LandMinds

Too often, I wander within the binary halls of the CNN Website, partially to break boredom, partially to satisfy my curiosity in regard of this venerable institution's spin on world breaking news (and I take 'breaking' very literally). Today, I stumbled upon a news bite that demonstrated once more how dysfunctional our continent size microcosm is.

Recently, two lesbians were harassed at a Seattle Mariners game for kissing in public (http://www.cnn.com/2008/US/06/05/seattle.kiss.ap/index.html ). This event seems to have generated a lot of passionate debate on both sides of the issue and I would rather not add to the proverbial blog diarrhea. Yet I feel compelled to offer a 'stranger in a strange land' view of the situation, as it appears to me as comically misguided as it is deplorable.

While the good citizens of this country suffer through ever rising prices, the loss of their sons and daughters in a corporate war, rampant logging crisis and one of the poorest excuse for health care developed nations could muster (among many other things), it seems that they still find energy to monopolize an almighty ire regarding an innocuous display of affection. I cannot affect surprise in this matter, as I have lived through the dark days of the 'Nipple Super Ball'. Nonetheless I am still amazed at the ability of the American public to delve into the pits of moral despair when encountering phenomenon which they were told to judge as 'abnormal'. It seems that to the average Seattle citizen, a kiss between lesbian partners qualifies as an abnormality, and mandates the actioning of the nearest authority figure in an attempt to put an end to this blasphemy. I note, with a grin that said citizen did not gather the personal might to address the situation themselves and acted vicariously through a stadium usher. Ever wondered why there are stadium ushers when everyone is screaming their head out? But I digress. Back to our blasphemous kiss...

You see, the problem here is more complex than it first appears. Firstly, a grown adult is distressed by a public display of affection, and notably because this display of affection is between same sex partners. This reaction is probably born from years (maybe generations) of cultists brainwashing by religious figures who have long forgotten the message of their holy scriptures to concentrate upon man-made moral rules destined to satisfy the innate desire for misery our puritan forefathers brought to this continent. I have little doubt about their lack of reaction regarding a kiss among individuals of opposite sex. So maybe can we blame religion in this case?
That would be too easy though, as we would blame a universal human phenomenon for an abnormal human behavior. After reading some of the public comments in the article, I realized that the issue was one of education. Education of the parents, who were never taught that love is the most quintessential and natural of human feelings. Note my use of human, which tiptoes around the fact that I discard the rest of the animal reign, through self-admitted ignorance. By love, I do not mean the traditional teaching of correlatively traditional relations between male and female, but love in its purest form and thus in its most widespread manifestation. Love between strangers in a fluttering moment of assistance on the side of the road, love between parents and children, love between a pedestrian and a homeless individual, love of a gardener for a flower, love of a child for an animal, love of man for his enemy, love of passersby the time of a smile and a stolen eye contact, and yes, love between lesbian, gay or straight partners. Love is everywhere yet is not taught properly, or rather is not allowed to expand naturally, like a bonsai which growth is twisted and thwarted by a gardener’s whim. Because of this mangled education and lack of nurturing of natural tendencies, parents carry parasitic taboos that are in turn communicated to children. A father exclaimed that he feels uncomfortable exposing his children to same sex affection because he does not know how to explain it to them. Indeed, how could he, he was never taught.

So, far from wanting to join the crowd of angry puritans or outraged gay activists, I stand on the sideline and wonder how we can bring this derailed train of a society on the right track, far away from the proselytistic cult of nationalism and violence, away from the religion of the All Mighty Dollar and toward a culture of love, tolerance and compassion. Anger is not the solution, you are, if you only will.

No go and make the world a better place.

Pierre out…

Posted by Pierre at 09:24 PM | Permalink

Drinking: A very average Merlot
Listening to: 'Minefields' from Prodigy
Location: Hotel Osaka

I just received an email from a cousin of mine that she forwarded while expressing her outrage about its content. This email focuses upon Antisemitism in France. Here is my answer to the originator...

Reading this email saddened me, not because of the acts described within it or the mere concept behind those acts, this I am unfortunately accustomed to thanks to my past life and the daily news, but because of the following reasons:

- Firstly, the level of misinformation and pseudo-journalistic myopia expressed in the email is alarming. The author emphasizes the need to remain informed, which I thoroughly agree with. I suggest we all start by turning off Fox News as a preemptive strike against brain-draining propaganda. However, the author's plea for information flies in the face of outdated events and somewhat spotty incidents. Nevertheless, the degraded nature of the reports should not in any way take away from the gravity of the actions. May I suggest we place them back in perspective though? Almost all the presented incidents occurred in suburban or urban areas considered unsafe, and plagued with a high delinquency rate. I used to live near Bondy and I can tell you that the Bronx has nothing on it! Thus, given the high crime rate affecting these areas, it is logical to consider that the amount of hate crime is also going to be considerably higher than anywhere else in the country. Also, poor urban areas are often inhabited by immigrants, many of them being Muslims. There is a well known effort by radical Muslim factions to mobilize confused youth in a fight against perceived enemies. These individuals use the same tactics that are used anywhere else in the world to inspire terror and spread hate and violence. As Sara mentioned it, France's imperialistic past came back to haunt Her and the country now has to deal with a large Muslim population that contains fringe extremist elements. So if we consider that the hate crimes are the product of fringe extremists who live in urban ghettos, how is it possible to deduct that France is a haven of anti-Antisemitism? To put it in perspective, should African nations boycott the US for all the hate crimes involving African Americans? Should Israel boycott the US because of the 1500+ anti Semitic crimes committed on our ground every year? Yes, indeed, some US citizens are also displaying anti Antisemitism! Maybe we should boycott ourselves; or maybe we should put reported information in perspective and think a while before jumping to conclusion.

- Secondly, I do not really understand how suggesting a boycott of French products is going to solve the specific problem we are facing. Given, as we mentioned it earlier, these attacks originate from an extremist, violent fringe of minorities living in France and some originate from an extremist violent fringe of the native French population influenced by the excretive theories of the neo Nazis, how can we impact the situation by applying economic sanctions to non-prejudiced, law abiding and mostly peace loving citizens. I feel that this statement implies that the French government condones these anti-Semitic activities, which is beyond insulting. Not only has France proven to be a safe haven for faiths, ethnicities and philosophies of all types, but laws are in place that severely punish any hate crime. The government is very active in solving and punishing such crimes and hinting at its condonation of hate-based acts is as misinformed as it ridiculous.

- Thirdly, I resent the suggestion that France is akin to a spider Web in the wind under external pressure. Coming from a family that has fought many wars, since the middle ages, defended innocents and lost their freedom or lives in the name of these causes, I take as a personal insult the commonly agreed, mediatic pun that stamps the French with a cowardly attitude. I would expect better from the originator of such a document than to brandish such idiotic imagery pushed by the misinformed and the ill-intentioned.

- Last but certainly not least, I would like to make an appeal to you, the readers. Please consider the fact that our world is never going to be perfect and that prejudice, hate and violence are always going to be a significant part of humans’ daily activities and thought patterns. Be ready to put your life at risk to protect the innocents, the victimized, the oppressed, not in a foreign land but right here in your streets, wherever you are. And, even if perfection is out of reach, change is possible and it starts with you. Change does not imply boycotting this group or that group, it does not involve indignant yet safe Internet diatribes against a perceived enemy, nor does it require violence of the mind or the body. Change is brought about by all of us, every day, when we open our heart to difference and welcome others as they are, without prejudice and labeling. This attitude will transcend tribes, religions, armies, factions and elevate us to what we truly are: human.

I will leave you with John Lennon's lyrics. May you bear them in your heart wherever you go

"Imagine there's no countries
It isn't hard to do
Nothing to kill or die for
And no religion too
Imagine all the people
Living life in peace"

Now go and make the world a better place...

Pierre out...

Ressources

http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/40258.htm

http://www.adl.org/PresRele/ASUS_12/4057_12.asp

Posted by Pierre at 08:30 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Listening: Mushroom Jazz (1)
Drinking: Shiraz

Mr. Electric Triangle is spinning his unique brand of Bossa Nova Lounge jazz on my 5.1, courtesy of Creative and I decided to get back to this blog that I have now neglected for over a week. And what a week it has been?

Besides the messy tension that has permeated my life the last four months, the last week has added the irritant of bitter, ‘midlify’, pseudo competitive people who decided to play on my turf the pathetic tribal hurray of their mid life crisis. It was bad enough that only a week earlier Catherine Harris won the senate race for the totalitarian party. I am not in the habit of pushing political views in these pages, not by fright mind you, but rather by lack interest for this clownery that pretends to run our slab of land. Yet, when somebody runs on the platform that Christians are the only hope of this country and that voting for anyone else would be like legislating sin, it is time for me to come out swinging. What the F*$# is she thinking? And for all the ones that voted for her, do us a favor and move to Afghanistan where you belong and join the Taliban … But back to my initial gripe.

Do you ever have the impression that you live amongst people who pursue their agenda over, around and through you and that, having been told to be the polite, suppressed (I hesitate to use the word emasculated, it hurts) and ‘comme il faut’ (check it out, culture has never hurt anyone, except Western culture pushed on the Mid Easterners, obviously) you let them get away with it? Added to this castrating education, laced with a puritan attitude toward demonstrative anger, is the fear to be seen as a loose canon, at work, outside, in public and among acquaintances. The fact is, the real you is inside screaming with frustration that these gray bullies who push their way and get ahead in a rat race that their epitomize. The real you is left crying behind the iron mask of your tamed personality and has no recourse but to dig inside, bringing in its wake ulcers, cancers and neuroses a plenty.

I am not a role model, and neither am I one of the tame ones. But yet my true self can only breathe through the crack that was left in the door. So tonight I encourage you to kick the door open and inhale a freedom long lasted for. Feels good doesn’t it? Now, I am not preaching an epidemic of erratic behaviors, or rude demeanors, but rather a rash of self assured smiles, pointed remarks, grounds held firmly and personal flair for human relationships, fashion, music and life in general. The choice is simple: spend your life being what everyone expects you to be or decide to be on the outside the person you are, and have forever been, on the inside. I will listen tomorrow for the noise of exuberant, direct, joyful and irreverent outbursts. Watch for the opening door!

Go be yourself and make a better world.

Pierre out…

Posted by Pierre at 10:17 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Drinking: Shiraz
Listening to: ‘All That You Can’t Leave Behind’ U2

There are so many human beings on this living ball of molten rock that one cannot dream of meeting every one of them. While I try to approach every new encounter with an open mind and an open heart, I often walk away feeling that nothing came out of the exchange. Don’t get me wrong, I have met many great people in my 40 something years on Earth and I am looking forward to continue walking the trails and saluting strangers on the way.

Maybe is it that I do not bring enough to these encounters; maybe is it that I often parade as more of an open heart vagabond that I am really am? In the end, of the people I read about and see in the media, there are very few I want to meet, not being the groupie type anyway.

But today I forever lost an opportunity to meet a guy I would I traveled far and wide to just shake hands with: Steve Irwin. Many of us remember the grinning daredevil that always made us cringe and never failed to amaze us. I never met Mr. Irwin, my only ‘contact’ having been a sympathy email sent to him when the media gave him a hard time about him feeding a croc while holding his child. Nevertheless, he fascinated me with his good humor, his fascination for the animals that populate the Earth, his gift to enroll us in the conservationist movement by showing the world how beautiful these creatures are and how important it is that we exert our power to save them. I felt drawn toward this charismatic figure because I knew he was ‘the real thing’ amongst a society of poseurs, wanabees and mask-wearing shells. I love the man because he genuinely loves life.

I find myself in this uncommon grieving mood and wanted to share it with you, serendipitous reader. Let us not forget who the ‘Croc hunter’ is any time soon. How about ever? Please give to a conservationist organization today, go to the official Croc Hunter website (www.crocodilehunter.com ) and give some money to the zoo, do something to save wildlife around your area and never, never let it go when these morons who believe they have a holly dominion over the Earth think nothing wrong of destroying ‘inferior’ lives. All lives are equal, all lives are sacred and taking one by negligence, greed or just laziness is as despicable an act as it comes. I agree that we have dominion over this world, but as protectors, as guardians, as providers of hope, safety and life.

Please drop a line of sympathy to the Irwins at http://www.worldtributes.com/tributes/steveirwin.php

Well, it looks like the remote possibility of shaking Steve’s hand will not occur in this life. Hopefully, some other place, some other time…

Go and make the world a better place.

Pierre out…

Posted by Pierre at 08:24 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Listening to: The 8 fans of my rig.
Dringking: Red Bicyclette Merlot

With the relative torpor of the holidays, it was easy to rest one’s mind, relax one’s habits and fall in the crowd of excuses that form the funeral procession of good intentions. Thus this blog laid dormant for 2 months. It was going to take an earthquake to shake my lethargic abandon and, for good or bad, this earthquake happened: South Dakota challenged women’s choice.

I first want to say that you will not read my personal opinion about abortion in these lines. The reason is fairly simple; not being a women and never, in this life at least, having to face this choice, I do feel I lack all the elements necessary to cast an enlightened judgment on the subject. You may of course disagree… I have been told many times that not being a woman is not the problem, that the fate of an innocent life is the problem. Granted, this may be, but I just refuse to get dragged into an argument that involves more faith than reason.

What I really feel strongly about, though, is the fact that this country was founded upon a concept of freedom, which includes freedoms of and from religion. Thus, I do not see why we should consider a Judeo Christian view of a topic when drafting laws, which is exactly what is being done in South Dakota. The fact that a category of the population thinks, because of their faith, that abortion is not acceptable does not make it a crime for those who do not embrace their particular faith. Once again, I am not saying that abortion is or is not acceptable for me, just that I do not wish to infringe upon others’ choice. Just what kind of arrogance is needed to think that one’s opinion is the only valid one? Did I just sleep through a long trip and have I landed in one of these Middle Eastern theocracies? Maybe is it time for our nation to tell the theocrats that their particular breed of Taliban is not acceptable in the United States of America. Then there is the ‘rational’ argument…

Many ‘pro lifers’ maintain that the infant is a being since conception and thus has rights, just as any other human. This leads us to the question: when is a fertilized egg a human being? Once again, I will not get into this debate, considering that it clearly is impossible to determine who is ’right’ or ‘wrong’ the issue resting upon belief rather than mere facts. I will however raise the point that many ‘pro-lifers’ I talked to are in total support of the war. I am not sure I understand the ability to conciliate this vehement fight for an unborn life with the blind acceptance of the legalized extinction of life that is war. Of course, being non violent makes me biased but I cannot help but wonder what the difference is between the fetus and the grown individual in their right to life. Just because someone belongs to another faction does it make their life less worthy of living? Only in self defense would I raise my hand in violence and even then, I would hesitate to kill. After all, life is the most precious commodity and how can we show the way to peace if we were to allow our actions to contradict our words. Also, what about those of the ‘pro-lifers’ who admit being in favor of the death penalty?

So next time you express your fervent opinions about the right to live, think about the entirety of your beliefs and try to be coherent. This being said, in our country, personal freedom always trumps religious laws and so I encourage you to raise your voice in disagreement if you feel that the recent events in South Dakota constitute a threat to the American way of Life.

As an alternative, check out ‘The Prevention First Act’(Senate Bill 2458 and House Bill 1073) and take action at http://www.ppaction.org/campaign/ppan_pfa/wxwdx8w215kt5we?

Now go on make the world a better place.

Pierre out.

Continue reading "Violated..." »

Posted by Pierre at 10:47 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Till Debts Do Us Part…

Driving to work one morning I was listening to my favorite radio station, NPR (please listen and contribute to http://www.npr.org ). As often, a bit of news captured my interest and immediately involved my heart. Somewhere in the US, recently, a dying man asked his wife to divorce him in order to avoid being responsible for the ½ million dollars debt his medical treatment generated. She refused…

It is not often that I hear a story where love triumphs over greed, evil, whatever, and I was closed to tears as I imagined the situation and its meaning. A great sadness overcame me as I realized that this single bit of news probably represented a low point for our entire culture. Such values as love, faith, effort, hope, cooperation are pushed at the forefront of our media-saturated national scene on a daily basis. Entire campaigns are run over who is more virtuous than whom and even blatant lies and extreme social positions are forgiven in the light of an advertised strong stance on said values. Then such situations as the one described above occur and the true face of reality, in all its obscene ugliness is revealed.

I come from a country that has a national healthcare and where this coverage works. I am not saying it is flawless and solves all health related problems, just that everyone is covered (with the extremely small exception of a few administrative loopholes). I often hear on US television that such a solution would never work in our country, that European countries are much smaller and thus present a unique situation. Unfortunately for these mouth pieces, I studied global health coverage in my early university years and can tell you that such statement is completely wrong. Global healthcare coverage works better as its base grows in size. Granted, the Baby Boomers are likely to create an overload, for some time, but will not bankrupt the system. I believe the key to the national resistance to such a solution is based upon four misconceptions:

- Global health care is considered a ‘socialist’ measure. Get over it people, this is just a word and it is about time that the brain washing message of the McCarthy years is left behind. By socialist, understand ‘with a social goal’. Now how is this bad?

- A global solution will increase taxes. Considering how much insured people are now paying for their plans, I am pretty certain that the same money can be added to taxes and would result in an even exchange. I must admit that I do not have data about this fact and am just basing my remark upon the fact that 25% to 30% of HMO costs goes to administrative expenses, including the insane salaries of their CEOs.

- Why should I pay for someone else’s coverage? It is true that some families will not pay taxes toward the global health coverage. However, as we live in a large community named the United States, cannot we find it in our heart to share the wealth so that others ‘lives can be preserved? Or have we grown so self-centered that such a perspective repulses us?

- Insurances should be allowed to make profit. Free enterprise is a fundamental American value. True enough, but health is a fundamental national issue and should not be abandoned to capitalistic greed. One’s life is and will always be worth more than mere money and I consider it a basic governmental function to help preserving citizen’s health. Hence the need to a national, government-managed system.

- Doctors have worked hard and should be able to make a profit. Of course, but then consider, as I mentioned it before, that 20 to 25 percent of HMOs cost goes to administrative expenses. Doctor’s salaries are not in question here, they should be justly paid for their high level of skills. Health insurances, on the other hand, add nothing to our society well-being and could be replaced completely by a federally-run, non-profit, system.

When it all comes down to it, from corporations to individuals find it hard to spend money for others,. We have grown into egocentric, wealth-centric citizens who sympathize at others’ problems yet do very little to solve them. Truth is, we are all in this together. Next time you pledge your faith, values, good intent, think about all those who are dying and ruined because of medical costs, think about families sent in tragedy because they could not afford an easy cure, think about how ridiculously fake any righteous statement sounds in comparison. Health is one’s most important ‘possessions’ and no politician will have my attention until he/she offers a viable, solid and driven plan for global health coverage.

Posted by Pierre at 10:44 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Mood: Mellow
Listening to: Blunted Jazz by DJCam
Drinking: Cabernet-Sauvignon

Good evening and happy new year to all of you out there.

I promise I will not bore you with the usual New Year crap, resolutions and all. After all, I opened this hailing frequency to move away from the usual. On this New Year’s Day, I just want you to promise me to live a richer life. Love harder, work smarter (NOT LONGER), play harder, taste every little bit of life till the flavor runs out, then pop another. Make this telephone call to this long lost relative, start a new hobby; ask out the guy/gal you have been dreaming about for weeks, start something good, and stop anything that affects you negatively. All these little ripples will change the world and the image reflected when the water finally settles will be a happier, deeper more meaningful one.

Remember, it all starts with you.

Pierre out…

Posted by Pierre at 09:58 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

After reading the following articlehttp://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/3701748.stm I I was motivated to pause and reflect upon the following.

Whatever we do in life is often the result of a combination of circumstances jolted slightly askew by decisionary patterns inherited from our background. Simply said, we end up places that we never knew we would visit.

Where I am, where you are today in your life, career, hobbies is not as important as where you wish to be. Indeed, if you are reading these words and are a 16 hour day accountant for a powerful Manhattan firm and are delighted with your job and life, this is where you are meant to be until further notice from your persona. On the other hand, if you fit the same profile yet come home every night just to swallow a combo of anti depressant and bourbon, maybe it is time to change your life. It all comes to a matter of awareness. While it is perfectly acceptable to live in the ‘system’, it is crucial to be aware of it.

One’s life path runs parallel to one’s aspiration and destiny. I use the word destiny as in ‘The inevitable or necessary fate to which a particular person or thing is destined’. Aspiration here is the keyword due to the fact that destiny is unknown until it is accomplished, making it as useful as a bottle of steak sauce at a vegan party. SO ask yourself ‘What do I want to do with my life?’ ‘What am I good at?’ ‘Do I like what I am presently doing?’. I any of the answers to these questions emphasizes a discrepancy between what is going on and what you wish for, it is time to act upon it. Now, don’t get me wrong; I am not saying that life is supposed to be perfect. In a sense that would make it boring. What I am insinuating is that your life is too valuable to be wasted in doing something you are not particularly good at and that does not bring you satisfaction.

It is often useful to ask yourself what the impact of your life will be upon the world. Will you leave a positive, negative or neutral impact? I tend to think that the worst of all three is the neutral one, for it denotes passivity and lack of engagement. The negative impact can be corrected more easily, in my humble opinion, for it only encompasses redirecting energy. In a neutral state of being, energy is not present and has to be generated first. Generally, the more human-oriented your activity, the more impact you will leave. Indeed, humans remember, testify, emulate and thus act as the vessels, the continuation of your impulse, just as you may be someone else’s.

Please, as you wrap up this read, take a few minutes to consider where you are, where you want to be, and if these two places differ, get up and start walking…

Continue reading "Furite" »

Posted by Pierre at 06:36 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Mood: Melow
Listening to: DJ Krush
Drinking: Camomille tea

Allow me to let you in on a little secret: ‘we are one and the same’. I am not talking about you and I, or even you and your neighbor, or significant other (more on that later). I am talking about you, me and everyone else. At the simplest, yet deepest level, we are one. ‘Impossible’ says you ‘I am me and I know it. See, I can look at my image, touch my body. And I think, I think therefore I am like this dude said a long time ago (that was Descartes – NFTB)’. True enough superficially, however, when you examine what makes you, maybe will you notice that it is what you think, what you do, what you like, dislike, wear, choose. This ego that the media cajole in hope that it will do what is expected, buy what is manufactured and fear for itself so much that it will not stick its head out, ever. This ego is but a perspective and a reliquary of the self centered societies that have presided over the human race for thousands of years.

Well, the truth is that the rawest level, there is no difference between you, me, the passing beauty you linger to watch, the bird on the balcony or even the coffee table that sits so faithfully in your living room. Want some proof? Ever walked in a room just to see your mood dive or elevate instantly, ever fell in love, ever cried with a friend. Some call it empathy, some call it sensitivity. All it is really is the manifestation that we are one with all that is around us and thus are able to ‘feel’ what others feel as it is us who is feeling. Because it is…

By the way, as promised a few paragraphs ago, let’s concentrate on the ‘significant other’ concept. What makes this person significant? Probably that others are insignificant, as we are driven by our ego to ignore what is not directly relevant to our life. The significance of the relation lies in the fact that we (sometimes) feel this unity between this particular person and ourselves, and become one, as we should be with all things. Maybe is this a vestige of our natural sense of order, of our lost meaning of life.

Do me a favor and next time you are amongst other living beings, stop your ego for a few minutes. Stop your self centered mind, source of want, need, resentment and fear. Stop the mind train and just be. Contemplate the life around you and feel what it feels. Be a blade of grass wavering in the wind, be the bird calling others from its branch, be the baby in the stroller. You are them and they are you, we are one.

When you polute your mind with thoughts of hate, revenge and other toxic products of our everyday life, remember that others feel what you feel and that you thus leave the world a worse place. Love, laugh, help, grow. You are the secret.

Pierre out…

Posted by Pierre at 10:20 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Mood: Awful
Listening to: The hum of my 9 computer fans.
Color: Greenish yellow.

Well folks, after a few days of silence, here I am back on track on a Sunday night, hungry, nauseous and vacillating on the brink of yet another visit to the toilet. If you guessed ‘hang over’ you were wrong, we’ll see you next time for another game of ‘Guess What Makes Pierre Sick?”. Seriously, I swallowed some ‘bowel cleanser’ a few hours ago in prevision of a nice coloscopy exam tomorrow morning and after doubting the liquid for a litle while, I am a convert. So I will keep this blog brief.

The reason I decided to share this with you dear reader is because there are too many individuals outside who would rather die a painful death of rot gut than having a long tube inserted up their anal passage. They are just not ‘into that’. Time for a reality check: ‘If you were told that your life could be saved by a 40 minute exam during which a professional insert a tube-mounted camera up your ass, would you do it?’. How much do you devalue your life that discomfort, a day of eating jello and hard candy and the ‘shame’ of having medical staff explore your ‘poop chute’ is worse than death? So for you out there who are still hesitating, get an education at http://www.cdc.gov/cancer/screenforlife/ and talk to your doctor. He/she will tell you if you should get checked. Just do it, a pain in the but weekend in exchange for more life spent laughing your ass off… Where do I sign?

Pierre out ...

PS: I really hate Jello, no matter what 'flavor'. What kind of sick F did call that 'flavors' anyway.

Posted by Pierre at 09:54 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Mood: full and tired with a chance of late night
Listening to: Repetitive kids videogames soundtrack.
Drinking: Camomille Tea

Welcome to this blog Thanksgiving 2005 edition! Don’t’ leave quite yet, I promise to avoid the usual meaningless platitudes! I just would like you to think back to the people that were around you today. When it all comes down to it, these people are your life, your environment, and populate your own personal reality, today. So try to remember this meal and always be thankful for the individuals who shared it with you. After all, the fate of the world, a country, or any of the myriads of deformed events presented daily in the media are nothing in comparison to the life of those who shared your table today. Always invite strangers at your table, care for your family and friends; Good starts and ends here, in the moment. Dara, Axel, Morgan, Bev, Bud, Royce, David Violet and Mindy, you made my day special and I will forever bear it within me. For that, I am thankful…

Pierre out…

Posted by Pierre at 10:42 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Playing: Beanfield – The Great Outside (Dixon ADVC Retouch)
Mood: Mellow with a chance of neurosis

Monday night in sleepy Florida. The wind outside persists in pushing things around and it almost feels like autumn, like the real autumn, the one that orchestrates fancily dressed leaves dance parties and announces winter just before he leaves, like a small club spinner just before the graveyard break. Well, no real autumn here, this is always summer, with a slightly colder temp once in a blue moon (Check this link for the meaning of the expression http://www.obliquity.com/astro/bluemoon.html)…

Not much to talk about tonight, as if Monday was a bland staging area for the rest of a week that speeds up until the weekend arrives, then comes to a dead halt of potentials soon evaporated in Saturday night last glass of whiskey. At least this Monday did not bear too f-ups. Thank G for little things! Plus this week is a short one, whatever that means (I believe it means ‘short work-wise’).

I was musing this morning on which educational step to take next. As a web guy, it would be natural to go for a PhD in computer science, but the perspective of taking yet more programming courses, math courses and other dry technicalities leaves me with a fairly nauseous feeling. Guys, this is supposed to be fun! I have looked at PhDs in education, given the fact my ideal job is to teach technology and web design, along with researching new approaches, angles and altogether throw a spin on the online scene before it gets to comfy. I have a degree in law, one in education and one in CIS. What’s next? If you read this and whether you know me or not let me know what you think.

The burning lavender incense is almost out. The wind has decided to rest for a little while. I’ll do the same.

Pierre out…

Posted by Pierre at 10:09 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

While I am able to tear apart and rebuild some of the most complex PC configurations, cars are forbidden territory, an arcane area that forever remains out of reach of my intellect. Mostly, as it is common with human and mathematics, the problem is probably more a mental blockage than anything else. Yet, it remains that I am nowhere close to a grease monkey.

When my front light went out on my bug, I froze, my mind full of horror stories from friends with similar vehicles who broke the light casing, destroyed the safety system beyond use and otherwise blew high pressure light bulbs. It was not until I received a written warning from the police that I felt compelled to break open the hood and delve in the cavernous entrails of my favorite steed. I took me a while before I mustered the courage to actually apply myself long enough to get the job done. But let my pain not be in vain. For all you 2003 bug owners out there, here is how it is done:

- Look on the side of the engine housing that harbors the burned out light. Right where the light casing is you should see a tab protruding from the casing. Right above this tab is a criss-cross patterned plastic square. Push in the square while pulling the tab upward until it cannot move anymore. The light casing is now loose and will slightly protrude from the car’s body.
- Pushing lightly from the inside, slide the casing out.
- ACHTUNG – DELICATE PART. You must separate the front of the light casing from the back. This is achieved by popping four grey plastic tabs located on the right, left, top and bottom of the shaft. These tabs are attached to the back of the unit. As the bug gets older, or maybe by mere design, these tabs are VERY fragile, using a large blade to pop them will break them (I broke 2 out of 4). Once the tabs are broken (or at least 3 out of 4) the light is no longer secured and you must spend 2 or 3 hundred dollars to buy a new part. Once you have safely removed the tabs, the two units separate.
- Now look at the back of the ‘back’ element. You should see a black plastic cover. First thing to do is to remove the screw that holds the tab. The screw insert is star shaped so be ready to have one of these nifty heads in your tool chest.
- Once the screw is off, you must use patience and skill (and I am NOT using the word lightly) to remove the black cap’s 2 lower tabs and 1 superior tab.
- Once the tab is off, you can access the back of the bulb, which is held down by a spring. Pop the spring carefully up and it will swing upward.
- Remove the faulty bulb carefully. I advise safety glasses and gloves in case the bulb blows, these babies are not your friendly household type.
- Replace the buld and push the spring back into place.
- Replace the black cap and reassemble CAREFULLY front and back elements. Tabs can also break on the insert.
- Slide the light shaft inside the frame. Both sides have plastic rails that slide inside metal rails located in the frame.
- Once the shaft is back in, push the tab down.
- YOU ARE DONE. GO HAVE A BEER…

I hope that helps. Let me know if you encounter new and unusual circumstances.

PIERRE

Posted by Pierre at 08:23 PM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0)

Now that Viagra has been targeted for blinding or impairing some users, it seemed that the time had come to pay the piper (no pun intended) for all the chemically induced woodies. Besides, why would men have all the fun and benefit for the communal efforts of the medical community? Maybe given the numbers of male doctors did it make more sense for them to focus upon their aging little heads rather than give ladies the attention they needed. Enter http://www.pt141.com/, a pheromone that promises to create instant heat upon nasal absorption. The product works on female rats that are driven to seek male rats attention after being exposed to the product. The studies do not say if the good looking rats get more attention or if PT141, like alcohol, turn every toad into a prince.

A word of advice to you gentlemen: While the lady in your life may need a little ‘startup’ after spending a day working, taking care of the kids, the bills, the house and dinner, you would be well advised to step in and take a load off her shoulders. Nothing turns a woman on like a man who pitches in. One of the major things I have learned in life is that for the feminine gender, sex is but a continuation of less intense situations such as washing dishes, conducting intelligent conversations and, yes, cuddling. Every road leads to sex less it is cluttered with male gaucherie.

For those who do not know what to do with all this instant arousal, take a look at Anne Hooper's Kama Sutra and New Sex Now: Life's Ultimate Pleasure

To be continued…

PIERRE

Posted by Pierre at 09:31 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Don’t get me wrong, I love my Beetle passionately. If you have to buy a car, buy a Beetle! I do not work for Volkswagen but I must say the perfection of their little car has turned me into a customer for life. But enough about my car, just check their site at http://www.vw.com and let’s go back to my rant: I hate driving. I know I moved to a country where the automobile is part of the ‘dream’, thus explaining why so many drivers fall asleep at the wheel. However, I dream of living in a large city where I can take the bus/subway or simply walk; G forbid I would exercise my legs. Driving places me in a claustrophobic space where I spend 40 minutes twice a day moving at great speed down a road toward a destination that does not even mandate my presence (check ATA at http://www.knowledgetree.com/ata.html ). Moreover, other such vehicles, most of them faster and bigger, speed in the same direction and are constantly attempting to ruin my day by sending me flying in the ditch. Ditches, in Florida, have gators and finishing in a gator’s stomach is not my idea of a good morning. In contrast, a large city would bring me the leisure of using public transportation to go from A to B, which is in itself not a cake walk on most days, but at least would provide some time for reading the daily news. I tried to drive and read and either the two activities are incompatible or I am not good at it. In the end, I consider driving a stressful activity that depletes my batteries before I even start working. If you live in an environment where you walk to work or use public transportation, please drop me a line and share.

Posted by Pierre at 10:40 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Driving to work today, I heard news on PBS that perfectly explain and justify my starting this blog: 60% of TIVO users skip commercials, thus prompting a news conference by major channels today in NYC to downplay the trend and keep advertisers from fleeing their waves like peasants before the Mongol hordes. I immediately thought “60% percent of TIVO users skip commercials! That means 40% of them sit there taking in the crappy slogans mass manufacturers lob at their chito-clogged brains!”. Really people, can you believe that? I mean what would motivate a sentient being to sit through commercials when they do not have to? We are not talking about European caliber commercials, ones that use both funny plots and soft porn to lure you into buying their goods. The American public is far more demanding about family values and would immediately rise against whichever television channel shows a nipple or the hint of a pubic area. After all, children are watching and should not be shocked by pictures of the human body between scenes of violence in their favorite show/cartoon/evening news. I would love to hear from someone who digests these ads despite the ability to skip them. It could be the discovery of a new specie.

Posted by Pierre at 10:39 PM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0)