Bluish Green Eyed Guero In VanCity

Lost in TransLation............

2008-02-20T02:26:00.000-08:00

Above: Suntory Yamazaki 12 Year Old Single Malt Whisky (Silver Medal, 2007 San Francisco World Spirits Competition & Gold Medal, 2006 Beverage Tasting Institute [93 point rating])

So there I was,travelling thru southern Asia accompanied by my Mexican girlfriend,bitten by a hidden obsession to find a bottle of Japan's fermented jewels,Suntory Whiskey.Luckily,while travelling back to Shanghai,mainland China via Kuala Lumpur,Malaysia I found this 12 Year old just sitting in a duty free shop.Regrettfully I have yet to act out Bob Harris (Bill Murray) in Lost in Translation and say these few words......."For relaxing times,make it Suntory time. "

Dog Fighting

2007-06-28T21:55:00.003-07:00

above:look at this face........a smiling American Pitbull Terrier male.

First off,yes,it's true that dogs were placed in rings to fight bulls during the Roman Empire Times.Hence the supposed origin of the name given to the Pitbull breed.The origin of this breed is still debated,although some speculate that the breed is largely unchanged and the breed is the "pure" bulldog of old.Bull Baiting events were large and fairly expensive,therefore bulldog dog fighting patiently waited along side yet to be exploited by man.

The poor people of England and Ireland started to focus on dog fights because they were cheaper, easier to stage, and easier to hide (it was made illegal along with bull baiting in 1875) from authorities.During the times of Irish transplantation into American society many Pitbull Terrier/Staffordshire Terrier breeds were brought over.A handfull of these immigrants became pioneers in the genesis of the American Pitbull Terrier breed.But yet again dog fighting became a staple in the social threadwork,this time in the east coast of the American states.

Despite their misuse the American Pit Bull Terrier is still a truly versatile canine that continues to astonish people with their ability to adapt and overcome anything that is asked of them.Dog fighting, bear baiting, and other barbaric acts of cruelty while still very much alive and well show only a small portion of the APBT's true ability. Modern Pit Bulls have proved they are not only good at fighting, but they excel at just about anything their people put in front of them. Whether it is their running agility,ability of pulling weights in excess of 2,000 lbs, working cattle, earning obedience titles or catching hogs, American Pit Bull Terriers are far more than fighting dogs.

Agility, protection sports, obedience, therapy dogs, search and rescue dogs, drug and bomb detection dogs, are all activities the modern American Pit Bull Terrier excels at.A large part of their history is made up of blood and battle. This is not something to shrink away from as a fancier of the breed. Their history should be embraced, understood, and once we have a full understanding, we can control the future.

Purists who think they are "only good for fighting" need to wake up and smell the coffee. Change will happen and fighting and blood sports is the first place we should focus our efforts.

Cocaine in the air in Italy?

2007-05-31T21:31:00.000-07:00

An Italian scientific study has found particles of cocaine in Rome's air, Italy's National Research Council (CNR) .It also found traces of cannabinol, a component of marijuana and hashish, as well as nicotine and caffeine, a statement from the council said.The highest concentration of cocaine was found in the centre of Rome and especially in the University of La Sapienza area.The highest concentrations of cocaine (about .1 nanograms per cubic metre) were detected during the winter months, according to the study.With further googling I came across this Aug 2005 news tidbit,'Cocaine residue in Italian water reveals more users than official estimates'.

'Ettore Zuccato, from the Mario Negri Institute for Pharmacological Research in Milan, Italy, and colleagues tested a new tool to measure a cocaine residue called benzoylecgonine (BE), present in flowing river and sewage waters because it is excreted in the urine of cocaine users. The residue is a by-product of metabolism in the human body, and cannot be produced by other means. The researchers measured the levels of BE in the river Po and in the sewage water of medium-sized Italian cities. Their results show that the Po, the largest Italian river, with five million people living in its vicinity, steadily carried the equivalent of about 4 kg of cocaine per day. This would imply an average daily use of at least 27 doses of 100 mg of cocaine for every 1,000 young adults of 15 to 34 years of age - the main consumers of cocaine. In the Po valley, this would translate into a least 40,000 doses being used every day by young people. This number greatly exceeds official national estimates, according to which 15,000 young adults living in the Po valley admit to taking the drug at least once a month. The researchers' data from medium-sized Italian cities is consistent with the figures found in the Po valley.'

Hopi Prophecy Rock

2007-05-28T01:34:00.000-07:00

Above:The above drawing is an interpretation of the carving on Prophecy Rock. Both the drawing and the explanation below come from Thomas Banyacya, Hopi Elder.

Near Oraibi, Arizona, there is a petroglyph known as Prophecy Rock which symbolizes many Hopi prophecies. Its interpretation is:

The large human figure on the left is the Great Spirit. The bow in his left hand represents his instructions to the Hopi to lay down their weapons. The vertical line to the right of the Great Spirit is a time scale in thousands of years. The point at which the great Spirit touches the line is the time of his return.

The "life path" established by the Great Spirit divides into the lower, narrow path of continuous Life in harmony with nature and the wide upper road of white man's scientific achievements. The bar between the paths, above the cross, is the coming of white men; the Cross is that of Christianity. The circle below the cross represents the continuous Path of Life.

The four small human figures on the upper road represent, on one level, the past three worlds and the present; on another level, the figures indicate that some of the Hopi will travel the white man's path, having been seduced by its glamour.

The two circles on the lower Path of Life are the "great shaking of the earth" (World Wars One and Two). The swastika in the sun and the Celtic cross represent the two helpers of Pahana, the True White Brother.

The short line that returns to the straight Path of Life is the last chance for people to turn back to nature before the upper road disintegrates and dissipates. The small circle above the Path of Life, after the last chance, is the Great Purification, after which corn will grow in abundance again when the Great Spirit returns. And the Path of Life continues forever...

The Hopi shield in the lower right corner symbolizes the Earth and the Four-Corners area where the Hopi have been reserved. The arms of the cross also represent the four directions in which they migrated according to the instructions of the Great Spirit.

The dots represent the four colors of Hopi corn, and the four racial colors of humanity.

The Hopi were told that after a time White Men would come and take their land and try to lead the Hopi into evil ways. But in spite of all the pressures against them, the Hopi were told they must hold to their ancient religion and their land, though always without violence. If they succeeded, they were promised that their people and their land would be a center from which the True Spirit would be reawakened.

It is said that after many years the elder brother might change the color of his skin, but his hair will remain black. He will have the ability to write, and he will be the only person able to read the Tiponi. When he returns to find his younger brother, the Tiponi will be placed side by side to show all the world that they are true brothers. Then great judgment will take place, for the elder will help the younger brother to obtain real justice for all Indian brothers who have been cruelly mistreated by the white man since he came to Turtle Island.

The transformed elder brother, the True White Brother, will wear a red cloak or a red cap, similar to the pattern on the back of a horned toad. He will bring no religion but his own, and will bring with him the Tiponi tablets. He will be all-powerful; none will be able to stand against him. He will come swiftly, and in one day gain control of this entire continent. It is said, "If he comes from the East, the destruction will not be so bad. But if he comes from the West, do not get up on your housetops to see because he will have no mercy."

The True White Brother will bring with him two great, intelligent and powerful helpers, one of whom will have a sign of a swastika (a masculine symbol of purity), and the sign of the sun. The second great helper will have the sign of a celtic cross with red lines (representing female life blood) between the arms of the cross.

When the Great Purification is near, these helpers will shake the earth first for a short time in preparation. After they shake the earth two times more, they will be joined by the True White Brother, who will become one with them and bring the Purification Day to the world. All three will help the "younger brother" (the Hopi and other pure-hearted people) to make a better world. In the prophecies, the two helpers are designated by the Hopi word for "population," as if they were large groups of people.

The Hopi were warned that if these three great beings failed, terrible evil would befall the world and great numbers of people would be killed. However, it was said that they would succeed if enough Hopi remained true to the ancient spirit of their people. The True White Brother and his helpers will show the people of earth a great new life plan that will lead to everlasting life. The earth will become new and beautiful again, with an abundance of life and food. Those who are saved will share everything equally. All races will intermarry and speak one tongue and be a family.

Hopi prophecy states that World War III will be started by the people who first received the Light -- China, Palestine, India and Africa. When the war comes, the United States will be destroyed by "gourds of ashes" which will fall to the ground, boiling the rivers and burning the earth, where no grass will grow for many years, and causing a disease that no medicine can cure. This can only mean nuclear or atomic bombs; no other weapon causes such effects. Bomb shelters will be useless, for "Those who are at peace in their hearts already are in the Great Shelter of Life. There is no shelter for evil. When the Saquahuh (blue Star) Kachina dances in the plaza and removes his mask, the time of the great trial will be here." The Hopi believe that only they will be saved.

The Hopi also have prophesied that "Turtle Island could turn over two or three times and the oceans could join hands and meet the sky." This seems to be a prophecy of a "pole shift" -- a flipping, of the planet on its axis. The Hopi call this imminent condition -- and that of society today -- "Koyaanisqatsi", which means "world out of balance...a state of life that calls for another way. "

2010 Broken Promises

2007-05-25T14:36:00.000-07:00

Above:Uknown homeless female Canadian citizen & Vancouver street resident.

Actions have recently been taken by the Vancouver Anti-Poverty Committee against the various levels of Government (provincial:BC Liberals & civic:Vancouver Non-Partisan Association (NPA)).Some media outlets and political pundits have gone so far as calling the APC's protests borderline terrorism.This is somewhat laughable.In fact I laud those people that take a stand against the proverbial 21st century Goliath,that being Government & Bureaucracy.
All that I know about this protest is that certain promises & prerequisites for staging the 2010 Winter Olympics have not been met or acknowledged (ie.low income & affordable housing).It could also be said that Vancouver has become a haven for construction of luxury apartment towers,whereas affordable housing has become non-existent.As of May,2007 these unfulfilled promises have given substantial weight for the protesters cause.

Auction Record Set for Andy Warhol at $71.7 Million US

2007-05-18T10:55:00.000-07:00

Above:Andy Warhol's 1963 Green Car Crash painting.

Between the years 1962 and 1964, Andy Warhol created a fantastically morbid series known as Death and Disaster. These serigraphs were all based on grainy, black and white tabloid images of race riots, suicide, fatal accident scenes and instruments of death including electric chairs, guns and atomic bomb blasts. The arguably best-known and most gruesome component of this macabre lot is Warhol's set of Car Crashes, of which the five "Burning Cars" are extremely highly prized.Green Car Crash (Green Burning Car I),was created by Warhol and his newly-hired assistant Gerard Malanga (b. 1943) in 1963 from an image taken by photographer John Whitehead and published in the June 3 issue of Newsweek. Whitehead's shot captured the aftermath of the fiery conclusion of a police chase in Seattle. The car that had been pursued overturned at 60 m.p.h., ejecting its driver at a speed sufficient to impale his body on a climbing spike in a utility pole. Green Car Crash was the only Warhol "Burning Car" painting of five (all based on Whitehead's photograph) to utilize a color other than black and white. It had been privately held for 30 years and generated a tremendous amount of interest in potential buyers.

Happy 62nd Birthday Mr Bob Marley

2007-05-12T06:05:00.000-07:00

"Money can't buy life", was Bob Marley's last words spoken to his son,Ziggy.He died soon after due to complications from cancer on May 11th,1981.Leaving behind a legacy of 13 children,songs filled with hope & meaning,and a global following,though his passing has left a void that has yet to be filled by any artist.If anyone doubts the value & impact that his music has had,please place the Exodus cd in your stereo and "Turn on, tune in, drop out".Make sure that you really listen to the lyrics.Rest in peace Bob.Wish you were still with us,the world still needs you.

Did Albert Einstein predict that if something eliminated bees from our planet, mankind would perish within 4 years?

2007-05-03T05:12:00.000-07:00

Some of the world's scientists have noticed and documented a decline in the bee population that spans the globe.This is a somewhat eerie discovery seeing how the millions of crops that the world depends on relies on the bee for pollination during the early spring.Another alarming thing is the rumoured quote by Albert Einstein himself that has been floating about..."If the bee disappears from the surface of the earth, man would have no more than four years to live. No more bees, no more pollination ... no more men!"I am not an entomologist,but this is truly a disturbing turn of events in the world.The assumption is that the phenomenon of global warming is the culprit.

While some insects are beneficial for the environment & humankind,others have a more destructive attribute.The west coast of Canada has watched helplessly while the mountain pine beetle ravages thousands & thousands of hectares of the pine species in numerous sections of the forest industry.The fear is that because of the global warming,resulting in less colder winter temperaures (-30°C to -40°C),the pine beetle will spread across to Canada's east coast.This is somewhat scary as well.

Sorry Mother Nature.Please forgive us and our capitalist ancestors.

Knut the Polar bear @ Berlin Zoo

2007-03-23T19:18:00.000-07:00

A polar bear gave birth to 2 males in captivity. She rejected both babies and as a result one of them died.Then due to complications the mother Polar bear died soon after.Then officials and scientists at the Berlin Zoo made the tough decision of taking responsibility of mothering the baby that they called Knut.

Supposed Enviromental groups opposed the actions taken by the zoo and suggested that the baby Polar bear die naturally (as he would of with no mother).Though I do question the needs or motives of zoos in cities,I applaud the German zoo officials for saving a precious mammal that can only be categorized as an endangered species.Kudos.

Good day and good luck.

What is with the green beer?

2007-03-21T00:59:00.000-07:00

This year's St.Patrick's day I avoided the beer which is tragically poisoned with green food dye and had a few sips of tequila.Definitely not an Irish thing,but heck I'm not really Irish.

But the one thing that I thoroughly enjoy around this time is the sound & site of a good bag-pipe player.I think it's because it shifts my train of thought and slowly transcends my consciousness back to when I was a wee lad.Such a time when my family and I would be watching my sister in one of her Scottish Highland dancing competitions.

WWW.MAKEPOVERTYHISTORY.ORG

2007-02-27T04:09:00.000-08:00

Above: BC Premier Hon.Gordo Campbell & Conservative MP David 'Turncoat'Emerson-Dog and Pony show for supposed Plan 'A' subsidized housing because of 2010 Winter Olympics.But is there a Plan 'B'?

While walking down the various streets of downtown Vancouver,you can't help notice the 2010 Olympic disguise being prepared for the city & the world to watch. The construction of new residential towers,a $600 Million Cdn. waterfront convention centre,and a $2 Billion Cdn. Skytrain Canada Line can be heard and seen.But unfortunately,under all this mascara, blush, lipstick and foundation,a poverty and homelessness issue is luring in the background.It is the proverbial elephant in the room: Everybody sees it, no one mentions it

Before anyone asks the obvious Q,I did place a 'X' in the No box on the ballot in the February 22, 2003 Olympic Plebiscite.It has been well documented that the long term gains of showcasing such an Olympic event do not outperform the costs & debt taken on by the various levels of government.Yes,such statments could be wrong and misleading.I guess it all depends on what is labelled as a gain,cost,or debt for that matter.

Today,I witnessed a terrible criminal act outside the northern entrance of the downtown Vancouver Public Library (West Georgia).A black haired man with a moustache,in his 40's,with an average build (170 lbs),5 foot 10 inches tall,and wearing a light brown jacket & white running shoes charged at a defenseless homeless man in his late 60's.Then this younger man with great speed used his shoulder and football-tackled into the homeless man's chest.The result,was one happy individual walking away unscathed and one bewildered person lying on the ground.Not Surprisingly,my fellow Vancouverites just walked around this helpless human.But two men did come and help this fellow out.I walked over and told the two men and security guard what had just happened.I even pointed out the individual that committed the criminal act.

Then the most hilarious thing happened,this criminal pointed his middle finger in my direction.Of course,I gave this criminal my middle finger.Supposedly,according to the homeless man,this incident took place because he asked the criminal for 40 cents.huh.........WTF!

Chasing Shadows Over Vancouver

2007-02-16T13:59:00.000-08:00

When times get tough and everything seems to be literally falling upon you,what should you do?My suggestion is to take ur little digital camera.Go outside for a brisk walk.Then take some pictures while chasing your shadows.It truely brings out the kid in you that has been stifled from adult responsibilites.Good day and good luck.

Vancouver Weather: Sunny with some clouds. 9 degrees celsius.

The first rule of Fight Club is you don't talk about Fight Club?

2007-02-06T04:55:00.000-08:00

Fight Club was the first published novel by "Chuck" Palahniuk in 1996,later being adapted to the big screen under the same name (Fight Club)in 1999.Although in the the theatres this film never reached that oh-so coined phrase "box-office success''status,it has become sort of a Cult Classic.

Yes the novel & film have twisted ideas,but it does give some insights into contemporary American culture(ie.consumerism & exploitation).Actually the subtext has alot of references & parallels to some master Philosophers:Friedrich Wilhelm Nietzsche (Master-Slave Morality),René Descartes (Universal Mechanism),Immanuel Kant (Copernican hypothesis),and Karl Jaspers (Existentialism).In fact the novel could be misconstrued as an entry level to finite philosophy.A must read for all the skeptics of today's world.

Good day and good luck.....

The weather in Vancouver,Canada:5 degrees Celsius,partly cloudy with fog.

1500+ Unexcavated Mayan Structures

2007-02-05T04:59:00.000-08:00

Like many people,I am just amazed by the mathematical superiority of the Maya civilization that surpassed many others at the time.Such examples of Astronomy & Engineering on display at many archeological sites throughout Mesoamerica proves that this civilization demonstrated a strong inherent ability in Mathematics.Although the Conquistadors destroyed many Mayan texts,the important Maya Codice documents survived.Not only did their advanced mathematics prove resourceful for the conception of the lunar calender & hundreds of temples,but it sheds some light on a possbile evidential link to strong Spirituality.

It is also interesting to note NASA's interest by utilizing powerful high-resolution satellites to investigate & locate more of the Mayan ruins hidden by dense foilage.

Weather conditions for Vancouver,Canada:Slight overcast with periodic rain. 6 Degrees Celsius.

We Have Nothing 2 Fear But Fear Itself

2007-02-01T11:51:00.000-08:00

'We have nothing to fear but fear itself'.Yes, I declare that these ol' words be taken from the archives,dusted off,and repeated to everyone several times thru their household intercom boxes.Just like in George Orwell's Nineteen Eighty-Four.Well this phrase was coined by one of the two greatest US Presidents in the last century,Franklin Delano Roosevelt (served 3 terms by the way),and the other being John Fitzgerald Kennedy.I admit this so I can't be accused of being an Anti-Americanist.

I still admit my slightly paranoid belief that the US Authority figures governing/manipulating the Red,White,&Blue Machine have a crystal ball in their possesion.Or the biggest lucky Rabbit's foot stashed away in a closet at the White House's Oval office.

I will sign off with a few last words that may shed some light on this subject......................Manifest Destiny......................

Proove this fact wrong.Treat it as a Fallacy.Use common sense and decency to all things on this planet.Good day and good luck!

'Doomsday Clock' to Move Nearer Midnight

2007-01-18T03:59:00.000-08:00

I must say that this whole idea seems to be some elaborate far-fetched idea taken from Stanley Kubrick's Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb.Besides,whenever I read about this type of media coverage on the idea of global destruction,my mind always fades away to the Maya calendar.Which doesn't necessarily mean It's the End of the World as We Know It (And I Feel Fine).A great R.E.M. song by the way.But quite possibly that this date of 20/12/2012 represents a new beginning or a time of re-birth.If there is a God,and I know there is a higher being,I hope such a positive revelation will take place and I will pray for that new beginning.God Speed Love!