The Real Question

   Like every one I'm horrified at the recent shooting at schools, malls and other places.  If your a sane person you can not fathom how a person could carry out such atrocities.
     I'm also amazed at how our government officials and news media focus on the guns and the bullets. Some of my friends advocate a conspiracy theory that our government is brain washing people to kill people with guns so our government has a reason to disarm us and make us more docile. This rabid attention to guns and bullets and not motives or how these people reach such depths makes me wonder if there is not some validity to these claims.
   I think the real thing we need to ask is at how has our society failed the mad man and the victims.
         What turns a baby and that's what everyone starts out as. How does a baby who is born with out hatred, prejudice, political or religious beliefs turn into such a being that would kill and maim innocent people. What influences and how was this once innocent person turned into such a being. How has our society failed, that we are turning out such people.
   I think that is the real questions we need to be asking.            

a Vote for personal liberties and State Rights

   I was in hunting camp during the elections and the consensus among that group was that the election was going to be a landslide in Romney's favor, I think everyone else thought it was going to be close and in the end I think it was.
    I think the biggest thing that came out of the election was the legalization of marijuana by the states of Washington and Colorado. In fact at this writing, Washington has already cleared the court docket of all possession charges. Colorado's Governor is proceeding with a little more caution, not wanting to upset the feds.
    The point remains that the voters of these two states sent a clear message to our electorate in D.C, for states rights and personal freedom and a clear mandate to change a policy that has not been working for more than thirty years . The current way we fight drug abuse and addiction is costing us billions both in spending and tax revenues, plus it clogs up our courts, many times with cases of people who's only crime is smoking a joint or two.
       Other states have already decriminalized and set up medical marijuana. I look to other states following Washington and Colorado's lead in the near future.   

Another update from Best Buy and the official response from North face!

          Two days ago I sent the rep from Best Buy an email. In it I stated, that with my location and time restraints I thought the best thing to do was to send the computer back to Toshiba. That way it would be at my house when I got back from hunting camp. I also explained my experience with North Face in which they replaced a ten year old coat.
        Yesterday I got a response. The reply stated that the rep had worked for Vanity Fare, which to my surprise owns North Face. She stated that she was aware of the liberal nature of the North Face guarantee. She also stated that she too thought that I should send the computer back to Toshiba and that she would send me a flash drive to back up my files, at this point she also added a hundred dollar gift card and as soon as I find out what the charges are Best Buy will refund my shipping charges.
         At this point I don't think I have a beef with Best Buy any more. They have responded and are at least trying to help. If there was a Best Buy just down the road, would I be having the problems I'm having?  Not sure, I'm thinking maybe not. Really, I think, when I sent the computer to Toshiba instead of making the two and a half hour trip to Best Buy it took it out of Best Buys hands, so I am not really upset with them any more, not really.
          My Mom sent the same letter to the CEO of Toshiba and we have not heard a word in response.
                   The BOYCOTT goes on but with TOSHIBA  and not Best Buy.
   The thing is that my original thinking was that Toshiba's name is on the darn thing. I thought that by sending it back to them they would be more likely to make sure it was right than some kid at Best Buy making minimum wage. I might have been wrong, I'm just saying.
         I hope you read my other blog about a company that stands behind its product.
                 Anyway,  when I got my coat back and the bill stated that there was no charge, they had been so nice. I contacted Abe, which is my contact at North Face, and told him about the receipt. I got a quick reply in it and I quote " We show a charge for a $189 to your account and if there's not, than enjoy your new coat and thank you for being a loyal North Face customer."
                                         I checked my account, there is no charge.
              I am the new North Face poster boy! ha,ha!

A Company That Knows How To Stand Behind Its Product

     I bought a North Face "Mountain Parka" up on Mackinaw Isl back in 2002. The second year I had it the lining came out of the sleeve. I had read/heard about North Face"s life time warranty and i had planned to send the coat into them several times. I promise! MAN I LOVED THAT COAT! 
     A couple of years passed. I learned that "life time warranty" meant the life of the materials of the coat. The coat is starting to look shabby, the bright yellow has turned black in places, its not failed me but you can tell its losing the "Gortex" and the material is getting thin. Last winter I started looking for a replacement. I found a "Woolrich" that's pretty nice, I caught it at a good price but the hood closure just isn't the same. Not the same protection. I really haven't seen anything close to that coat. Winter is fast approaching here in Colorado. The snow will fly soon. There is already snow on the higher peaks. So.....
       A little over a month ago I sent the coat along with a letter explaining all this to the warranty dept.. It was a shot in the dark. I really was hoping they could fix the coat and give me a good deal on the repair.
       About two weeks ago I got a letter from the warranty dept telling me due to UV damage, etc there was nothing they could do. I was disappointed. Did I tell you "MAN I LOVE THAT COAT"!
              The next day I got a letter from an Abe at the North Face warranty dept.. He told me he was sorry they couldn't fix my coat and the style had gone through considerable changes over the past few years. Then he told me he would give me half off of any coat, my choice! I couldn't believe it. Stick with me it gets better! I looked through their on line catalog. Sure enough there wasn't a coat like mine. I picked a $400 one out of the "Summit Series" which is what mine was. Abe took my info and four days later it was at my door. It is a beautiful coat. Its supposed to be fully wind and rain proof. The hood closes up like mine. Its fit is a little more snug.  The weather has been beautiful and mild here so far, so I haven't fully tested it out. Its nice.... but not the same. I think about going back and looking at the catalog again...... then I look at the receipt. It has a charge for the coat at $399. next line, discount; $399, next line shipping $7.99. total due $7.99. They had not charged me at all for the coat!!!!!!! I called my bank to see if there had been a charge to my account. No there had been no charge from North Face! I was shocked at my good fortune.
        After about a week of contemplation, I emailed Abe and told him of the mistake. He told me not to worry about it, that it was their mistake.
        Since this has happened, purely by accident I have bought several things from North Face. I was up in Breckenridge and found a great deal on a pair of North Face winter boots and a North Face hoodie. Then campmore, an online camping store, had a fleece jacket on sale I've wanted for a couple of years. Now, not really meaning to, I'm a North Face poster boy. I'd say karma is working in north face favor.
   I'd also say that if more companies had this kind of attitude this world would be a lot better. Do you hear me Toshiba!!!
         

Update on Toshiba and Best Buy Boycott

      If you read my other blog at www.edeyethetravelingchef , then you know I've had some issues with both of these companies.
                 Here's whats happening!
           My Mom, being a good mom, sent letters to the CEO of both companies. I filled out the surveys on line, that so many companies send you, and explained the situation. I haven't heard from Toshiba. But a very nice lady from the  CEO group of Best Buy has contacted me. I explained the situation. Best Buy is willing to pay the shipping to send the computer to the Toshiba warranty center. They are also willing to send me a flash drive to store all my pictures, music, writings and other misc files from my computer.
     Thats a very nice gesture. but at this point I'm so aggravated at a new computer that sounds like a  B-52 taking off everytime I start it up. Then there is the freezing up at random times and the little arrow thingy that shakes and blinks on and off making it harder for me to use it then it already is. I don't know ...... read my next blog for a company that really stands behind its product 

New years eve 2013

REALLY? 2013? ha,ha
"What A long strange trip its been"GD
      Who would have thought it! I remember sitting in grammar school when we all figured how old we would be when we went into the 21st century.
            Once again I'm heading to NY city for new years to see Govt Mule at the Beacon Theatre on new years eve and once again on new years day I'm going to try to start the New Years off on the right foot by helping out those in need by doing the Coney Island Polar Plunge!
    I'm "Freezin For A Reason"! It wont be long until the pledge forms come out and I hope all my friends and readers will support me in this worth while cause to support "Camp Sunshine". A free camp with a full medical facility and mostly volunteer staff for sick kids and there families.
    Lets Do this thing for the kids! 
If all my friend on facebook and twitter would give two dollars we could possibly make some terminally ill sick kids life a little brighter

Eating well and Staying Healthy??????

           My question is this; why does it cost so much to eat and be healthy in America?  I try to do the right things for my body and the environment by my purchases at the local grocery. I am constantly shocked at how much more organic produce is compared to chemically treated produce. I am amazed at how much lower in price things are that have High Fructose Corn Syrup in them than things that do not. Especially when it has been proven medically at the rise of Type 2 diabetes since high fructose corn syrup has been added to our diet, especially in our young people. Why hasn't this been taken out of our food stuff and outlawed? Just like cigarettes  and other drugs versus marijuana, its not what drugs you do but whos, thanks for that line Tom Snider. But I digress. I believe in the free market system and  regularly try to have an effect on things other than my health by my purchases. I try to buy "Free Trade" items and look for the "Rainforest Action Network" seal of approval. Unfortunately at times my pocket book can't afford my social and healthy alternatives.
       I usually buy Caribou Coffee its organic, free trade and has the seal of approval from the
Rainforest Action Network, but its two dollars more a bag and less in a bag than say Maxwell house. Recently because of economic reasons I had to buy the Maxwell House. Never Again! I will do with out first! First, I missed the earthy taste of my regular coffee and then I notice a distinct bitter,chemical taste and have a burnt taste on my tongue the rest of the day from the Maxwell House brand of coffee. Both are French roast and I grew up drinking Maxwell House
       This is a disgrace and a direct insult to the American people that things that are good for you cost more than things that are bad. Not only that,but if you take it a step forward,  If you are a person with limited economical means, than you probably can't afford health care and buy buying these items made with the less unhealthy ingredients like the aforementioned high fructose corn syrup. you are surly going to be putting yourself at risk of major health problems, more so than if you were buying organic products and helping the environment and indigenous people by buying free trade products. So, you would be looking at health care that you can't already afford! This is just one more instance where America has let big business and corporations really screw the public interest.

The Lack of Respect In This Country, Even in a little Mountain Town Library

     First, I’d like to remind everyone of how much I love the library system of this great nation. Also Of how I think that for such a small county the Grand County Library System is excellent.  The only complaint I’ve had is the noise level.  For the most part, I ignore it. The Kremmling and Hot Sulpher libraries are quite small and it’s understandable. The Granby Library is quite large and even has a large kids room but yet at times it can still be noisy . I don’t like to make a fuss, so I just ignore it, usually the noise doesn’t last that long. Though there comes a time when enough is enough!

        I was in the library yesterday, a Saturday, early.  I had some stuff I was working on. I had just gotten started when some late teen maybe very early twenty year old comes in and starts reading a letter, I guess, he had gotten from the post office across the street. I don’t know what he had gotten but he was very relieved and glad. Apparently it was something he had been waiting on and it brought him great pleasure. He also apparently thought everybody in the library should know how pleased he was. Then he got a phone call and from across the library I could hear him talking on the phone louder than if I was shouting to him. His girlfriend, wife, significant other, whatever, was sitting behind me and must have noticed I was getting annoyed and tried to quiet him down, but he was so busy being loud, I guess he didn’t notice her.  About this time a group of kids, say 12 to 14 years of age came in and sat behind me, talking loudly and being boisterous. I gave them a minute or two and then without turning to them I shushed them. Next I heard “Dusty Old Fart!” Still with my back to them I told them that libraries were supposed to be quiet places. Nothing else was said. “The Dusty Old Fart” stood his ground and at least for the time being things was quiet enough.

         Here to me is the most shocking part of this story! It was at about this point a very sweet, kindly librarian walked up to me and offered one of the study rooms. She stated that I could close the door and it would be quieter. A nice gesture on her part, but for one thing, I don’t want to be closed up in a tiny room. Second off, when I was that age, not only would the librarian tell you to be quiet and threaten to throw you out, you had more respect than to say something like to an older person. I think it’s a major flaw in our society that we let kids get away with such rudeness and that people as a whole have such little respect for their selves, their families and the other people they come in contact with.

"The Autobiography of Alice B Toklas" by Gertruide Stein

           Of late, I've been very lucky to come across some brilliant books and movies. While I admit I've come across some because of my curious nature. Others seem just to drop in my lap. this is a book that my curiosity led me to.
            Years ago I saw a movie that starred Peter Sellers one of my  all time favorite comedians. The name of this particular movie was "I love You Alice B Toklas"! It was set in the 60's and was loosely based on an actual cookbook written by Alice that used a certain herbal ingredient. ; )  Later as the years passed I learned that Alice B Toklas did in fact write such a cook book, although to this date have never seen it. She was also a life long "companion" to Gertrude Stein.
          This is a fascinating account of their time together. Its amazing because Alice B Toklas didn't write the book. It is written by Gertrude Stein through the eyes of Alice B Toklas. It includes a brief introduction to each of their early years, but is based mostly on their time together in France and their travels together before, during and after world war one. The fascinating thing to me was that Gertrude Stein, while indeed a great author, she is the one that is quoted as saying "A rose is a rose is a rose", was surrounded by and had constant parties that included great artist like Matisse and Picasso before they were considered masters  and in later years authors like Hemingway. Its almost like Gertrude Stein was a magnet for these people. Its a fascinating look into the art world of the early 20th century. With so much of todays academia focused on technology and science, I think this should be required reading in any high school English class. It would actually open up a world of art and maybe even increase a students interest in art.

The World Of Religion

           Resolving of sins past, present and future by destroying infidels. Religious war, down with the infidels! Going to the promised land by dying in a holy war. Sounds like extremist Muslims doesn't it. Try the Crusades of the middle ages. There is so much violence associated with organized religion. Yet no religion, not Christianity, not the Muslim religion, not Hindu and certainly not Buddhism are there any teachings of going to war for a holy reason.  No Way! No how! All the religions of the world in one way or another teach the "Golden Rule". We are a country that is much more diversified than in the 1950's but if you ask Americans, especially right wing Americans, they will say this is a Christian nation. Guess what? We don't act it! No where in the bible does Jesus say that it is ok to wage war. In fact if you really read the teachings of Jesus. He is more in line with the teaching of Buddha or Mahatma Gandhi. Jesus was a pacifist to the end, even while being nailed on the cross. Something the Buddhist monks can tell you about. While facing their Chinese torturers they are famous for staying compassionate and keeping with their teachings. Waging war, being the biggest arms dealer in the world while our own people are starving and homeless and trying to force our way of life on other people is directly against the teaching of Jesus and more in line with the Devil. Look in the holy city of Jerusalem, a Muslim opens and closes the most holy of Christian churches. Jerusalem is the holy place of the worlds three greatest religions. That alone should be proof enough that we are supposed to live in harmony with each other. Just because an extremest group attacks us in the name of a holy war, it doesn't make it right to think that all people of that religion are bad. If so then all Christians are evil. Look at the Crusades! Look at the Molestations in the christian churches! If we consider our selves Christian and we consider our government based on Christian ideals? Then we need to hold ourselves and our government accountable to the teachings of Jesus. Turn the other cheek, those with out sin cast the first stone, treat your neighbor as your brother, give of your self to others, judge not.
       So... where do we stand? With the Devil or in the light and compassion of a Holy God? 

Planet Earth

    I've been checking out from the library "Planet Earth" a BBC television series. The photography is excellent. Some of the close ups are spectacular. The field notes at the end give an insight into how they get some of these shots. Also the time lapsed photography is amazing. Anyone interested in our planet and the nature of our planet should watch these shows. I will say David Attenbourogh is a little over the top. At times he is a little over dramatic. There are times when the shows are a little gory, gross, funny and touching. Its gives a wonderful insight into our planet and very beautifully filmed.

My Destination

“My destination is freedom itself and if I find it I will share the wealth.”   New Riders of The Purple Sage

The Dark Side of Facebook and Twitter

   I actually caught a bit of the local news out of Denver at lunch time yesterday. They ran a segment on a fellow who was standing on a corner handing out resumes to passing cars in the hopes of getting a job. Towards the end of the segment they noted that many employers were no longer looking at resumes and instead were looking at many prospective employees Facebook and Twitter accounts.
     This disturbs me in that these sites mainly give an insight in to someones social and sometimes political leanings and in no way show a persons work ethic or experience in the job place.
     What if I applied at a resort or corporation where the human resource manager was a born again christian or had right wing political leanings. If he looked at my Facebook or Twitter account what would he or she see?
     They would certainly see some likes of some good quality food sites, but beyond that they would see a Libertarian with Buddhist/ Taoist leanings, who likes hippie rock & roll and outlaw country music and if they looked further it would lead them to my blogs which I do discuss, in my own amateur way, political and social issues that concern me. None of this says anything about my desire to put out the best food possible, my desire to watch food cost and the way I try to treat every business as it were my own. I think it is a great injustice for someone to hire or not hire someone based on these social networks. It really makes me wonder if maybe we are putting too much of ourselves out there for anybody around the world to see. Anybody, Anywhere! 

The Merry Go Round of Politics, Oil and Terrorism

                                “A desperate disease requires a dangerous remedy.”  Guy Fawkes

        I think it would seem to anybody with any common sense that our thirst for crude oil is destroying not only our planet but our society as well.

         In our own hemisphere, we have polluted and damaged the jungles of the Amazon, the gulf coast and all the way to Alaska. Through government deals with corrupt Middle Eastern Officials, supplying them with cash and weapons we have weakened our status with the common man throughout the world and inadvertently trained and sponsored terrorism. Greed and corruption are so rife in the oil business; our politicians in Washington turn a blind eye to our supposed friends, the Sheiks of Saudi Arabian, while they pour money into extremist Muslim organizations so their kingdoms are not attacked from within. If Saudi Arabia is such a good friend, then why were most of the high jackers from 9/11 and even Osama Bin Laden from Saudi Arabia?

       I watched a very good movie called “Syriana” that raised a lot of questions in my mind. That led me to a book Called “Sleeping With The Devil” by x-CIA agent Robert Baer. He fully follows the money trail and greed from Washington to the Saudi king and princes’ to the terrorist themselves. There is no doubt in my mind (I know this is going to be very unpopular) that our government and elected officials, our thirst for oil is as much to blame for 9/11 as anyone else.

    I don’t think there are any easy answers to wean ourselves from our thirst for crude oil. Both the movie and the book will show you that. I think we are going to have to look at multiple solutions. In my time in living in the west, I’m encouraged by the wind and solar farms that are springing up. In other areas we may have to look at geothermal options and natural gas or on our coast harnessing the power of the waves. I think one of the main ways we need to look at a change in our “Energy Policy” is to make it our patriotic duty not to support the use of crude oil.

    We also need to realize that when it comes to the rest of the world we are not a very good police force. We supported Batista in Cuba, The Shah in Iran, we supported Saddam Hussein in his early years, after the French fought for ten years and got out we got embroiled in Vietnam, the CIA trained and armed Osama bin Laden against the Russians, and the list goes on.

     We are the number one arms dealer in the world!  A part of every dollar we spend on oil goes to funding terrorist groups. We spend more on health care than any other country. But yet we are 37^th in performance, 50^th in life expectancy and 38^th in birth mortality rates. I can’t afford health insurance, I live in fear every time I get a cough, afraid it might turn into pneumonia, every time I go on a hike or scrambling up a hill side, in the back of my mind what if I fall and break a leg. When you go to a hospital, the first thing they ask is how are you going to pay.  It would seem our government is more concerned about arming governments who are not popular with their own people then keeping our citizenry healthy.

     I consider myself a patriot. I believe in the Constitution, the right to the pursuit of freedom and happiness. Our Government has lost sight of our basic freedoms and will run rough shod over everything and anyone that gets in the way of their thirst for greed and power.  It’s our duty, our right as a free people to stand up for our rights, to write about the injustices that our government is involved in, to vote and continue voting until true change comes about. We need a major change! The time is ripe for a rational, third party that is for the people and by the people and not in bed with big corporations or has a religious agenda. But we as a people need to be involved all the time. We can’t vote someone in and then just go home. We need to be involved at the local level in our government, we need to vocalize and often, in order to be heard in Washington, only then will there be true change. We need to turn off the video games, quit thinking that “American Idol” is news and be involved in our government and our society at the local level in order to initiate true change, only then will there be true positive change in our society. It may already be too late, I’m not sure and I try to be positive, but if there is not a major change in the next few years in the way our government does business and that is truly what our government has become. We will go the way of Rome; we are already heading that way in a major way

"The Music Never Stopped"

          I’ve had the extremely good luck of checking out some wonderful movies from our excellent Grand County Library system. I have already written about the inspiring “Blindsight” in another blog entry. The latest movie I checked out quite by accident. I was drawn to it by the title,

“The Music Never Stopped”.  It’s a lyric from a “Grateful Dead” tune. Now, for those of you who know me, or have read any of my dribblings from my blog entries, know that I can find a place for a “Dead” lyric in almost everything. Before you roll your eyes and pass on this movie, because of my love and constant mention for everything “Grateful Dead”. Let me tell you this is a beautiful, beautiful movie.

     The film is about a boy that leaves home during the turbulent late sixties after an argument that took place in all too many homes of the time.  I know this, not because it happened to me personally but because I saw and heard about it from friends that did live this same story at the time. The grown boy is later reunited with his parents due to his developing a brain tumor that leaves the young man without any memory after the early 1970’s. The father and son are reconnected with the music of that time. It is a beautiful story of a father and son, their trials and turbulence during a trying time of all who lived during that volatile time of music and politics.  It is also a story of how music and love conquers all prejudice and is a bridge through which we all can unite. It will make you laugh; it will also make you weep. It is very touching in so many ways. I recommend it very highly. The ending is both sad and joyful in the same moment, few films could pull this off, but this one does it magnificently.

"Blindsight"

        I was lucky enough to watch a video last night called “Blindsight”.  It’s about how Eric Wehenmayer, who is blind and has climbed Mt. Everest and Sabrye Tenberken, who is also blind and trekked through China and Nepal by herself and then opened the only blind school in Tibet, took six blind teenagers and climbed to 21,500ft at the doorstep to Mt Everest. Eric is actually from Golden Colorado a charming little town just outside of Boulder.

     This is one of the best documentaries I have ever seen.  I have never been one to look for heroes and inspiration outside of myself but this video is a tribute to the human spirit and what can be done. It is truly a beautiful and inspiring video. It shows how the kids have overcome the superstitions and prejudices of Tibetan society and how they were empowered by this climb to go on and improve their lives. One child had suffered terrible physical abuse and all the kids had suffered mental abuse from the beliefs of Tibetan society. 

      It fully details the struggle of the kids and their sighted guides with all the dynamics of such an endeavor.  It will make you weep, laugh and tug on your heart strings. The photography alone is worth watching the video.  The kids singing “Together Forever” is precious, especially at the end. Be sure to watch the extras where it shows the kids coming to America and what they are doing with their lives.

    

       I have often thought what I would do if I hit the lottery. I would definitely give a big chunk of cash to Braille Without Borders.  Everyone should watch this video; I can’t say enough good things about it.