is that possibly better? I mean they are journalists students, they should be listening not talking...right?

If there is one thing I feel like I have come to grounds with, is the category of journalism some of the students are attempting to get into. The first and most obvious, is the sports guys, the ones who want to be on TSN and will watch every reply in full attentiveness. Which is I suppose on its own, a real career. However, the thought of following a puck/ball/pigskin or whatever it is and having to remember hundreds of redundant names and numbers, many of which will disappear with in a few years of play in a serious league. It takes more than balls and men in shorts to get me in the mood to write a 'good' story. However, in case a truly human element falls in to play, like an unlikely duo doing something for the good a community, maybe just maybe I can cut and form into something print worthy. But as I was alluding to, I am more of a bullets flew, secret endorsement exposed, revolutionary 'gang'( I know, super hypocritical, but its how they will be displayed regardless of my opinion) threatens to hijack peaceful protest, kind of journalist.
Of course there is the caked up dames ready for the tv, if only they knew how to speak. But kudos to them, they've made it this far, who knows maybe one day the will be a colleague of mine.
But then there is the truly down to earth people like my self. Some outspoken- some quiet as hell, and with reason. I too would be full of anxiety and and enormously shy, if it weren't for the luxury of meeting someone so like my self during orientation. I must confess, I molded into the college scene easily. Which I can credit to my new attitude for introducing my self professionally to everyone (which I will have to do one day.) I am the anxiety type, under the right conditions. However as of late, I have felt obligated to preparing my self for possible awkward situations with others.

Which is very easy to do, when you are stoned off your tree in a college environment. I must admit, after years of indulging the herb, I have mastered decieving those around me, that I am just as level as everyone else (taking in the consideration that the counterpart is not as big of user as of my self.) Some may call me silly, some may say I should prioritize. However I feel it is an excellent way to mend your mind to dealing with difficult human interactions.

I desire more nights like this, crisp clean air, whisked by the wind, helplessly finding its self in your breathing path. Sure it's cold, but I have a redundant amount of sweaters amassed in my closet and god knows how high the heap of toques and winters hats truly is. One thing I notice since the void of working in a warehouse. Is my appetite for music has came back. As saddening as it is to say, I have departed deeply from my rhythmic pass. I feel as if I have listened to it all, which is certainly not true, which is why I find my self, looking for new music, but music that relates to what I have listened and enjoyed in the past.

I guess I will have to invest in an mp3, for these next few months need a soundtrack indefinitely.

Nine years later, one problem, one solution.

Once again the memories from that tragic day nearly a decade ago, are remembered and lives lost honored. Churches filled, school children in assembly, workers in a moment of silence and some victims family member making a private prayer, asking how its only been nine years. Of course it goes with out saying, there are still those who empathize with those who have been hurt (some them selves are ones who have been hurt), yet the struggle for more of an answer will never parish. The questions will not fall like the towers did. The trivia will not disappear like the plane from the pentagon.

It seems the further away we move from the events of that fateful 2001 that bush Jr first took office, we also become more distant from the explanation. The only product that has come from 911, is two wars, a media collection turned on its rear end and the inevitable desensitization of a nation or a collection of nations for that matter.

I often think...

"Here it is. This article could easily be the precursor to the next war. It's ready to blow."

And yes. It is true, it is most likely the product of the fear mongering. Though I can't help but think: did Generation X experience this? I mean what about the baby boomers? They were brought up on the cold war, should they not be expecting a massive world wide religion-nation war that would reach every corner of the planet?

Though this is not the 60's. Protests no longer end peacefully (with the exception of the events in Ohio.)

This is not the 70's. Protests got violent in the 70's but was most definitely teen angst and mob mentality based. Though some would argue, this was the true enlightening era, with the beginning of the moon landing skeptics and the fateful day JFK took the last ride in a convertible...Ever.

This is not the 80's. This is the one era that I see closely resembling of the last 9 years. We had the Persian gulf war, which in retrospect was very much blanketed by many useless reasons much like ours, and it was the conflict between the Russians and the Afghan militants. However it is easily comprehensive that Americans were doing business. And not just doing business, but making business. Creating a client, one that would eventually return to haunt them (or so we were told).

It is 27 minutes to 12, where it will no longer be the anniversary of that fateful event. If there is one thing I ask of anyone tonight, or in the future on remembrance of that wretched day - Remember, it was not about me, you, your parents, Americans, Afghans, Iraqi's, President Bush, Obama, Jews, Muslims, Christians. No.
Just think about what those who died that day, would want for the world today.

Would they want a war in Afghanistan?

Would they approve of the invasion of Iraq?

How would they feel about Israel's invasive and demeaning actions towards Arabs?

How would they feel if you told them 4000+ Americans have died in the justification of their own victimized death.

Well, we don't know. This is certain. But we can all use a little empathy, specifically in situations as such.
Rest in Peace, Truth will be known.
You will be justified.