My thoughts are often stirred by the selfish aims of certain businesses (and other conspiring parties) who show little regard for the consequences of their campaigns, nor for those who have to deal with the events that transpire thereafter. I've written countless letters to (supposedly qualified) decision makers over the years hoping that they might get a clue... Alas, the 'business-as-usual' theme continually rears its ugly head. Can we at least make an attempt at doing things responsibly? Hence, this page deals with a lot of ME-vents that defy categorizing elsewhere in this site.
On another note, I would rather exert energy on more positive ideas, and some of those musings are included here as well... For anyone who cares:
18 April 2011 - Regarding Tom McLintock's Proposal to
Divert More Water from Salmon to (Corporate) Farmers.
Honorable Tom McClintock, Chairman, Sub Committee on Water
and Power U.S. House of Representatives, 428 Cannon Bldg.
Washington DC 20515
Dear Congressman McClintock:
It is disturbing to see our elected officials showing a disregard for sound science that seeks to restore vital ecosystems that directly affect the welfare and economies of their respective areas. The health of Salmon, and other fisheries, are directly dependent on water flows, and all are suffering horribly with the lacking current policies in effect. Water flows are historically connected to the areas in which they presently exist and should rightly remain there!
Let's talk about farms: The San Joaquin Valley is being overrun by large corporate interests that are set on monopolizing the most basic forms of sustenance in the humble art of farming. It is sad to witness the plight of the traditional American farmers who are rapidly being bulldozed by 'legal' methods of acquisition. These same methods were used in the past to turn the once-lush Owens Valley farmland into a dustbowl - so LA could hose down their filthy sidewalks. Yes, farmers need water. And they also need better protection from big business that is destroying a time-honored and traditional way to make a living. It appears that the goal is to turn the San Joaquin Valley into one big (happy) corporate pollution zone. Yes, I know how they roll.
These corporations need to find another water source - a local one at that. If they cannot find the water they need locally, Don't Grow There! Simple. Go where the water is. There is a desalinization plant in Santa Barbara sitting idle right now. Call them up and get that thing running. Oh, it's too expensive? Well, what's the cost of having no water? Think about it.
1 April 2011 - Regarding Obama's Proposal to Further Weaken the EPA Pollution Standards:
2018 February Addendum: Wow! This was written back in '11, and I don't recall any real backlash to the President then... Now, look at how they're trying to paint the current one as the worst thing since Fukushima!
I have long held that Pollution = Profits. Throughout history, manufacturing (and industry in general) has been carrying on with little regard for the (toxic, infectious, radioactive) waste products it generates, or its impact on human health. Sure, some efforts have been made (with encouraging results too - Lake Erie?), but only when lawsuits or other penalties are being brought forth to enforce it. It's all about money. Let somebody else deal with this mess after I've made mine and retired. This mentality is still prevalent not only in 3rd world nations, but established ones as well (China?). The effects of this negligence are well-documented (Love Canal? The Glow Girls?). And it is always the few (polluters) that spoil it for the rest of us (dealing with it).
It is highly contradictory that the current US Administration, which seems bent on rewarding some of the most worthless (ie. unproductive and/or unmotivated) members of society with money taken from hard-working citizens (here and elsewhere) - NOW wants to poison them by relaxing pollution controls. Not a very hopeful trend to say the least Nature has yet to recover from the past (and present) discretions. There needs to be SMARTER controls already. Wake up!
And what about that money? Seems like the short-term solution bending to the corporate pressure (pollution = profits...) is bound to cost more in the long run than it saves. Oh what's another Trillion, just a drop in the bucket? Oh that's right, somebody else gets to deal with that. More pollution will also necessarily increase the number of patients needing FREE Health Care? More likely than not, those living in densely populated areas are bound to bear the brunt of this poisonous proposal. The numbers of people dying from polluted environments around the globe should be a(n anvil on the head) clue. I've read that about one quarter of the world's diseases stem from environmental pollution. So, I have another equation to think about: Environmental Pollution = Poor Public Health. Or is that part of the plan too?
Sent to Obama's Staff
26 March 2011 - Regarding the Renewed Proposal to Drill for Oil in the Arctic:
I agree that we need to cut the umbilical cord to Arab Nations who are getting fat on our dependency to them, and likely funding counter-US parties in the process. It's a bad relationship that the oil companies seem to cherish because it's quite evident they don't give a rat's ass about the welfare of the US. I don't have an issue with the desire to make a good profit (Capitalism isn't all bad), but it should not come at huge expense to everyone else. And I mean everyone. Animals have some basic inalienable rights too, and in the grand design we as humans are no better (or more important) than they.
Some will argue that Nature promotes survival of the fittest. This principle is easily observed in all areas of Life. And I agree that it is part of the grand design. It works well when we let Nature take care of itself. The problem is: we keep messing it up further. And how fit are we going to be when the planet is no longer inhabitable? Somewhere someone is proclaiming, Save the Cockroaches! If we are in fact selfish, then let's think about saving ourselves.
Destroying precious remnants of suitable habitat (like areas we have wisely set aside as parks and refuges) has proven detrimental not only to the original inhabitants (animals), but ultimately to people too. No matter what the Corporate Lobbyists say, we as humans have impacted Life on this planet dramatically and are continuing to do so at an appalling pace. Most of that impact indicates that we have done more harm than good. The current status of salmon and all the oceans' decimated fish populations (cod, tuna, swordfish anyone?) is just one clear example of how humans only stop doing something when it's getting to the point of 'too late to save it now'. Nature needs spaces clear of human development to do its thing. We need to respect the few remaining 'wild' spaces and realize that we are also saving ourselves in the process. Haven't we done more than enough damage already? It's time to clean up this mess, not create more! I see these 'warm and fuzzy' TV Ads depicting happy people and animals living in perfect harmony paid for by some super-power energy giant. Really? Do people put up massive PR campaigns aimed at making citizens believe they are doing good things for everyone? People DO.
Sent to Obama's Staff... who really cares about people and the environment.
24 March 2011 - Snow in Tahoe?
Enough. Just drove home in blinding snow that was about 2 feet deep on the highway and was glad to make it home. It has been snowing every day here for about... 2 wks. As this is usually the time when Winter starts thinking about taking a vacation, most folks (including me) are ready for those first signs of Spring - buds forming on the willows, birds singing in the trees, dripping icicles on the roof edges, open spaces of pine needles, runoff in the drains. Aaah...
As a fisherman, I do appreciate having all the snow pack for the life it brings (in its many forms) to the rivers and lakes. And as an aware (I think) life form, it's nice to know we're not going to run out of water for at least another year. BUT, as a person who's been clearing their driveway 2-3X per day(!) and driving with a bunch of idiots who haven't even learned to drive sanely on dry roads yet, patience starts to wear a bit thin.
I currently have about 10 feet of snow lining my driveway and it's getting hard to find a place to put all the new stuff coming in. I am not a snow hoarder! If anybody wants to come and take some away, I think we have more than we need! And I think sharing can be good.
25 February 2011 - White Gold
I awoke to the sound of avalanche cannons at 4:30am today. Loud booms rumbled and echoed from Christmas* Valley throughout the Tahoe Basin for over an hour sounding a bit like an air raid. I imagined that being awoken by the sound of cannon-fire must have been a terrifying experience back in WWII. And those sounds usually did not remain a distant phenomenon, they were all around destroying buildings and homes occupied by your family, friends and neighbours. To know that some local employee was likely having a bit of fun sending thunderous cascades of snow down from treacherous peaks as a safety measure was comforting. And discomforting knowing that I probably would not get back to sleep after only 5hours of it... But that's not really all that bad is it? Things could be a lot worse. And I've begrudgingly functioned on less
Snow is the white gold for Tahoe. During Winter, it brings throngs of adrenalin-seekers to the ski/board-ing slopes and fills the local establishments with clientele to help keep businesses in business. In Summer, the cyan-clear waters of Lake Tahoe and it's crown of awe-inspiring peaks draw boaters, hikers and fisher-folks for fresh air and exercise in what truly is world-class scenery. Some places throw the term world class around with overly zealous bravado, but Tahoe really deserves it. I've traveled around a bit, and Tahoe ranks right up near the top of the best scenery chart. I guess I'm digressing a bit. The bottom line is: Water, in all its forms, is precious for Tahoe.
And it's precious for everyone isn't it? I've driven down Hwy 395 several times and it is a beautiful stretch of sweeping panoramas. But, the Owens Valley has always pulled a heart string since its dusty plain is a sad reminder of the phrase, Water is for fighting. This arid place was once a lush, verdant farm land. And let's face it, we do need more farms to feed the exploding population trend.
And we need more farms that are privately owned. Corporate (Gov't) farms are rampant and it smacks entirely of control. I think it's been demonstrated all too well how badly things go when they try to control everything. Imagine that, they'll be in charge of the laughable border, health care (including their own golden self-serving policies), legally and responsibly owned firearms (can't control the illegal ones), puppet leaders in foreign countries, school budgets/ cuts, etc... And now they want to regulate who can grow food, how much, and how much you get? Let's not even get into the pricing schedule. Someone told me the other day, it is now illegal to privately grow your own vegetables. They said that someone had already been charged with this heinous crime. What could be more healthy and natural than having a garden in the yard? I can't see this being a good thing no matter what legal-smegal spin they try to put on it. Farmers need huge tax credits - even better than those enjoyed by Corporate cohorts - to maintain this noble and needed profession. And if Joe Neighbour wants to grow some peas and carrots, I'm all for it. I like asparagus..
At 6am, I finally get out of bed and get the Sumatra brewing. There's a lot of snow to clear out of the driveway. It is beautiful to behold the mountains, trees & rocks lining streambeds blanketed with brilliant white highlights. But beholding a shovel for a few hours loses its charm when you've been doing this for days in a row. Snow pack is essential for the ecosystem. Plants and animals (fish! Hello!), depend on it for swollen spring rivers and creeks to keep everything hydrated. But I like white gold in its liquid state best... Can't wait for Spring!
7 September 2010 - CA vs CA (Canada vs California)
While driving to ORegon, I had time to reflect upon some of the (million) things that had transpired since moving to Canada, living there for 2 years, traveling around the globe and returning to renovate our house in Tahoe:
I do miss a lot of things about Canada; the great people, music, our 1913 character house dialed-in for comfort, the close proximity of everything in Winnipeg, affordable health care, my favourite 50's diner where one could get a colossal breakfast for $5, and finally the fly fishing club and all the great trips they planned. Through all the moving, unpacking and renovation projects, scenes of the life I had left behind kept entering my thoughts - replaying like some dream-like slide show. Yes, I'll make a go of it again in California though a part of me will likely always remain in Canada.
Canada is great, but California does have a bit of an edge when it comes to variety of food and drink. For example, there are no Mexican restaurants in Winnipeg that come close to even the simplest family-run burrito shop here. If you want French, well they might have an edge up there. So, cheaper spirits and car insurance are to be had, and our house here offers twice the space (big plus) to move around in. The quiet woods that surrounded it were a far cry from the noisy sounds of a city like Winnipeg. And there were also the people who had welcomed us back with arms more open than I could have imagined. Our friends even threw a party in celebration. And I played some tunes with my long time partner in crime, Randy. When considering what's really important, it always comes down to the people.
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