Well, I'm finally back for more posting. I'm admittedly not much of a blogger (i.e. it has been 10 months since my last post), but I am going to become more diligent...or opinionated...nah, I'm already pretty opinionated. ;)
A lot has happened in the last 10 months...elections are coming up, the sub-prime housing racket (excuse me, market) has collapsed, the economy is in a 'down turn' and so many companies are talking about 'green' that you can't get away from it.
Speaking of green, the motivation to blog today actually came from an editorial piece in our local newspaper. The piece was poking fun at Obama for having the power to 'heal the planet'. Political opinions aside, this caught my eye. In short, the writer was jokingly pointing to a recent report that the Alaskan glaciers actually grew across 2007 - 2008 as a correlation to Obama's previous statements that the planet would begin to heal if he is elected. Hold on a sec...did the writer really say that the glaciers "grew"? This can't be possible...not according to all of the scientists and 'green' experts around the world. After all, our planet is melting before our very feet, right?
So, I had to go check his sources and found the following article:
http://www.dailytech.com/Alaskan+Glaciers+Grow+for+First+Time+in+250+years/article13215.htm
Sure enough, the glaciers in Alaska grew over the past year. I like the article, but I seriously doubt it will make it to the mainstream media's front page.
Why?
Well, for one, it points out that the planet has been warming since the 1700s. Sure, the Industrial Revolution kicked off in the mid-late 1700s...but I seriously doubt some machines in Britain had enough influence to spark "global warming".
Another reason, is it points out a 3 - 4 degree temperature change in our planet between the 1600s - 1900s that occurred as we "exited the Little Ice Age". I really don't have anything 'witty' to add to this, I think it speaks for itself.
You want another reason? How about it points out the limits and the arrogance of our scientific community? There are many brilliant scientists in the world, but science as a whole shows the arrogance of mankind. The fact that scientists look at a 60 year snapshot or even a 250 years snapshot (referencing the above linked article's comments about how much Glacier Bay has changed since Chirikof visited that area in 1741) and decide that they know how the planet acted over the past several million years (or will act across the next 100 years) is ridiculous. Then, the mainstream media jumps on board and begins stirring the 'fear' machine to get all of us 'lemmings' to follow along.
Do I think our planet is changing? Yes, of course it is. I think it is constantly evolving and changing and will continue to do so millions of years after we are gone.
Do I think our planet is warming? Yes, of course I do. Otherwise, how do you explain the Western Interior Sea that once divided North America (or other inland seas around the world that are now replaced by deserts)? I can't tell you whether tectonic activity caused the seas to disappear or a global warming trend caused them dry up. What I can tell you is that they are gone...and it happened long before man started "polluting" the atmosphere.
Yes, pollution is bad and yes we should take care of our planet. Unless NASA knows something we don't, it's the only planet we're going to have for a while. ;) I'm just not convinced that the trends we are seeing are entirely man-made. Our planet has been warming and cooling for millions of years and without our influence. Carbon emissions from SUV's didn't cause the planet to warm itself out of the previous ice ages and drilling for oil certainly didn't push the planet into those ice ages.
I'll leave you with this question...
When we are discovering new species of animals every day and struggle to study the deepest parts of the oceans, how can we truly be arrogant enough to say that we know how our planet is going to change over the next 100 or 1,000 years?
Thursday, October 16, 2008
Wednesday, January 2, 2008
9 years
What about 9 yrs? Well, today is our 9 yr wedding anniversary. Unfortunately, that is no small feat these days...especially when you get married at 19 & 20. It's funny to look back at all of the people (including our so-called friends) who told us we would never make it because we were so young. Of course, those are also the people who were just convinced we were pregnant and that was the only reason we were getting married...boy were they surprised 9 months later when we still didn't have any kids.
Sadly, most of them couldn't understand why we were getting married. They couldn't comprehend that we might actually love each other and enjoy being around each other. Another sad fact is that of all of our friends that got married that year (4 other couples), we are the only one's that are still married. Does that make us perfect or better than anyone else? No, but it obviously says something about our relationship and our priorities in life. Has it all been fun and games? No. Afterall, we are two imperfect (and sometimes stubborn) human beings...but overall it has been great and I would not change a thing. There will always be down times...but the real challenge is to make the good times outweigh the bad. Your life (and marriage) is what you make it.
Besides being very blessed, one reason that I think we have a happy marriage is that we didn't go in with the idea that we were going to change each other. We were best friends who fell in love and decided to spend the rest of our lives together...not a couple of people in "puppy love" who said: 'If I marry him, I can get him to stop hitting me' or 'I know I met her when she was wasted in the bar, but I can make her stop drinking after we get married'.
I'm no marriage expert and I don't give other people marital advice...I just let my marriage and the relationship with my wife & kids speak for itself. Not to mention the fact that the last people I introduced to each other ended up getting married and then divorced within 2 yrs. Of course, in my defense, we were all still in high school and I wasn't trying to hook them up.
So what did we do on our 9 yr anniversary you might ask? Well, technically nothing. No fancy dinners or presents...we just spent time together (I know...that's crazy talk). We lounged around the house, played with our kids, watched football (yes, she is a good wife) and played Wii. Now that you think I'm some un-romantic caveman, we normally go out for a date night. The only problem with this year is that we just relocated to a new town 3 months ago and don't know any babysitters. With a 7 yr old and a 9 month old, you can't exactly let them babysit themselves. ;) I guess when your wife is also your best friend, you can have fun doing 'nothing'.
Am I dillusional enough to think that all marriages should be this way? Well, I guess I am enough of a "romantic" and a wishful thinker that I hope there are others out there who are truly happily married. Unfortunately, I'm realistic enough to know that not every marriage works...no matter how great they started out. For example, my brother was just recently divorced and I have to say that a divorce was the best thing for their situation. Thankfully, there were no children involved. I realize there are many situations where people should get out, I just wish it wasn't necessary. I also think that some of them can be avoided if people would pay attention to the warning signs. I love my brother, but there were obvious (and medically diagnosed) warning signs that should have been heeded...but he thought love could conquer all. Add the 'warning signs' to some mistakes and you get a divorce.
That's enough rambling about all of that...
So, 9 years down and many more to go. If my wife reads this (and she'll probably be the only one), thank you for the past 9 years and I'm looking forward to the rest. You are my best friend, my soul mate and you make me a better person everday. I'm looking forward to us sitting on the front porch in our rocking chairs arguing about whether or not I put your false teeth in by mistake. ;)
- Me
Sadly, most of them couldn't understand why we were getting married. They couldn't comprehend that we might actually love each other and enjoy being around each other. Another sad fact is that of all of our friends that got married that year (4 other couples), we are the only one's that are still married. Does that make us perfect or better than anyone else? No, but it obviously says something about our relationship and our priorities in life. Has it all been fun and games? No. Afterall, we are two imperfect (and sometimes stubborn) human beings...but overall it has been great and I would not change a thing. There will always be down times...but the real challenge is to make the good times outweigh the bad. Your life (and marriage) is what you make it.
Besides being very blessed, one reason that I think we have a happy marriage is that we didn't go in with the idea that we were going to change each other. We were best friends who fell in love and decided to spend the rest of our lives together...not a couple of people in "puppy love" who said: 'If I marry him, I can get him to stop hitting me' or 'I know I met her when she was wasted in the bar, but I can make her stop drinking after we get married'.
I'm no marriage expert and I don't give other people marital advice...I just let my marriage and the relationship with my wife & kids speak for itself. Not to mention the fact that the last people I introduced to each other ended up getting married and then divorced within 2 yrs. Of course, in my defense, we were all still in high school and I wasn't trying to hook them up.
So what did we do on our 9 yr anniversary you might ask? Well, technically nothing. No fancy dinners or presents...we just spent time together (I know...that's crazy talk). We lounged around the house, played with our kids, watched football (yes, she is a good wife) and played Wii. Now that you think I'm some un-romantic caveman, we normally go out for a date night. The only problem with this year is that we just relocated to a new town 3 months ago and don't know any babysitters. With a 7 yr old and a 9 month old, you can't exactly let them babysit themselves. ;) I guess when your wife is also your best friend, you can have fun doing 'nothing'.
Am I dillusional enough to think that all marriages should be this way? Well, I guess I am enough of a "romantic" and a wishful thinker that I hope there are others out there who are truly happily married. Unfortunately, I'm realistic enough to know that not every marriage works...no matter how great they started out. For example, my brother was just recently divorced and I have to say that a divorce was the best thing for their situation. Thankfully, there were no children involved. I realize there are many situations where people should get out, I just wish it wasn't necessary. I also think that some of them can be avoided if people would pay attention to the warning signs. I love my brother, but there were obvious (and medically diagnosed) warning signs that should have been heeded...but he thought love could conquer all. Add the 'warning signs' to some mistakes and you get a divorce.
That's enough rambling about all of that...
So, 9 years down and many more to go. If my wife reads this (and she'll probably be the only one), thank you for the past 9 years and I'm looking forward to the rest. You are my best friend, my soul mate and you make me a better person everday. I'm looking forward to us sitting on the front porch in our rocking chairs arguing about whether or not I put your false teeth in by mistake. ;)
- Me
Tuesday, January 1, 2008
It's finally here...
Well, after a few days of thinking about it and a couple of hours trying to decide where to post, I've finally posted a blog. Sure, it's nothing profound and people do it all the time...but I don't.
So, what am I going to do with this blog? Am I out to change the world with profound thoughts and opinions? Am I going to claim to be an expert on anything? No to both. This is simply going to be an outlet for my thouhgts and opinions (most likely mindless wanderings)...like them, love them, hate them, take them or leave them.
Who is writing this blog? Well, me of course. ;)
So, what am I going to do with this blog? Am I out to change the world with profound thoughts and opinions? Am I going to claim to be an expert on anything? No to both. This is simply going to be an outlet for my thouhgts and opinions (most likely mindless wanderings)...like them, love them, hate them, take them or leave them.
Who is writing this blog? Well, me of course. ;)
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