Global Warming

Global Warming
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Global warming is a worldwide problem and I believe it is definitely a problem that everyone should get involved in solving, However human are not completely responsible for it, although we have definitely helped it along. I believe the world goes through cycles of weather changes that go from Ice age to total global melt down. Over the course of millions of years, the world goes through its cycles.


These cycles are nature’s ways of healing and refreshing life. The world has already passed through at least two cycles of this before humans came along and the world will continue to after we are gone. This being said, I am not denying the human factor in the global warming. Humans have probably sped up nature’s cycle with their misuse of resources and their refusal to move beyond out dated fossil fuel machines. The technology put into the gas driven engine is out dated and has been since the 50’s in comparison with the rest of mans technological world.


Now the time has come for man to stand up and face the consequences for what he has done and do his best to help fix the damage caused by our over indulgence of the fascination with technology. There are many ways to do this and the slogan go green comes to mind. Be mindful every minute of every day and think in the interest of the earth and nature before we act. Turn off unused items, don’t print up e-mails if they are not needed, walk when possible, not only will it help the planet it will also benefit you.


Most important things begin with individuals and together we can slow global warming so that nature will get back on scheduale.

The Choice of Ones Path

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The choice of paths a person chooses does determine their life’s course and they should choose it wisely and be aware of the consequences the path may bring. The choice of a path that is separate from mainstream religions as well as most formalized religions generally means that it will be a solo journey. This journey can be fraught with little to no understanding by others. It can be a lonely journey with a few people who are willing to listen, understand your path even be able to follow a path that parallels you own journey, yet not be able to share in your journey like one who is on the same path.


This does not have to isolate you if you don’t allow it to. In some respects stepping off the beaten path can leave you lonely and desiring a spirit to be able to share it with. However there are those who are willing to listen, understand and indulge in your path even while walking another. I guess the saying “Take it where you can get it “comes to mind.


Companions and significant people in our lives don’t necessarily need to walk the same path with us just be willing to share with us. After all it can test our beliefs and our choices when they are sharing across from a different path. These kinds of relationships also show an open acceptance that can be more valuable than being accepted merely because you walk the same path. Many paths are ones of solitude and being alone and the friends and acquaintances that can be built that bridge paths can be stronger than any built on the commonality of walking the same path. Christianity is one that teaches this lesson well. In church an d places of activities associated with the church people tend to act if as they are another’s best friend even to those they would not give the time of day to outside of the church function.


The desire to have someone to share your views and you path is only to be human but to be able to do so beyond your own path will strengthen your faith and spirit and provide for a more spiritual enriching relationship.


My thoughts and opinion think of them as you will, hopefully you think about them before rejecting or accepting them.


Rogue

Pagan

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Pagan

In the pagan community everyone uses their own definition of the word ‘pagan’ which in most cases is fine, the disturbing part of this is along with the definition most people bring along their own mold. A lot of people have told me and others on pagan communities that we were not pagan because we didn’t fit into their mold of what makes a pagan ‘pagan.’



This attitude is one of the attitudes that many pagans tend to proclaim to dislike in Christianity. The idea that if you don’t fit in the definition of a Christian you aren’t a good person. Christians have persecuted millions under this belief, yet many carry it over into a pagan religion and expect everyone to conform. The idea can be amusing at times, especially when you realize that pagan is a word that has no definite meaning. Unlike Christianity, Muslim, or even Judaism there is no concise requirements to be pagan other than being a follower of a non-mainstream religion.

The disturbing part of the fact is that in general most pagans profess to have an open mind. Then to turn around and display such a closed minded attitude when what they should be able to do is understand another’s definition and accept it, acceptance is not a concession that you believe it just the willingness to live with the fact that someone else’s definition is different.

While I am on the subject of things that are disturbing about pagans, the other sore point to me is that they hang on to Christian morals and ideals. As life is complicated there is more than one way to coexist with your fellow man, so why is it that the pagan community seems to hang onto Christian values if the follow another path?

Just a few thoughts to consider.

Rogue

Death

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A short line on death.  People mourn the loss of a loved one as they finish life and cross the time barrier from the living to the timeless realm of death.

They often don't think of what it would mean to the loved one that has passed away, their thoughts turn towards what it means to do with them.  The loss they feel, how much they will miss the loved one and ultimately what they have lost.  When you look at it from the perpective of the loved one who has lived their life and reached an old age, they are being released from pain, lonlieness and the feeling of being out of place and a burden on those whom they love.  I am not speaking of the people who have had their lives cut short by a tradgedy I am talking of those who have lived a full life and time has and continues to take its toll on their body.



My grandmother recently died, and although most of the family was surprised she had made it as long as she had (she lived six years past my grandfather's death) the reacted as if she had died unexpectedly and/ or she was stuck down midlife.  My grandmother lived to be 90 years old and her last comment was she did not know why anyone would want to live to be thiat old.  She was an active lady and enjoyed reading, writing and children.  She had lost the ability to read or write due to failing eye sight, and becuase of the passage of time could not keep up with even the most considerate of children and knew children well enough to know it would be unfair to ask them to stop to spend time with her although several of her grandchildren, great grandchildren and great great grand children had quite often stopped to visit with her.  It was not as long as she would like but she also understands that a child and teens life is full of constant movement.  She recently had been slowed down to a point of needing constant supervision to insure she wasn't falling and hurting herself and this was a blow she could not tolerate. 
She was the one who was meant to take care of her children and there families in her mind and not the other way around yet time had degenerated her to this point.  This broke her will to live and so she passed on.  She had had a full life of happiness and loving.  It had its ups and downs but her life had a purpose when that purpose was done and time had robbed her of the ability to perform her purpose she had no reason to live and expressed it several times in comments similar to the forementioned  comment.
Yet when she passed many off her children acted as if it were a surprise.  If they would step out of their own world or step outside of their selfishness they would realize that it was a release from misery for her.  There were some who expresed this but still they thought they had reason to grieve.  Personally I believe there is reason to celebrate for her life was a hapy life and she touched many live in a positive manner that enriched the lives of those sshe reached.

The memory of the part I know of her life is the thoughts that fill my heart and in doing so will keep her close to me as I walk the journey of life and will enrich my soul and strengthen it for its journey when my time on earth is done.

It is not the manner of our death that makes a difference.It is how we lived that will leave a mark on the world that changes it to a better place for all.

Death is only the beginning of lfe and will not only enrich the world.

Life's Lessons

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Life’s Lessons


This past week my grandma passed away. At the age of 90 years old it was somewhat expected. She had out lived her husband (my granddad) by 6 years. She has always has been a care taker so it has driven her crazy to have people caring for her these past two years. Her life had been that of a rancher’s wife and she was always happy with it, and had lived a full life. She had lived long enough to see both world wars and all that had come since. She lived through the Great depression and long enough to see several of her grand children grow up and have children and their children have children.

My fondest memories of her was sitting at a bar that separated the dining room from the kitchen and listening to her tell stories of life before the fifties, her childhood and things she had encountered in her life. These stories were interesting all though now all I remember of them are small tidbits here and there.

I have been reflecting on the past and the little time we had spent together and realize that she had affected my life more than I know and the time I had spent with her was all quality time. As I reflect on the time I realize through her stories she had taught me many things.

Some of the things she had taught me;

• When you have nothing you are richer because you are only who you are not a sum of material belongings or of monetary worth.

• Your soul only reflects who you are not what you own.

• Compassion and understanding is mightier than strength

• The power to change the world is within everyone and it is done not by politics but through the care you provide for your own family for it is the only thing you can leave behind to affect the world.

• It is only important how you live your life not what remains after you are dead.

• Acceptance is the key to a full life for the only thing you can change is yourself.

• To touch someone’s life one only needs to care and love, material things can not touch the heart and soul the way a few kind heartfelt words can.

These are only a few things that my grandmother has taught me and I had learned the lessons but hadn’t seen where they had come from. I realize it now and wish I could thank her for it. I had also realized she is one of a few that accepted me for who I am not what she or anyone else would have me be.

My grandmother was a teacher but I have to wonder if she knew how much she had influenced my life and who I am today. She is one of a very few who actually cared enough to touch my heart and soul and leave a mark of love and understanding upon it that will continue to influence and guide me through my journey through life.

For all of that I would thank her for she taught me more than any history book or any other book ever could.

The OS War

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The War of the Operating Systems




As the computer users of the world set back trying to move through life and use the computers for their purposes, the software industries is pumping out new operating systems claiming theirs is better and the IT world, corporate world and private users dealing with operating systems that have been moved forward to the forefront of computer operation. How is the business that the world uses the computers for suppose to get done if the people using them have to deal with the operating system?

An operating system is supposed to operate in the background and allow the user to focus on the applications and programs they use. With the battle of the operating systems the visual and interaction with operating system has increased. With increased interaction with operating systems there is less productive interaction with the computer.

The world wants to surf the net, write on their word processor, play their game, and design their web sites or a large list of other applications available. The companies that produce the operating systems should keep in mind that the sole job of an operating system is to make a computer work. Its purpose is not to interact or visually occupy the user it is to keep the applications available and usable by the user as well as to store the data provided by the user.

The users of computers need to open their eyes to the fact and start demanding that operating systems stay in the background so that the computers can be used for the purpose of running the programs that people use for their purpose.

There are reasons to interact with the operating system and many of the reasons are initiated by the user not the computer. The improvements that operating systems are undergoing that make the OS visible to the user are digression and should be avoided. With some hope I look forward to the release of Windows 7. By the articles written by those who have written unbiased reports on the OS give indications that Microsoft has done just that, moved the OS back into the background. On October 22 Microsoft will release the OS to the general public and has some promise of being an OS that can provide a modern version of a proper OS. I would recommend that it be reviewed with open minds and judge it on the performance and not bias against the company that released it.

Slow computer???!!!!

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Many people will buy a computer when theirs gets outdated. When they use this new high tech machinery they generally hook it up and start playing with the new electric toy. Most of the time they are pleased witht hte performance and speed as it moves amazingly faster than their old one.



After a few months it begins to slow down and soon reaches speeds that are slower than the old one they replaced. This happens everyday and people muse over why it happens.



The answer is rather simple.... For example the first time one uses a computer it is not laidened with slow programs, data and other temporary files. Only half of the disk space can be used before the computer begins to slow down. Another reason can be the Operating system is using the resources. An example Vista uses about half the ram just for windows. It also runs several redundit processes. This may not be noticable whilejust the factory data is on the computer however it becomes more apparent with more saved personal data as well as additional programs that users tend to add.

Although those who say I don't have vista, I run an efficient virus program and keep my temporary file deleted, outright use causes the computer to slow down. For those who can remember megnetic tapes they are a good example. The blank magnetic tape records music etc in good to excellent sound quality. If you get tired of the music etc and decide to record over it this results in a lower quality recording.

On computers especially personal computers data is saved moved defraged moved again so much that much of the sectors of the hard drive are actually being reused several time over, like the magnetic tape each subsequent recording is a lesser quality. Lesser quality on a hard drive requires more passesover the sector thus a slower retrival time. Effectively after trying all the suggested tricks and programs it is possible to find the only cure is toformat the hard drive and start with a clean slate.

On the average personal computer under average use it will need to be recovered once every year to year and 6 months.

War

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War
Throughout history man has waged war with neighboring tribes, states and countries for the sake of expansion, or to settle disputes that were unable to be settled in negotiations. Our history is riddled with war. All through history they have evolved tactically and strategically. However, my disdain of war comes from modern warfare.
In the past war has been horrific and brutal this is what brings the warring factions together to negotiate peace or the surrender of one faction. In modern war people have got civil. Rules of engagement have changed to the point that there is little to no true horrors of war to be spoken of. True people die but the world has come to want it to be civil so that those that die are soldiers. The civilian populist just goes about normal life with their only concern of the war being the sons and daughters who are soldiers. This idea sits wrong with me.
The ideas involved in modern warfare remind me of an old Star Trek show where Captain Kirk and the Enterprise encounter two warring planets that had been at war for centuries. The worlds considered themselves civilized and conducted the war cleanly. All attacks where computer generated and the casualties were lined up before an incinerator where they were expected to just step in and accept they were casualties of war. The Idea sounds ridiculous however that is the direction that modern war is headed.
War was and is meant to be wage against a whole group of people, when you wage war against governments and exclude the people it governs you are looking at waging a never ending war. There was only two reasons that the attacks on 9/11 were taken so harshly by the United States was that it was on U.S. soil and that the attack was so horrific as war is meant to be. The sheltered lives of the United States people could not comprehend or grasp the ideals of open warfare waged by Bin Ladden. It may have been via terrorist acts but it was still that of open war.
War is to be waged on the entirety of the people whom the country region etcetera that war is waged against. The only real exception is civil war and it is still waged against those who support the government. The only difference is that civil war can split communities, and even families, as the support or opposition to a single areas government is of personal opinion.
Until war returns to the state it was intended to be, the world will continue in constant turmoil trying to bring resolution to problems that true war would resolve in a short amount of time.

Morality

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Morality
Morality is what a part of what a tradition is supposed to impart on its practitioners. Yet I have noticed that most traditions seem to copy that of Christianity. I have a problem with this, because if you can sin and ask forgiveness and it is granted for the asking what is the point of the rules to begin with.
The other problem is that if anyone is going to set up a system where any type of leader is to be followed whether it be deity or not the system should be set up so those who follow it can succeed. Every help book on being a leader for just about anything emphasizes that you “Don’t set your followers up for failure”. This is what makes being a good leader hard, not only are you out in front but you are supporting your followers and helping them succeed.
The third problem is a rule should fit all situations and have no exceptions. Thou shall not kill except in time of war or in self defense or in defense of home, possessions and loved ones kinda makes the rule a mute point.
Any system, whether following your own instincts or a higher power or the little tiki statue necklace around your neck, should be set up for balance and success of the followers not made so riddled with rules and moralities that are mute and become a waste of space.
Several of the social moralities are ones of human vanities. The world and nature and most deities could care less if a person ran around nude, after all no one comes into the world fully dressed. This is a confusion of morality and vanity. The issues of morality are forced on us by society but to become an eclectic Christian and claim to have no relationship to the tradition is self denial and untrue.
This brings me to the point of the not lying. To expect a human to tell the whole truth and nothing but the truth 100% of the time is a set up for failure. After all in all truth deception is part of human nature and over the life time of any human they have told several lies. The thought may be well intended and socially humans get along better when everyone is telling the truth, however everyone has their own boundary of when it is allowable to lie. To expect anything more is to set the practitioners up for failure.
I make a challenge to all pagan and non Christian followers, list out the morals and rules of your tradition and tell what you think and is it truly obtainable.
One last thought: the theory of peace is a marvelous idea the practice of it makes us all the same.
“The day that the world is completely at peace is the day the human race no longer has individuals”. Unknown
After all conflict comes from disagreeing Peace comes with total unrestrained agreement. If we all think alike, act alike and be alike true peace can be obtained. Personally I enjoy my uniqueness and can survive and be happy even if I never see the sibilance of true peace.

Secretive or what?

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Secretive, pressure or what?
I have a running record of things only working out when they are done on impulse or not shared with those around me. I can plan to take a trip and not tell anyone and it will turn out as a wonderful experience and be a lot of fun. I can plan a trip under the same circumstances and let those around me know and it will turn up a disaster, be unable to, or best of results it will be indifference.
What is it that brings this about, relationships that are thought out fail although just going with the flow seem to turn out to be long lasting. Plan on purchasing something particular when share with someone it will turn out that the money won’t be there. Don’t let anyone in on it and I am able to make it. Have a plan to spend a lump of money such as tax return with my wife and family the planned on items don’t get purchased although the things that are impulse or unmentioned get purchased.
The same happens with finances, relationships, outings, trips, vacations, days off and frankly most of life. It has been suggested that it may be pressure, yet I am constantly reminded that I am extremely good with handling pressure. Some have suggested it is just life; however life is more random and wouldn’t follow such a rigid course. Could it be that I thrive on being secretive and I for some reason cannot function without the element of mystery?
It is a very frustrating thing and even comes into play when trying to change my own behaviors. For example I was a smoker, I had quit once before without telling anyone. I had started again for; it stupidly was for social reasons. But recently I have been determined to quit each time I have given my family a heads up and have failed. If I dare say a few days ago I have started a system that seems to work for me and thus far I have been successful. Although I have done everything I can to keep it a secret that I am quitting.

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