Life just isn't valued any more. In nearly all ways, people just don't see the sacredness or importance of the most simple thing we have to call our own: LIFE.
How can we expect people treat animals, vegetation or ourselves with respect if they can't even show support after disasters such as earthquakes, tsunamis or volcanic eruptions. As the death/missing toll for the most recent disaster crosses into the thousands, all information I can find on the topic discusses economic issues, governmental issues or debt issues. People are seemingly missing the point that these are actual lives, lost, missing or flat-out taken.
Where the fuck is the compassion? Each and everyone one of these missing or dead people have had a mother and a father. Perhaps siblings, children of their own. Regardless of whether they were part of a workforce, whether they were thinkers, writers, teachers, philosophers, musicians, they had one thing in common: They were people. They were conscious beings, and a price cannot be placed on that.
This society is killing us all. Life is invaluable, and if it is dictated that we 'MUST' take into account financial issues, can it not wait for some form of normality to be restored? There are more urgent matters in life than money.
Unfortunately, speaking like this gets me the label of 'naive', and I am repeatedly told that I don't know what I'm talking about. Screw that. Life is the one certainty we have in this existence, and I'll be damned if I'm expected to stare at the TV and passively take in the streams of numbers and information like the consumer they want me to be. How jaded must our world be to care more about a bunch of paper notes which represent nothing more than a debt of something that doesn't even exist, and bypass the real issues that are screaming at us in our faces?
The sad fact is that, upon the occurrence of a natural disaster, prior to any concern over their people and their population, world leaders ask one question: "How much will this cost us?". As death tolls rise, the question changes to "Who can we borrow money from?", and eventually, once the world settles back down and other countries begin to forget about the initial disaster, we're all reminded of how terrible the event was by increased food and fuel prices, cheaper airline tickets and even more disequilibrium in power over countries.
In trying to assess damages, the dent in workforce is noted, not the loss of lives.
In trying to assess how much time will be needed to restore a country, costs are taken into account, not global grievance time.
In trying to 'help' a country ruined by devastation, old debts are brought up, bribes are given and people are forgotten.
Where the hell is humanity? When did we forget we are brethren, and care more about the weight in our pockets than the weight on our hearts?
HUMAN RACE, GET OFF YOUR FUCKING KNEES.
12/03/2011
06/03/2011
Day Two...
Sunday, Sunday, Sunday. I've had an overly unproductive day, but I still had a day to enjoy.
Spent some time relearning about Whisky today. Usquebaugh; The Water of Life.
It would appear that 3 ingredients compile to make whisky; Barley, Yeast and Water. Let's take it a little further.
Barley is a robust grain; it manages to grow in the hardy climes of Scotland. All over the terrain in this little nation, Barley grows. It grows in pains and on mountains; in the deepest valley and at some of the highest points all over the world. All it needs to ensure this (apart from it's soil), is the addition of water.
Whisky makers are particularly precious about the water they use in the production of the Spirit of Scotland, and so they should be. Water carries with it an endless history. From snow-melt, which may have been locked in a glacier for many thousands of years, to melt and drip through limestone, sandstone, and then to bubble up in places of granite and run down hills and be forced up, bubbling into streams. Draining through heather-lands, and nourishing the barley. Yes; water matters.
Then there's the peat, which is used in the malting process. Inexplicably aged peat. As a precursor to coal, this part-rotting vegetation and turf carries with it the essence of a long-gone era. Ages of history are stored in its dense, moist compounds, and are imparted on the malts when dried.
Then there are the barrels. American Oak casks, already used for Bourbon, or Sherry casks from the town of Jerez in Spain, the trees used for these casks are full of their own wonders and awesome feats. I mean, who doesn't love trees? Standing tall and towering over us with their history and sheer size, trees are truly magnificent. They are life's first altruism; pure life givers, overseeing many of our lifetimes in all but one of their own. Oxygenating us and removing our toxins, keeping us sheltered and providing for us what we cannot provide for ourselves. I do, really really, love trees. By the time Whisky makes the barrel, the wood can be decades old, and it shows its age by the richness of the wood it provides. After being filled with it's first liquid, the casks are then shipped to Scotland to be filled. They can be filled up to around 3 times. Bear in mind that in order for a spirit to be defined as 'Whisky' in Scotland, it legally has to be aged for at least 3 years (and is usually aged for between 8-25 years), 75 years of the woods' time is spent imparting its in-depth knowledge on it's close companion; hugging it and lulling it into an intoxicating sleep.
The relationships employed in the production of whisky are harmonious, beautiful, and entirely symbiotic.
I'm fully aware that this post is somewhat idiotic, and takes a rather large leap of mind to justify. Perhaps I shouldn't've had a dram with every page of my book.
Still, these are my thoughts.
Spent some time relearning about Whisky today. Usquebaugh; The Water of Life.
It would appear that 3 ingredients compile to make whisky; Barley, Yeast and Water. Let's take it a little further.
Barley is a robust grain; it manages to grow in the hardy climes of Scotland. All over the terrain in this little nation, Barley grows. It grows in pains and on mountains; in the deepest valley and at some of the highest points all over the world. All it needs to ensure this (apart from it's soil), is the addition of water.
Whisky makers are particularly precious about the water they use in the production of the Spirit of Scotland, and so they should be. Water carries with it an endless history. From snow-melt, which may have been locked in a glacier for many thousands of years, to melt and drip through limestone, sandstone, and then to bubble up in places of granite and run down hills and be forced up, bubbling into streams. Draining through heather-lands, and nourishing the barley. Yes; water matters.
Then there's the peat, which is used in the malting process. Inexplicably aged peat. As a precursor to coal, this part-rotting vegetation and turf carries with it the essence of a long-gone era. Ages of history are stored in its dense, moist compounds, and are imparted on the malts when dried.
Then there are the barrels. American Oak casks, already used for Bourbon, or Sherry casks from the town of Jerez in Spain, the trees used for these casks are full of their own wonders and awesome feats. I mean, who doesn't love trees? Standing tall and towering over us with their history and sheer size, trees are truly magnificent. They are life's first altruism; pure life givers, overseeing many of our lifetimes in all but one of their own. Oxygenating us and removing our toxins, keeping us sheltered and providing for us what we cannot provide for ourselves. I do, really really, love trees. By the time Whisky makes the barrel, the wood can be decades old, and it shows its age by the richness of the wood it provides. After being filled with it's first liquid, the casks are then shipped to Scotland to be filled. They can be filled up to around 3 times. Bear in mind that in order for a spirit to be defined as 'Whisky' in Scotland, it legally has to be aged for at least 3 years (and is usually aged for between 8-25 years), 75 years of the woods' time is spent imparting its in-depth knowledge on it's close companion; hugging it and lulling it into an intoxicating sleep.
The relationships employed in the production of whisky are harmonious, beautiful, and entirely symbiotic.
I'm fully aware that this post is somewhat idiotic, and takes a rather large leap of mind to justify. Perhaps I shouldn't've had a dram with every page of my book.
Still, these are my thoughts.
05/03/2011
First Post...
Well, wow. I haven't recorded a 'blog' since I was about 16. This is interesting.
My 'blog' (really uncomfortable with this word, for some reason), 'Thoughts For Another Time' has manifested itself for a number of reasons. The first would be that I love to write, and haven't allowed myself to do much of it lately. A second would be out of sheer ease after reading a note from somebody else and realising just how simple it is to get this up and running, and a third would be that sometimes, just sometimes, my thoughts are worth sharing. Oh, and I have a bit of spare time on my hands at the moment.
I don't see the need to tell you much about myself in an aesthetic manner, or even in a matter of lifespan. Thoughts have the ability to transcend most of the 'boxes' we place ourselves in now-a-days. They are both ageless and sexless; free and unrestrained, and for this, I am envious. I do so hope that you, on occasional times away from your far-too-busy schedule will find the time to take a browse over these thoughts and take from them whatever you like. This is, quite seriously, a form of meditation for me, you see, and anything further that comes from it is a pretty nice bonus.
Meditation? Yes. Thoughts have a tendency to fly through my head at ridiculous speeds, and I have a tendency to drop a lead as soon as something else pops up. Taking the time to type, helps me to focus in on a point, allows me to conduct research regarding a matter, and ultimately learn massive volumes of information. Learning is my favourite thing to do. It should be yours, too.
I have no intentions of preaching to you. For a start, preaching would get me nowhere, and even though I don't have an exact destination in mind, it's best to aim for something rather than nothing, right? But further to this, preaching is insulting. Not now, and not ever, have or will I need someone to tell me how to act, what to believe, when to speak or how to live. The most amazing learning experience that I have ever had is the one that you share with me, dear reader, and that is life. Teaching and preaching don't really work as methods of passing on information, do they?
Teaching begins from day one, and I have no qualms with teaching infants how to eat, speak or whatever in the formative years (well, I obviously do, but now isn't the time...). I refer mostly to the school system when I talk about 'bad teaching'. From day one of Nursery, School, Kindergarten or whatever, children are taught to be subservient, submissive and take everything as read. It wasn't until I was in my late teens that I was 'given permission' to question the information that was being given to me. As I'm sure you can tell, I didn't exactly wait for this permission, but the vast, VAST majority of the masses do, and they're lucky if they get even that.
Unfortunately, we're living in a system/society/man-made cesspit of misinformation, delusion and corruptness which requires it's inhabitants to be drones in order to function. One of the major problems is, of course, that it would seem the human race are more than happy to play along. We throw our young into the system as soon as possible (normally to allow the parents a speedy escape back into the workplace to earn more shiny tokens in order to further validate their lives...) and let them get on with it. Do you know what your kids learned at school today? And more importantly, is it even 'true'?
The point is; we need to learn for ourselves. We need to take the smarts, strengths and awareness we have as a race and use them to discover the truth. Truth about what? Anything you so desire. If you want to learn about elephants, go ahead. But just make sure you learn yourself. One textbook will not quench your thirst for learning, so don't let it. Find an article, published in a well-known and well-revered Journal, and question it. Don't allow yourself to be placated.
I'm learning. Everyday, actually. I learn about a medley of topics which interest me, and I don't let them limit my interests. It's a great way to be. I construct opposing arguments, learning everything there is to know on a topic before incorporating my views into the picture.
Here's where I started. This got me interested. I shall say no more, except: Find out for yourselves.
My 'blog' (really uncomfortable with this word, for some reason), 'Thoughts For Another Time' has manifested itself for a number of reasons. The first would be that I love to write, and haven't allowed myself to do much of it lately. A second would be out of sheer ease after reading a note from somebody else and realising just how simple it is to get this up and running, and a third would be that sometimes, just sometimes, my thoughts are worth sharing. Oh, and I have a bit of spare time on my hands at the moment.
I don't see the need to tell you much about myself in an aesthetic manner, or even in a matter of lifespan. Thoughts have the ability to transcend most of the 'boxes' we place ourselves in now-a-days. They are both ageless and sexless; free and unrestrained, and for this, I am envious. I do so hope that you, on occasional times away from your far-too-busy schedule will find the time to take a browse over these thoughts and take from them whatever you like. This is, quite seriously, a form of meditation for me, you see, and anything further that comes from it is a pretty nice bonus.
Meditation? Yes. Thoughts have a tendency to fly through my head at ridiculous speeds, and I have a tendency to drop a lead as soon as something else pops up. Taking the time to type, helps me to focus in on a point, allows me to conduct research regarding a matter, and ultimately learn massive volumes of information. Learning is my favourite thing to do. It should be yours, too.
I have no intentions of preaching to you. For a start, preaching would get me nowhere, and even though I don't have an exact destination in mind, it's best to aim for something rather than nothing, right? But further to this, preaching is insulting. Not now, and not ever, have or will I need someone to tell me how to act, what to believe, when to speak or how to live. The most amazing learning experience that I have ever had is the one that you share with me, dear reader, and that is life. Teaching and preaching don't really work as methods of passing on information, do they?
Teaching begins from day one, and I have no qualms with teaching infants how to eat, speak or whatever in the formative years (well, I obviously do, but now isn't the time...). I refer mostly to the school system when I talk about 'bad teaching'. From day one of Nursery, School, Kindergarten or whatever, children are taught to be subservient, submissive and take everything as read. It wasn't until I was in my late teens that I was 'given permission' to question the information that was being given to me. As I'm sure you can tell, I didn't exactly wait for this permission, but the vast, VAST majority of the masses do, and they're lucky if they get even that.
Unfortunately, we're living in a system/society/man-made cesspit of misinformation, delusion and corruptness which requires it's inhabitants to be drones in order to function. One of the major problems is, of course, that it would seem the human race are more than happy to play along. We throw our young into the system as soon as possible (normally to allow the parents a speedy escape back into the workplace to earn more shiny tokens in order to further validate their lives...) and let them get on with it. Do you know what your kids learned at school today? And more importantly, is it even 'true'?
The point is; we need to learn for ourselves. We need to take the smarts, strengths and awareness we have as a race and use them to discover the truth. Truth about what? Anything you so desire. If you want to learn about elephants, go ahead. But just make sure you learn yourself. One textbook will not quench your thirst for learning, so don't let it. Find an article, published in a well-known and well-revered Journal, and question it. Don't allow yourself to be placated.
I'm learning. Everyday, actually. I learn about a medley of topics which interest me, and I don't let them limit my interests. It's a great way to be. I construct opposing arguments, learning everything there is to know on a topic before incorporating my views into the picture.
Here's where I started. This got me interested. I shall say no more, except: Find out for yourselves.
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