Last Saturday, on the spur of the moment, I went with my beautiful mate to a hair salon to cut off the excess hair that apparently made my image look "shaggy" or "scary long." My views on hair have wavered from being obsessive about my hair (as in it being my symbol of freedom & choice) to not caring. This moment was obviously near the latter of the two.
Clip, Clip, Chop, Chop.. the hair fell across that long cheap plastic skirt tied around your neck... Every time they put that paper coller around my neck I feel like a penguin... Blond clippings dropped perhaps sceaming from being released... But the weight of it lightened and thus the deed was done. Irreversible it is. The hair has exited stage left and what was left was a light poofy poof of a head...
"It makes your face look rounder" "or more open" I thought I heard from the coaxer (my GF). I couldn't hear, my 5 senses are attached to my head and my head was in total shock. Perhaps confused... dazed. Was this what I wanted? Can my hair still be a symbol of social freedom? Maybe in a different sense... My next stop was to get a jar of hair pomade. Greased down and combed over the hair took shape... An alternative look and with my dark dirty blond I realized I looked different and thus felt different.
I've slowly come to terms with it... Not yet fully realized I pray that my head grows it back to comfortable lengths... Something that felt normal. Was it too much at one time? Perhaps...
I'll survive.. If anything I have a new use for all my beanies :)
~J out
Monday, July 30, 2007
Thursday, July 26, 2007
Changing course
I've been considering the last two days about changing my route to & from work. It seems like with all things these days, in order to invoke change you must have two incentives.
I'm talking about changing my daily commute from how I do it now (by car) to how I should do it by light rail *cough*.
It came to light the other day that there's a stop next to my work on the Max Blue Line. Shockingly, my commute route wouldn't really change... I'd drive my usual route, but instead of continuing on I'd park and ride.
How much would it change my life? Well it would add up to 2 hours round trip to my commute causing me to have to wake up earlier and get home later. Despite that cost in time, I would be saving the environment from my car's nasty CO2 emissions and would save my car from the roughly 50 miles a day I put on it. The real incentive is that I'd be saving about $5 bucks a week in gas & expenses. That doesn't seem like much, but $5 bucks is $5 bucks and coupled with the fact that adding so much mileage to my car via commute takes away from potential mileage I could put on it later (as in save that mileage, gas, and $5 bucks for a trip to Oregon's beautiful beaches or a trip North to Seattle).
Alas... it'll be hard to give up my established route though the beautiful Portland Hills and fun winding roads if I do ride the max.
Regardless... this is all chatter & rubbish until I actually try it out. So perhaps starting next week I'll take a ride on the max and hope that riding the Yellow Line then the Blue line everyday for a week will make the World, Portland, and my life more Green :)
~J out
I'm talking about changing my daily commute from how I do it now (by car) to how I should do it by light rail *cough*.
It came to light the other day that there's a stop next to my work on the Max Blue Line. Shockingly, my commute route wouldn't really change... I'd drive my usual route, but instead of continuing on I'd park and ride.
How much would it change my life? Well it would add up to 2 hours round trip to my commute causing me to have to wake up earlier and get home later. Despite that cost in time, I would be saving the environment from my car's nasty CO2 emissions and would save my car from the roughly 50 miles a day I put on it. The real incentive is that I'd be saving about $5 bucks a week in gas & expenses. That doesn't seem like much, but $5 bucks is $5 bucks and coupled with the fact that adding so much mileage to my car via commute takes away from potential mileage I could put on it later (as in save that mileage, gas, and $5 bucks for a trip to Oregon's beautiful beaches or a trip North to Seattle).
Alas... it'll be hard to give up my established route though the beautiful Portland Hills and fun winding roads if I do ride the max.
Regardless... this is all chatter & rubbish until I actually try it out. So perhaps starting next week I'll take a ride on the max and hope that riding the Yellow Line then the Blue line everyday for a week will make the World, Portland, and my life more Green :)
~J out
Monday, July 23, 2007
Consumers & Citizens
Having watched the Sunday morning politics shows followed by a blur of commercials I was struck by an idea in the shower this morning.
As consumers we're treated by even the biggest companies with the most respect. Their profit comes from our wallets thus the pitch is to create products and services that benefits its customers.
However, as citizens, if we do not take advantage of the government programs, we lose out, funding goes to projects that the mayors, senators, or public leaders dictate. There really isn't motivation to work towards the citizen's desire in the same manner companies do. Case in point: the Iraq war, health care, welfare, etc.
The private industry claims to work for us, because if they didn't, we would buy the competition; the government claims to do the work of the people even though they publicly do stuff we do not approve of, because there is no competition (no alternatives to choose from). At one point, congress used to be ran differently, because there was competition (the commies)...
Perhaps, future leaders of the free world need to compete over our approval? Imagine if on issues like health care or retirement... government competed?
Perhaps such a world is only a pipe dream... *<:,)
~J out
As consumers we're treated by even the biggest companies with the most respect. Their profit comes from our wallets thus the pitch is to create products and services that benefits its customers.
However, as citizens, if we do not take advantage of the government programs, we lose out, funding goes to projects that the mayors, senators, or public leaders dictate. There really isn't motivation to work towards the citizen's desire in the same manner companies do. Case in point: the Iraq war, health care, welfare, etc.
The private industry claims to work for us, because if they didn't, we would buy the competition; the government claims to do the work of the people even though they publicly do stuff we do not approve of, because there is no competition (no alternatives to choose from). At one point, congress used to be ran differently, because there was competition (the commies)...
Perhaps, future leaders of the free world need to compete over our approval? Imagine if on issues like health care or retirement... government competed?
Perhaps such a world is only a pipe dream... *<:,)
~J out
Thursday, July 19, 2007
My 100th Post
This my 100th post on this blog!
Since March of last year I've been posting regularly on either this blog or my Sapporo blog. Blogging has really been a great experience for me and I hope that I've improved. I hope to continue to improve my posts and continue to post regularly.
At this junction, I'd like to quasi forecast what is in store for the next 100 posts or so. As some may know, starting this fall will be the start of my senior year and the start of my thesis paper for Lewis and Clark College. I'll have to brain storm topics, research those topics, and come up with a proper thesis. All of this and more I hope to bring to this blog as I putt along. Also I'm in the process of perhaps attaching a simple domain (www.---.com) to this blog accompanied by a website.
We'll see. Thanks for reading along for this last year and couple of months. I really appreciate it.
~J out
The R3DRAGON
At this junction, I'd like to quasi forecast what is in store for the next 100 posts or so. As some may know, starting this fall will be the start of my senior year and the start of my thesis paper for Lewis and Clark College. I'll have to brain storm topics, research those topics, and come up with a proper thesis. All of this and more I hope to bring to this blog as I putt along. Also I'm in the process of perhaps attaching a simple domain (www.---.com) to this blog accompanied by a website.
We'll see. Thanks for reading along for this last year and couple of months. I really appreciate it.
~J out
The R3DRAGON
Tuesday, July 17, 2007
The Go Bag- Unfit for survival
Almost daily now our lives, in the first world, have been reminded that an attack on our livelihood is not only imminent, but perhaps expected according to supposed homeland security authorities with biting hunches. The thought that terrorism could strike me seems more like a inconvenience to my relatively posh lifestyle, rather then a threat to society. Americans like me, however, are not the only ones concerned. Sydney, Australian government authorities are trying to warn their citizens to be prepared for anything, or (as they put it) “Let's Get Ready Sydney!” A website & pamphlet campaign to prepare citizens of Sydney to get ready for a possible terrorism attack or natural disaster has been created, but within hours of it's release has brought a whirlwind of criticism.
Part of the campaign is preparing what authorities are calling a “Go Bag.” Similar to a emergency preparedness kit, the Go Bag is something one can supposedly grab & go on their way to pre-planned disaster relief zones in the city. The concept of a Go Bag is not really what's in question, it's the dual purpose and intention of the bag, as well as, the literal contents of the bag thats causing Australians to rage. For starters, the Go Bag's contents are pretty basic: (according to the “let's get ready Sydney” website)
As you can see, this list is supposed to cover “the essentials.” Having been a Boy Scout I can say that the Sydney authorities have differing opinions of essentials with what I would call essential (that being primarily Food, Fire starter, pocket knife, Hikers first aid kit, or the BSA 10 essentials). The website continues on with a test to make sure you are ready, failure of the test results in a negative message condemning you or questioning your awareness of the dire situation that could befall you.
As mentioned before, the complaints is two fold. Critics claim that this is part of the governments continual “fear campaign” by telling or reintegrating the fear of terrorism. The other part of it is that this comes on the eve an election, critics say that this is to try to tip the people into voting for a conservative candidates. Authorities were quick to respond, according to the Sydney Morning Herald, that this campaign has been two years in the making. This of course begs the question that the list of essentials must have been put together by either a celebrity of Paris Hilton's stature or perhaps Sydney authorities are think that if they put together a more comprehensive list, citizens wouldn't bother with it. The end result is basically a joke by everyone's standard.
Personally I think to the recent earthquakes in Japan. Would a Go Bag packed with comfortable shoes and a ATM card save victims of the earthquake? Perhaps if their refuge was a shopping mall (which it could be if it was Tokyo or Kyoto). Ultimately, everyone should have a Go Bag like thing in their household, just like boaters should have an abandon ship kit. However, as boy scouts should know, Sunscreen & TP (Toilet Paper) is not what is going to save your life...
Like critics suggest, the fear-bombing campaign is fatiguing even the strongest of people. Crying “the sky is about to fall” is like crying wolf... Something the media, apparently, has been doing in all first world countries since the early part of September, 2001. My suggestion to Australians and Americans is to first turn off their Telly (TV) and do prepare an emergency kit... not for terrorism, but for power outages or the like. Make it comprehensive with a week's worth of food & water, fire-starter & portable propane stove. Preparedness is good if its done for the right reasons... now if only the Authorities could just realize this... :)
~J out
Part of the campaign is preparing what authorities are calling a “Go Bag.” Similar to a emergency preparedness kit, the Go Bag is something one can supposedly grab & go on their way to pre-planned disaster relief zones in the city. The concept of a Go Bag is not really what's in question, it's the dual purpose and intention of the bag, as well as, the literal contents of the bag thats causing Australians to rage. For starters, the Go Bag's contents are pretty basic: (according to the “let's get ready Sydney” website)
What is a Go Bag?
A Go Bag is a small bag packed with essentials in case you need to evacuate your home. Handy things to keep in your Go Bag include:
- Key personal information for your family members or partner, including identification such as passports or a driver’s license.
- A bottle of water for each family or household member.
- Torch (Flashlight) with spare batteries.
- Battery-operated, portable AM/FM radio and extra batteries (check shelf life).
- Appropriate clothing. In winter, you might need jumpers (rain outfit); in summer, hats and sunscreen. Comfortable walking shoes are also important.
- Roll of toilet paper, personal hygiene supplies.
- Pen and notepad.
- Phone card/telecard/mobile (cell phone) (remember that your mobile may not work during a large-scale emergency).
- First aid items such as bandages, bandaids, eye wash, antiseptic solution, scissors, disposable gloves, safety pins, paracetamol, adhesive tape and personal medications.
- An extra set of car and house keys.
- Credit and ATM cards and a small amount of cash.
- Map of your local area and the CBD Safety Sites
- Your personal Contact List
As you can see, this list is supposed to cover “the essentials.” Having been a Boy Scout I can say that the Sydney authorities have differing opinions of essentials with what I would call essential (that being primarily Food, Fire starter, pocket knife, Hikers first aid kit, or the BSA 10 essentials). The website continues on with a test to make sure you are ready, failure of the test results in a negative message condemning you or questioning your awareness of the dire situation that could befall you.
As mentioned before, the complaints is two fold. Critics claim that this is part of the governments continual “fear campaign” by telling or reintegrating the fear of terrorism. The other part of it is that this comes on the eve an election, critics say that this is to try to tip the people into voting for a conservative candidates. Authorities were quick to respond, according to the Sydney Morning Herald, that this campaign has been two years in the making. This of course begs the question that the list of essentials must have been put together by either a celebrity of Paris Hilton's stature or perhaps Sydney authorities are think that if they put together a more comprehensive list, citizens wouldn't bother with it. The end result is basically a joke by everyone's standard.
Cr Harris, a member of the Greens, suggested in the Herald that every Go Bag include a can-opener, a pair of sunglasses, inflatable floaties, a copy of a Sydney good food guide and a one-way ticket to Barcelona.
"I just find these fear campaigns personally offensive. Where are we supposed to go with our Go Bags? With our current public transport system, the roads would be clogged in minutes," he said yesterday to Australian reporters.
Personally I think to the recent earthquakes in Japan. Would a Go Bag packed with comfortable shoes and a ATM card save victims of the earthquake? Perhaps if their refuge was a shopping mall (which it could be if it was Tokyo or Kyoto). Ultimately, everyone should have a Go Bag like thing in their household, just like boaters should have an abandon ship kit. However, as boy scouts should know, Sunscreen & TP (Toilet Paper) is not what is going to save your life...
Like critics suggest, the fear-bombing campaign is fatiguing even the strongest of people. Crying “the sky is about to fall” is like crying wolf... Something the media, apparently, has been doing in all first world countries since the early part of September, 2001. My suggestion to Australians and Americans is to first turn off their Telly (TV) and do prepare an emergency kit... not for terrorism, but for power outages or the like. Make it comprehensive with a week's worth of food & water, fire-starter & portable propane stove. Preparedness is good if its done for the right reasons... now if only the Authorities could just realize this... :)
~J out
Monday, July 16, 2007
Changing Over
The fallout over the President's press conference spilled over some more
in yesterday's Sunday Morning News Circuits. It seems like while the White
House Administration staff are more like firefighters trying to put out
little anti-war flip-flopper GOP members. De facto Repubs are not only
beginning to see the light (as they watch the US coffers drain at a
alarming rate), but they are now starting to express itself.
We have a wild fire of a discontentment among the American people. It
seems that those who were faithful to the cause are finding refuge in
speaking out. What does this mean to those fighting to bring this war
to an end? Stay the course... Victory is upon us.
In other news, it seems like the Electronic Entertainment Industry,
the industry responsible for bringing games to people, are scaling back
on their biggest event E3. This year's E3, from various reports, was a flop.
The ESA decided this year to make everything in the conference scaled
back and generic. This meant that the big dog & pony show that companies
like Microsoft and Nintendo put out for their products just weren't there or
not advertised like last year's big bash E3.
Reasons for the scale down are a due to a number of reasons such as costs to
companies, cost to the industry to host the event in Santa Monica, CA, and an
attempt to pander to the smaller companies who are usually dominated by big
exhibits by Sony or Nintendo. The result was a big flop and now big companies
are considering moving their hype from the main event to their own private
press-shows.
Lets hope that this massive scale down disease doesn't cross over the Pacific
to Tokyo's Main Video Game Event.
~J out
Friday, July 13, 2007
Friday the 13th...
Yeah it's one of those ominous Friday the 13ths.
It started with a thunder storm which rocked the town.
The freeways were pretty clear this morning too.
Politiks. Like the president took a giant rock and threw it into the Nation's pond of controversy. Sorry if I keep rambling on about it, but these events just pile up and if we don't discuss it then the excuse will be made "you didn't complain when the time was upon you". Again a review of the whirl-wind storm...
Putin is threatening to point his missiles at Europe because Bush insists on putting a supposed "Missile Defense Shield" in the area.
Bush continues to advocate the War in Iraq as necessary for the US & Iraq's future.
The Administration is using presidential powers to avoid talking about the obvious politically motivated firing of controversial (non-bushies) attorney generals.
We still don't know who leaked the name of Joe Wilson's wife.
Psssh.. *sigh*
I guess America is doing alright (as in we haven't totally imploded).
I just hope the rest of the day doesn't add up to anything more then just a simple headache...
TGIF
~J out
It started with a thunder storm which rocked the town.
The freeways were pretty clear this morning too.
Politiks. Like the president took a giant rock and threw it into the Nation's pond of controversy. Sorry if I keep rambling on about it, but these events just pile up and if we don't discuss it then the excuse will be made "you didn't complain when the time was upon you". Again a review of the whirl-wind storm...
Putin is threatening to point his missiles at Europe because Bush insists on putting a supposed "Missile Defense Shield" in the area.
Bush continues to advocate the War in Iraq as necessary for the US & Iraq's future.
The Administration is using presidential powers to avoid talking about the obvious politically motivated firing of controversial (non-bushies) attorney generals.
We still don't know who leaked the name of Joe Wilson's wife.
Psssh.. *sigh*
I guess America is doing alright (as in we haven't totally imploded).
I just hope the rest of the day doesn't add up to anything more then just a simple headache...
TGIF
~J out
Thursday, July 12, 2007
The Debate
Much like telling somebody what is truth and what is fictional, the president has come out this morning to tell you and me what the debate is *really* about.
Perhaps in the president's view and other While House officials view, this is exactly what they want the debate to be. A debate over whether the fight has been lost and whether or not the cost of defeat is greater plays into the administration's hands, because on this sole issue... the White House retains its control.
However... Is this really the debate? It might be the debate elsewhere, but it's not the real debate I hear. The reality here at home is that the decision to withdraw from Iraq has already been decided. It's a matter of how and when now.
Let us all not be shocked at what the General in Iraq will say this September. Already I've heard the spin doctors dismiss whatever the General or the Ambassador says, because this "war" which is really a crowd control exercize, has outlived it's orginal purpose.
As for the speech given to day... I wasn't shocked when the president completely avoided mentioning our resolve to find WMDs. It was when he said that this war has four phases...
I suppose the WMD phase was phase zero. Ultimately, the president is forcing our hand to take control and to stop it all.
However, even if we take action as a free body of people, be it action in funding cuts, protesting, or waiting patiently for the end to come... The truth remains that with this leadership in power, we (like Jimmy Carter) have become increasingly irrelivant.
This morning reminded us that the war drums are still beating and to ignore them and attempt to take action will result in a veto or punishment from the top->down.
So what am I concerned about? I'm concerned, and rightfully so, if the general comes and says we need more troops. Troop enrollment was down this month and soon the president will be faced with a new choice.. Extend the enlistment of battle fatigued troops or get new blood the old fashioned way.. through a cold, merciless draft.
I wish I could see the vision in all this....
from a concerned...independent mind
~J out
As a result, sometimes the debate over Iraq is cast as a disagreement between those who want to keep our troops in Iraq and those who want to bring our troops home, and this is not the real debate. I don't know anyone who doesn't want to see the day when our brave service men and women can start coming home. In my address to the nation in January, I put it this way: If we increase our support at this crucial moment, we can hasten the day our troops begin coming home. The real debate over Iraq is between those who think the fight is lost or not worth the cost and those who believe the fight can be won, and that as difficult as the fight is, the cost of defeat would be far higher.
I believe we can succeed in Iraq, and I know we must.
Perhaps in the president's view and other While House officials view, this is exactly what they want the debate to be. A debate over whether the fight has been lost and whether or not the cost of defeat is greater plays into the administration's hands, because on this sole issue... the White House retains its control.
However... Is this really the debate? It might be the debate elsewhere, but it's not the real debate I hear. The reality here at home is that the decision to withdraw from Iraq has already been decided. It's a matter of how and when now.
Let us all not be shocked at what the General in Iraq will say this September. Already I've heard the spin doctors dismiss whatever the General or the Ambassador says, because this "war" which is really a crowd control exercize, has outlived it's orginal purpose.
As for the speech given to day... I wasn't shocked when the president completely avoided mentioning our resolve to find WMDs. It was when he said that this war has four phases...
Since America began military operations in Iraq, the conflict there has gone through four major phases. The first phase was the liberation of Iraq from Saddam Hussein. The second phase was the return of sovereignty to the Iraqi people and the holding of free elections. The third phase was the tragic escalation of sectarian violence, sparked by the bombing of the golden mosque in Samarra.
I suppose the WMD phase was phase zero. Ultimately, the president is forcing our hand to take control and to stop it all.
However, even if we take action as a free body of people, be it action in funding cuts, protesting, or waiting patiently for the end to come... The truth remains that with this leadership in power, we (like Jimmy Carter) have become increasingly irrelivant.
This morning reminded us that the war drums are still beating and to ignore them and attempt to take action will result in a veto or punishment from the top->down.
So what am I concerned about? I'm concerned, and rightfully so, if the general comes and says we need more troops. Troop enrollment was down this month and soon the president will be faced with a new choice.. Extend the enlistment of battle fatigued troops or get new blood the old fashioned way.. through a cold, merciless draft.
I wish I could see the vision in all this....
from a concerned...independent mind
~J out
Wednesday, July 11, 2007
Take me to your leader
Hey.. Who runs this country anyway? I look at leaders of other countries and say, jee if their people choose, they could not only oust the leader, but they could oust the ruling party. According to a document in our country, the power is distributed between the president, the court, and us (or so we think). Anymore, I'd say a good majority of us don't email our representatives like we should. Tell them what we think, because the myth is that there is government and then there is us.
I just got paid today and I see money taken out of my paycheck... It goes to the government and I think.... there's the link between government and us. Somehow, by living here and working here, the government goes ahead and takes money out for stuff. It can make you mad or numb if you think about it. Looking ahead... there's people that, in a rare occasion, are trying to pitch to you their idea. They're pitching to you the idea that they work for you. If we look at the white house today... We see that it's an insider club. They're independent of us... the little people :) and now somebody has the nerve to tell me that if they get into that building they're *not* going to form a click and do stuff that will tick all of us off? Get real....
It's almost time for a revolution don't you think? I push towards a Parliament where if the people think that one party isn't working enough for them, they vote them out and elect a another party... maybe even a third party like a labor party.
... The other option, I suppose, is to vote with your feet. Like my idea on trains... If you like the train system in Japan so much then it'd just be easier to move there then to build one here in America...
Just another one of those random thoughts
~J out
I just got paid today and I see money taken out of my paycheck... It goes to the government and I think.... there's the link between government and us. Somehow, by living here and working here, the government goes ahead and takes money out for stuff. It can make you mad or numb if you think about it. Looking ahead... there's people that, in a rare occasion, are trying to pitch to you their idea. They're pitching to you the idea that they work for you. If we look at the white house today... We see that it's an insider club. They're independent of us... the little people :) and now somebody has the nerve to tell me that if they get into that building they're *not* going to form a click and do stuff that will tick all of us off? Get real....
It's almost time for a revolution don't you think? I push towards a Parliament where if the people think that one party isn't working enough for them, they vote them out and elect a another party... maybe even a third party like a labor party.
... The other option, I suppose, is to vote with your feet. Like my idea on trains... If you like the train system in Japan so much then it'd just be easier to move there then to build one here in America...
Just another one of those random thoughts
~J out
Monday, July 09, 2007
Freedom under sail power
How can one put wind energy, conservation, recreation, pleasure boating, and sporting all together and make it work? It seems, misleadingly, that to be green you must skip out on the fun stuff. This weekend a revelation for me and perhaps the members of the sailing crew found out that sailing provides all that and more.
It takes a healthy balance of wit, stamina, and courage to sail a boat along the Columbia river, but here 4 brave Americans sailed/motored for 8 miles down river to Caterpillar Island in Washington State. The experience was exhilarating, thrilling, and fun. Upgrading from smaller sailing boats, this Coronado 23 (23' sailboat) offers both the small boating sailing world with the larger sailing vessel (36+ feet) all in one package.
Beauty... Some how putting it all together on that river gave me the rush of what it might have felt to early explorers of the Columbia river. Unlike them, however, we now are aided by maps and points on the river that tell us where we are. Nevertheless, just looking at the maps of the Columbia River I see hidden lagoons, private channels, and exotic locations to sail our small craft to and explore. Perhaps this is the boost I need to make that dream of sailing a reality ;p
Good clean fun... No doubt, on 777 Al Gore's live concert day, I'm sure we did our part by not burning too much fuel while harnessing the power of the wind.
~J out
It takes a healthy balance of wit, stamina, and courage to sail a boat along the Columbia river, but here 4 brave Americans sailed/motored for 8 miles down river to Caterpillar Island in Washington State. The experience was exhilarating, thrilling, and fun. Upgrading from smaller sailing boats, this Coronado 23 (23' sailboat) offers both the small boating sailing world with the larger sailing vessel (36+ feet) all in one package.
Beauty... Some how putting it all together on that river gave me the rush of what it might have felt to early explorers of the Columbia river. Unlike them, however, we now are aided by maps and points on the river that tell us where we are. Nevertheless, just looking at the maps of the Columbia River I see hidden lagoons, private channels, and exotic locations to sail our small craft to and explore. Perhaps this is the boost I need to make that dream of sailing a reality ;p
Good clean fun... No doubt, on 777 Al Gore's live concert day, I'm sure we did our part by not burning too much fuel while harnessing the power of the wind.
~J out
Tuesday, July 03, 2007
Patriotism in a box
Like a tool, patriotism can play people into doing anything. Even the president calls us out on patriotism, but contradicts it when he overrules the law to save one of his own. To be a patriot might be hard to understand, it might even be one of those undefinable words Kant described, such as love, justice, or truth.
To celebrate patriotism I thought I'd throw my opinion in the ring as to what, I think, makes a person a patriot.
Working- The act itself is what makes a person a patriot, not the reason for it. Working at a job or on a career or even a hobby gives us purpose and is rooted at the core of what makes this country the land of opportunity.
Inquiry- Asking questions really, from the exploration & exploitation of knowledge to asking serious questions of our leadership here at home and in our capital. Remember.... We're a nation of rebels who challenged the status quo. Patriotism must be, then, the constant challenge to not fall into/or create a status quo that restricts our liberty.
Ownership- Of land, property, self, & soul. Either all of it or some of it should owned by us at all times. A true patriot has ownership of himself (as in not being a slave to another person) and must be opportunistic at all times. The "pursuit" of happiness means that if the prime opportunity arises, a patriot will carpe diem (edit 7/5) or seize the day.
Mobility- To be able to call yourself free you must be it in all forms.. be it mental or physical. Life takes mobility away from us, but a patriot makes an effort to continue on and utilize his resources in order to remain mobile.
Credit- Not just in wealth, but in authority. A rich man who is not trusted by anyone is worthless. A patriot has worth as a human being. A man of his word is what established this country, those who seek to exploit that credit (and ultimately devalue it) are not true patriots. "Street Credit" is as worthy as monetary credit.
Improvement- Evaluating yourself and improving on who you are makes you more a patriot then anything else. It's different from the message that you must change the world. The truth is, you have a choice to do that if you want. Patriotism is opportunity, self improvement is taking an opportunity to improve, so self improvement is patriotism.
Not everybody is a patriot... Not all patriots see themselves as patriots. As free people, you have the choice to be a patriot or not. A patriot is what you think it is. I believe this country was founded on self-principals of freedom so my opinion of what makes a patriot is not based on how much duty you've done for others for their sake, but how much duty you've done for yourself and others for your sake.
Opportunity is Freedom
Let Freedom Ring on Independence Day!
~J out
To celebrate patriotism I thought I'd throw my opinion in the ring as to what, I think, makes a person a patriot.
Working- The act itself is what makes a person a patriot, not the reason for it. Working at a job or on a career or even a hobby gives us purpose and is rooted at the core of what makes this country the land of opportunity.
Inquiry- Asking questions really, from the exploration & exploitation of knowledge to asking serious questions of our leadership here at home and in our capital. Remember.... We're a nation of rebels who challenged the status quo. Patriotism must be, then, the constant challenge to not fall into/or create a status quo that restricts our liberty.
Ownership- Of land, property, self, & soul. Either all of it or some of it should owned by us at all times. A true patriot has ownership of himself (as in not being a slave to another person) and must be opportunistic at all times. The "pursuit" of happiness means that if the prime opportunity arises, a patriot will carpe diem (edit 7/5) or seize the day.
Mobility- To be able to call yourself free you must be it in all forms.. be it mental or physical. Life takes mobility away from us, but a patriot makes an effort to continue on and utilize his resources in order to remain mobile.
Credit- Not just in wealth, but in authority. A rich man who is not trusted by anyone is worthless. A patriot has worth as a human being. A man of his word is what established this country, those who seek to exploit that credit (and ultimately devalue it) are not true patriots. "Street Credit" is as worthy as monetary credit.
Improvement- Evaluating yourself and improving on who you are makes you more a patriot then anything else. It's different from the message that you must change the world. The truth is, you have a choice to do that if you want. Patriotism is opportunity, self improvement is taking an opportunity to improve, so self improvement is patriotism.
Not everybody is a patriot... Not all patriots see themselves as patriots. As free people, you have the choice to be a patriot or not. A patriot is what you think it is. I believe this country was founded on self-principals of freedom so my opinion of what makes a patriot is not based on how much duty you've done for others for their sake, but how much duty you've done for yourself and others for your sake.
Opportunity is Freedom
Let Freedom Ring on Independence Day!
~J out
Monday, July 02, 2007
Jeep Wheeler- Adventure Days
Find local adventures at your local Wheeler Jeep dealer... no really. This weekend either reaked of absolute shattered expectations or shined of 100% preparedness for anything. Either way... the Wheelers are prepared for a boat drop into the Columbia.
The "adventure" if you will started with a grand expectation that on Friday.. A list of things would get done and then the following Saturday (the next day) the boat would go in the water. Well... None of that happened. I think in reflection, we all learned something about the endurance of humanity.
The human being is not the perfect being, we are... well, human.
To painfully detail every problem that happened along the way would only belay the sweet taste of when the boat finally reaches port. In an idealistic half-full way I shall say that, at the least, I feel even more prepared for putting this sailboat in the water!
Hoo-ra!!
~J out
The "adventure" if you will started with a grand expectation that on Friday.. A list of things would get done and then the following Saturday (the next day) the boat would go in the water. Well... None of that happened. I think in reflection, we all learned something about the endurance of humanity.
The human being is not the perfect being, we are... well, human.
To painfully detail every problem that happened along the way would only belay the sweet taste of when the boat finally reaches port. In an idealistic half-full way I shall say that, at the least, I feel even more prepared for putting this sailboat in the water!
Hoo-ra!!
~J out
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