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Journal (The Ember Update)

Thursday, September 25

Vancouver

I've uploaded my Vancouver photo-travelogue as a slide click-through. Here are a few to get you started:

Sylvia Hotel Neon	Paradise & Coyote	Liliget Canoe	Tojo of Tojo Sushi

Victoria will come later...

Objective?

Read this, from an interview with Fox Broadcasting recorded Sunday night and aired Monday (September 22, 2003):

Bush said he insulates himself from the "opinions" that seep into news coverage by getting his news from his own aides. He said he scans headlines, but rarely reads news stories.

"I appreciate people's opinions, but I'm more interested in news," the president said. "And the best way to get the news is from objective sources, and the most objective sources I have are people on my staff who tell me what's happening in the world."

Didn't that actually demonstrate the definition of subjective? But maybe that's what Rove, Rice, Cheney, and Rumsfeld told him "objective" means.

How can anyone not be up in arms about this kind of attitude? How can any wise person think Bush is wise? How can any thinking person agree with Bush's policies? Our country (that means you and me) is truly being screwed by Bush and his inner circle. Did you know Condoleeza Rice has a Chevron Oil Tanker named after her? Cheney is ex-CEO for Halliburton, an oil contractor. Bush is a failed oil executive (but not Bush Sr., currently back in oil). How can this "war" (with no demonstrable provocation from Iraq) be about anything but ego and oil (a.k.a. money)?

Wednesday, September 17

Rain

From my written notes:
Mon., Sept 25th—This evening after work was nice. I went to M.O.M.s and bought most of the veggies I'll need to make an Autumn Vegetable Roast (with rosemary and thyme from Alison).

Standing in the checkout line, a great rain began to fall. Through the large front windows we watched the downpour spread across the lot in the clouded early evening light. The cute guy at the register had a Bob Marley-tattoo'd forearm, a statement I appreciated.

I carried my two bags out where other people had gathered on the dry sidewalk. As a whole we meditated on the rain's peacefulness, the quiet of everything else and the clean smell. It was like we were holding our breaths in wonder.

Some minutes later a car arrived and parked. A man emerged and ran onto the sidewalk, declaring happily, "It's lovely weather." It seemed we agreed. The sound of the rain was calming like soft white noise, the rivulets on the low pavement gentle to the eyes.

Later the tattoo'd man helped a woman carry her groceries through the heavy rain. As he jogged back he scanned each of us with a quizzical and amused expression, and I smiled at his kindness.

After 10 minutes, without a sign of the rain abating, a couple of defectors made me consider that I, too, didn't need to wait much longer. Then a car pulled up for a passenger and bags, and the fast thump of the wipers broke the peace.

As I stood to gather my bags, a bandana'd youth waiting nearby asked if I was going. I nodded and we both ducked out. From inside my car I realized he was on foot, so I offered a ride. He thanked me with a grin and said he liked the rain.

So did I.

No Exceptions

Here's a quote I found in the Sept-Oct. Utne, which I'm encouraging everyone to read since it's such a great issue.

"With the solitary exception of the Eskimos, there isn't a people on Earth that doesn't use psychoactive plants to effect a change in consciousness, and there probably never has been. As for the Eskimos, their exception only proves the rule: Historically, Eskimos didn't use psychoactive plants because none of them will grow in the Arctic. As soon as the white man introduced the Eskimos to fermented grain, they immediately joined the consciousness changers."
—Michael Pollan, author, The Botany of Desire

XNFP?

I have decided that I am—according to Kiersey Temperaments—a mesh of various elements from an ENFP and INFP, a champion idealist and healer idealist. Both are a little extreme for either to apply wholly to me. I previously thought I was only a champion idealist, except I definitely have my introverted side…

Wednesday, September 3

The Jade Canoe

Following our fun birthday trip to Vancouver, I'm finding myself sick with a sore throat and cough. I don't think I have a fever, so at least I've escaped SARS. (Vancouver airport sends everyone home with a symptoms warning sheet which we are to keep for 10 days … )

Rash and I met at Vancouver International Airport's Spirit of Haida Gwaii: The Jade Canoe, an impressive 20' long by 13' high sculpture by Bill Reid. (It's not really jade, but the patina is reminiscent). The Haida are an aboriginal people with rich mythology, as referenced by various human and animal figures in the densely packed canoe sculpture. The black bronze version can be seen at the Canadian Embassy in DC (my first viewing). The white plaster original resides in the Canadian Museum of Civilization's Great Hall.

Here are sample photographs of the sculpture for you to inspect (click to see more):

Starboard Side	Bear/Human Cub	The Beaver	Dogfish Woman

If you're curious about the individual figures, you can review the key.

More about Vancouver next time. Thanks for a wonderful birthday, Rash!

And now for a moment of political action:

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