Ray Anderson on the Corporation

"The modern corporation has grown out of the industrial age. The industrial age began in 1712 when an Englishman named Thomas Newcomen invented a steam driven pump to pump water out of the English coal mine, so the English coal miners could get more coal to mine, rather than hauling buckets of water out of the mine. It was all about productivity, more coal per man-hour. That was the dawn of the industrial age. And then it became more steel per man-hour, more textiles per man-hour, more automobiles per man-hour, and today, it's more chips per man-hour, more gizmos per man-hour. The system is basically the same, producing more sophisticated products today."

Ray Anderson in the Movie: The Corporation

Ray Anderson on Wikipedia

Ray Anderson on Amazon

Climate Change: Thoughts from Informed Minds (*sarcasm*)

• http://www.grist.org/list/2011-08-01-the-onion-reports-on-puzzling-behavior-among-climate-scientists
• http://www.grist.org/list/2011-06-29-pawlenty-look-at-me-i-dont-believe-in-science-either
• http://www.grist.org/list/2011-07-05-fox-news-takes-credit-for-study-that-debunks-climate-skeptics
• http://www.grist.org/list/2011-08-04-new-tool-maps-how-badly-climate-change-affects-you

Grist Article: From nose-to-tail to stem-to-root, tasty ways to reduce food waste now

Read the complete article here.


http://www.grist.org/sustainable-food/2011-07-28-from-nose-to-tail-to-stem-to-root-tasty-ways-reduce-food-waste

Skookumchuck

A Short video of Skookumchuck Narrows at Hide Tide

Skookumchuck Narrows forms the entrance of Sechelt Inlet on British Columbia's Sunshine Coast in Canada. Before broadening into Sechelt Inlet, all of its tidal flow together with that of Salmon Inlet and Narrow Inlet must pass through Sechelt Rapids. At peak flows, whitecaps and whirlpools form at the rapids even in calm weather. The narrows are also the site of a Skookumchuk Narrows Provincial Park.

Each day, tides force large amounts of seawater through the narrows—200 billion gallons of water on a 3-metre (9.8 ft) tide. The difference in water levels on either side of the rapids can exceed 2 metres (6.6 ft) in height. Current speeds can exceed 16 knots (30 km/h),[1] up to 17.68 knots (32.74 km/h).[2] Although it is sometimes claimed to be the fastest tidal rapids in the world,[3] Norway's Saltstraumen reaches speeds of 20 knots (37 km/h).


The tidal patterns keep the water moving at virtually all times in the narrows area, which attracts a plethora of interesting sea life.

Whitewater kayakers and surfer Elijah Mack[4] have surfed the rapids, which can be dangerous.


The unrelated B.C. town of Skookumchuck is several hundred kilometres east in the East Kootenay region of the province. Another location bearing this name, Skookumchuck Hot Springs, is on the Lillooet River east of Whistler. All locations take their name from Chinook jargon for "strong water" and the term is common in maritime jargon for any set of strong rapids, particularly those at the mouth of inlets.

[from Wikipedia here.]


This is the territory within which we are currently planning to build the camp. Any suggestions or ideas are always welcome!

Investigating a Worthwhile Life

A Simple Stand Against Disposable Culture

We live in a disposable culture. I would like to argue to the men out there that this is a simple way you can take a stand against that disposable ideology and increase your MAN score at the same time.

The Straight Razor!

Yes, it is more difficult. Yes, you could cut yourself.

That is actually part of the point. 

You must be more aware, more present in the moment, more attentive of your life as it actually happens.

Interesting concept, yes?

Thoughts on the Power of Story

 

"So many people forget that the first country that the Nazi's invaded was their own."

Dr. Abraham Erskine, Captain America: The First Avenger

From Ishmael, by Daniel Quinn:

"[I]t was not only the Jews who were captives under Hitler. The entire German nation was a captive, including his enthusiastic supporters..."

"...Even if you weren't personally captivated by the story, you were a captive all the same, because the people around you made you a captive. You were like an animal being swept along in the middle of a stampede..." 

"...the people of your culture are in much the same situation. Like the people of Nazi Germany, they are the captives of a story."

Most people will object at this point that they have never heard the story of our culture. They will probably deny the possibility that there is one.

"...That's because there's no need to hear of it. There's no need to name it or discuss it. Every one of you knows it by heart by the time you're six or seven. ...And you hear it incessantly, because every medium of propaganda, every medium of education pours it out incessantly. ...It's like the humming of a distant motor that never stops, it becomes a sound that's no longer heard at all..." 

Most people at this object in a way that generally boils down to the statement that they do not believe you at this point.

"Belief is not required. Once you know this story, you'll hear it everywhere in your culture, and you'll be astonished that the people around you don't hear it as well but merely take it in." 

Studies have shown that we remember information better when it is transmitted by story. Studies have shown that we are more persuaded by narrative. Authors know that they have to pay careful attention to make sure their fiction meets people's expectations for a story, or their fans will turn on them like rabid dogs.

Stories are powerful things, mysterious things. Joseph Campbell noted that the same story structure keeps appearing through history and called it the Hero's Journey. Hollywood noticed that certain story formulas keep working no matter how obvious they are. World Religions rely upon certain story elements with such regularity that a 'Madlibs' game could be made of such elements.

People will die for a story.

People will kill for a story.

People will work for forty years with no future for a story.

People will keep trying things that didn't work yesterday if the story tells them that this way should work.

What's Your Story?

Doesn't seem like such a harmless question now, does it?

Grist Arcticle: Let them eat dandelions

Read the complete interview here.

http://www.grist.org/locavore/2011-08-05-let-them-eat-dandelions-urban-foraging-with-expert-leda-meredith

A Collection of Quotes from Frank Herbert

Presented here without commentary.


Mood? What has mood to do with it? You fight when the necessity arises - no matter the mood! Mood's a thing for cattle or making love or playing the baliset. It's not for fighting.
-Counsel of Gurney Halleck to young Paul Atreides when he declares he is not in the mood for training.
-Frank Herbert, Dune

Hope clouds observation.
-Frank Herbert, Dune

Once men turned their thinking over to machines in the hope that this would set them free. But that only permitted other men with machines to enslave them.
-Frank Herbert, Dune

There is no escape - we pay for the violence of our ancestors.
-Frank Herbert, Dune

What do you despise? By this you are truly known.
-Frank Herbert, Dune

The highest function of ecology is understanding consequences.
-Frank Herbert, Dune

To accept a little death is worse than death itself.
-Frank Herbert, Dune

Life - all life - is in the service of life
-Frank Herbert, Dune

Much that was called religion has carried an unconscious attitude of hostility toward life. True religion must teach that life is filled with joys pleasing to the eye of God, that knowledge without action is empty. All men must see that the teaching of religion by rules and rote is largely a hoax. The proper teaching is recognized with ease. You can know it without fail because it awakens within you that sensation which tells you this is something you've always known.
-Frank Herbert, Dune

Grist Article: Not your grandma’s strawberries

Read the Complete Article here.

http://www.grist.org/food/2011-08-02-not-your-grandmas-strawberries

Read the article here.

7 Reasons the 21st Century is Making You Miserable

•  7 Reasons the 21st Century is Making You Miserable | Cracked.com http://www.cracked.com/article_15231_7-reasons-21st-century-making-you-miserable.html#ixzz1U7BNMl6E

Ward Churchill on Cowboys and Indians

White domination is so complete that even American Indian children want to be cowboys. It's as if Jewish children wanted to play Nazis.

Fantasies of the Master Race, 1992

 

Ward Churchill on Wikiequote

Ward Churchill on Wikipedia

Ward Churchill on Amazon

The Three A's of Awesome from TED Talks

Sechelt Quest: The Lost Camp, Part Four

And so we had reached the coastline. But we could not find the old camp grounds. We examined the area and found it to be lacking for our needs. The elevation rose too sharply and too fast off the coastline to allow for much of a campground. The ground that was level, was mostly beach sand and rock. And there was new private property that restricted access when arriving by the trail. So this site had proven to be a dead end.

That said, there were a number of alternate trails that looked promising on the map in this area that we had noticed previously. We had no time to check on them now however, if we intended to make the last ferry back to Horseshoe bay.

And so we packed up and headed out. The trip back up to the main trail was murderous. I jury rigged some make shift nordic poles to assist me. Donald began explaining the technical specs of all of the gear he wanted to distract himself. Jordan began plotting to murder the universe in order to keep himself entertained.


When we finally reached the top of the trail and made our way back to the wonderful lake with the intent of submerging our heads in it in order to cool down our baking skulls, we found a couple with a four wheel drive truck just finishing up a picnic.

We all dunked our skulls and then Jordan gave Donald the vehicle keys and I volunteered Donald for rescue duty by asking the couple if they could drive him down to our vehicle. Otherwise we had little chance of making the ferries back. The couple (and Donald) graciously agreed. And off they went.

We remaining three continued along on the trail, with Jordan bravely earning his $#!& in the woods badge after asking a very memorable question.

"Is this poison ivy? No? Then its toilet paper. Everyone keep walking."

Shortly after, Donald arrived like the cavalry, saving us two to three hours on foot (elevation is a crazy thing).

We now even had enough time to have dinner. And food rarely tastes as good as that meal did, after an epic trek like that.

We made the ferry as the third last vehicle squeaking on, because there was no room for the buses ahead of us. Walked in to the ferry we were drunk as a function of muscle and joint pain from the hike, and sat down to watch Superman in the gift shop.

It had been a good trip.

Sechelt Quest: The Lost Camp, Part Three

So, when we had left off yesterday, we had reached the beach! And had also promised you the video of the beach. So here it is, enjoy:

If the video will not display, it is available on youtube here.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bDtXDVAEdA8

Tomorrow we will cover the trip back, the sacred lake, and our meeting with Superman. Stay Tuned!

Sechelt Quest: The Lost Camp, Part Two

When last we left our intrepid quartet, we were heading down the dusty trail surrounded by berry bushes and fresh bear poop.

Yummy!

The final leg of the journey to Sechelt Inlet was all down hill, and steeply down hill, 800 meters in about 3 to 4 km or so. And the decline was not steady, it was a a series a brutal drops interspersed with flat strips to lull us into complacency.

And by complacency I mean brutalize our knees with large loose rocks and soft dusty soil, both of which gave way at the slightest pressure from our damaged and battered feet.

But at the end of the trek we found ourselves on the beach looking out at this.

Tune in Tomorrow and we'll show you the video.

Sechelt Quest: The Lost Camp, Part One

Brave Warriors We Were and Bold and Brash and Soon to Be Bloodied...

The Weekly meeting of Core Club for Genus Rex decided to have its meeting this week as a day hike. This week's posts will chronicle that epic trip.


We set out Sunday morning at 5:30am for the Horseshoe bay ferry terminal, to catch the first ferry across to Langdale and Gibson and from there up the Sunshine coast to Sechelt. Our goal was here, the abandoned bible camp beyond Mount Richardson Park and Tetrahedron Park that we questing warriors felt might indicate a suitable place for our planned camp.

The trip across the water and up to Sechelt went off without a hitch. We got lost trying to find the hiking trail and went up a dead end trail to a watermain access point in our first attempt to find the trail marked on the map.

Our second attempt at finding the trail was successful, and went headed up towards the potential camp site. And up was the appropriate term, because in 6 km of walking we rose 700 m. The elevation change did a number of my (Ryan Cove) knees and reminded me that I do in fact have arthritis. Donald and Jordan powered through like warrior poets. And Michelle?

Well as you can see from the picture, she was so far ahead of us boys in the first 6 km that we couldn't even see her most of the time. She only allowed us to catch up when she accidentally stepped on a bee and got stung.

After the first 6km the terrain flattened out and the travel became easier. We also realized that we could access this road with Donald's truck or even Jordan's if we slowed down and made allowance for the lower wheel base. None of us wanted to turn around at this point though, and so a mental note was made for the next trip.

As we walked we considered the idea of charging two fees for camp attendance, one for those who hiked the monster hike to the camp, and a higher fee for those who arrived by boat without having to hike. We also argued back and forth the idea of a badge for those who did this hike at least once.

Donald spotted deer tracks, and we began to notice piles of old decomposing bear poop near the end of the even trail.

Our final way station before the next elevation change would be an unnamed lake that was therefore christened Jordan Lake by somebody in the group, but certainly not by Jordan himself.

We paused to reflect on how amazing it looked, but this time we didn't stop to stick our heads in and cool down. That would change on the return trip, but we still had another 4km of switch backs and elevation drops (another 800m) to get through before we reached the point on the map where the old camp was supposed to be....

Continued Tomorrow in Part Two!

Why We Aren't Satisfied by Consumerism