modern life vs. human nature

The Guardian UK

This is a good list of instant apps for people who want real climate information. I liked it because you can get real information at your fingertips the next time some drunken douchbag at the bar tries to tell you that climate change is bullsh*t. Instead of punching him in the face and ridding the planet of one more dinosaur you can just show him the information you pulled out of one of these apps..which of course, he will then soundly deny while scoffing at your iphone and calling you a p***y. Here’s a hint..buy him a few rounds and introduce him to the meanest guy at the bar…then use your wits to steer him toward insulting the guy(it won’t be difficult). Then walk away knowing you have done the human race a favor.
The Guardian UK

I am going to define a new category of people based on their lifestyles and perceptions (a psychographic class as they would call it in marketing speak) considering the new economy that is facing us and our old habits of doing things. It is an entirely useless term but it may help those of us who are trying to find out where we do, or don’t, belong in today’s over -marketed, under-achieving, instantaneously ungratified society. Also these marketing classifications were created so that it would be easier to sell ourselves stuff.

I think that the group might grow quite quickly once people realize that a) your yuppy life is over or b) you killed your yuppy life because it was shallow and useless or c) you are depressed and wondering why you and your friends are boring turds with no hope for the future.

Quite simply MUC means middle-aged, urban and cynical. Welcome to it. The age group would be 30-40 or even 35-45 depending on how long you hang on either way. Once you fall into the MUC in the first few years it’s a little overwhelming but then you kind of ease into it after a awhile and then midway through you may even start to get wise and realize that life isn’t about your ex-girlfriend being a bitch or your ex-boyfriend being a total douchbag. But more about that later, we’re only at the beginning here..and the beginning is  guys “god damn it I’m tired today and I don’t feel like doing shit.” and girls, well for girls it’s more internal, they just kind of look at the world in a different way and say things like “you know, there’s a lot of strollers around this neighbourhood. It’s kind of depressing sometimes.”  Honestly, I have no idea what girls are thinking. Maybe I’ll start asking…

Anyway, consider the fact that you have a good education, understand in small various ways how the world works, live in the richest part of the world and that we are all going to die from catastrophic climate change so there is no hope..oh, and you will probably make less money in the next few years while everything gets more expensive..and you are there. Welcome to the MUC years!

Enjoy…or not.

Just came across this…

I found it on the Swobo site: How to avoid the bummer life

I recently had a discussion with a friend about manners and the slow decay of polite behaviour in public. He suggested that people are less likely to hold open doors for others, say thank you, please or other such polite acts of a well mannered society.  So in an effort to stop the erosion of manners in our civilized country I thought I might try help people who live in Canada.  There should also be tips for visitors to our vast nation so if you have any suggestions I would love to hear them.

Before I get started I have to eliminate Canada’s biggest pet peeve; being referred to as American. I think this first one overrides almost every other Canadian issue because it has a lot to do with the subtle differences between Canadians and Americans. Not that Canadians don’t like Americans, it is that Canadians have different social norms than Americans.

So for people of Canada and those visiting, the number one rule of manners in Canada is:

1)Do not assume Canadians are like Americans.

Though Canada is next door to the USA, Canadians do not like to be considered Americans for a number of reasons. The history of the country is that Canadians take care of each other because Canada has a less hospitable climate then that of it’s southern neighbor.  With a large country and so few people the government acts as an important part of joining people together whether it be by rail(VIA), air(Air Canada), telecommunications(Bell-not anymore-thank you) or entertainment(CBC). Canadians see governement and taxation as a necessary way to create an organized and cohesive society; one that couldn’t be so if it was left up to the private sector.  Plus, a good number of Canada’s founding citizens have drizzled across the border from the US throughout history because they wanted a slightly different way of living. There are not a lot of Canadians in the world and they are spread out across a vast nation so they value the glue that binds them, even if it is hockey, the CBC, universal healthcare, beer drinking and snowboarding.  Special note: Canada won the first Olympic Snowboarding Gold medal and our athlete Ross Rebagliatti was then almost stripped of the medal because they found traces of a marijuana in his system. Sweet! Why? Because even though he was an Olympic athlete he still couldn’t miss that killer party dude! Very Canadian!

Oops lost track.

Next, Canada did not go to war against England.  Canada is a commonwealth country with the Queen’s face still on the currency.  Unlike America, Canada is a “semi-socialist” democracy and Canadians are “ok” with a certain level of taxation so that they can live in an organized and safe society.

What does this mean?

It means that generally Canadians are a kinder, gentler and more quite people than their politically powerful neighbor.  Without the military and economic might of 300 million Canadians assume less about themselves and try to be understanding toward each other just in case they need a hand shovelling out the drveway after the latest blizzard.

It also means that NOT all Canadians like football or baseball (although they invented basketball) so they don’t necessarily like it when someone says “let’s put on the game”.  I am going to go out on a limb her eand suggest that a television set or 6 or ten of them at a bar/restaurant other than a shitty local sports pub, is the worst thing to hit the bar scene since wine coolers.

It also means that even though Canada has been invaded by American consumerism in almost every area of life Canadians still want to politely maintain their distance from the eccentricities of the American way of life. No buffets, No Nascar less Walmart and less drive thru please!

What it doesn’t mean is that Canadians don’t like Americans. They love America!  They view America as the crazy neighbor that has all the good parties…as long as they can get out before the cops show up.

Enjoy!

This was just sent to me from my friends at Adbusters.  God bless them for seeing the humor and opportunity in this latest economic crisis.  Of course, Adbusters has been publishing the wrongs of North American society for years and they generally come off as a little negative.(the truth hurts!)

In this case, I laughed out loud when I saw this spoof cover of the Economist because it makes a few things very apparent; mainly that humans really can’t understand the global or even local economy because it is natural and fallible.(just like humans)  Any one philosophy of the market, human relations or even religion is never absolutely right because we are all different.  It’s seems apparent that multiple economic theories can and must work together in order for us to have a healthy, flowing economy that involves more than one nation.

Global economies… global communication… global religions…global citizenship and global survival means working together…kind of like a team…hhhmmm..novel idea; team work. It is something that Bush and Cheney don’t understand. It is also something that greedy people don’t understand. They don’t understand that it is us and us…not us vs. them.  As Bush tried to say once at the wrong time and for the wrong reason…if you fuck someone over again and again…over time you are going get fucked over yourself.  You can call it justice, karma, revolution or even market adjustment but it comes down to irresponsible behaviour on the part of mortgage brokers, regulators, banks and the US government.  The only problem with this is that a lot of people were duped. a lot of people jumped onto the greed wagon so they could get more money for retirement or for bigger houses with bigger tvs.  Now there is a general panic among those fearful of financial failure.  Of course, the easy way out of this mess is to let it all go.  Maybe go for a bike ride and take in nature.  After all, it’s only zero’s.

Enjoy.

FCI Coleman Low - A low security Federal Correctional Institution in Florida.

Above is Conrad Black’s inmate number. I have also included a picture of the institution he is in right now. It’s funny how the Americans always pick certain people who they want to take down. In the case of Conrad Black it was just a matter of time. You can’t be such a pompous blowhard all the time without creating a room(or country…or even continent) full of people who despise you.

In most of the material I have read about Black, including his biography, I have come away with the feeling that he has a giant superiority complex. He is a very smart, well educated man with some emotional issues. He seems to have grown his businesses based on a certain spite for people, employees and most certainly academics and journalists. By using salary cuts, intimidation and outright scorn he has managed to amass a certain amount of wealth.

In the end the money he made from being a cutthroat businessman could not save him from his own fate.

I wonder if he understands the Shakespearean trajedy that is becoming his life. He most probably thinks himself a Caesar who has been stabbed by his Brutus.

He probably thinks a lot about everything..after all, he is in prison. I wonder if he has an internet connection…

Yes, whether it be a car run on alternative fuel or electricity, an organic farm or a new way to reuse your garbage we are going to explore how to live your(my) life for the better and reveal people, companies and most of all ideas that make us better, smarter, stronger and faster…so stay tuned and if you hear anything good let me know.

Thanks.