Save the Dolphins...

Saturday, May 29, In the year of our Lord 2010

My House, Caronport Saskatchewan

Returned from the St. Pierre's, 11:51 PM

Weather = cold, wet, dreary

The Cove. It's a documentary.

I didn't want to see it, but everyone was going to watch it and I needed to meet my basic social needs. It was explained to me that this documentary covered the continual dolphin slaughter at Taiji in Japan. I didn't want to see it because moral outrage fizzles into impotence, helplessness, and despair unless of course it is just forgotten shortly thereafter. Either option is shameful.

I did watch it. I applied all my critical thinking and rationalist thought determined not to be swayed by incomplete logic, special pleading, cute animals being killed, and blood in the water. If I was going to watch this documentary I was going to test it and see how and where they twist the truth to their ends.

My conclusion by the end of the film was indeed moral outrage. I tried as hard as possible to be critical of this film, but it was solid. I was going to try and give a general overview, but it would probably be better if you just watched it yourself. One of the major points that constantly poked at me was that the guy behind the documentary was the same guy who did Flipper! He started the whole dolphin craze, he knows about dolphins inside and out, and now he has dedicated his life to destroying what he created...

My issue wasn't so much the method of rounding up and slaughtering the dolphins which is quite graphic and inhumane (and literally turns the ocean red). My issue was the reasons behind it.

1. Hundreds of Thousands of dollars for each dolphin that gets bought by aquariums like Sea World. I didn't think this was an issue until I understood how dolphins work. The sonar on a dolphin is far more advanced than top secret experimental military sonar, they are super sensitive to sounds. They are put in a concrete tub surrounded by screaming clapping tourists and they die of depression.

2. Maybe six hundred dollars for a dolphin that gets turned into food, except nobody eats dolphin. The meat is labeled as other things and put with other types of meat just so that it can sell. Furthermore (and this is a point that I want to verify for myself) it has 20x the amount of mercury recommended by international seafood health groups. It has happened before at another coastal town in Japan where the citizens got mercury poisoning. There is no reason to eat this food, it isn't as good as other seafood and it's very toxic.

3. Culture. The people of Taiji say that we Westerners do not understand, it is their culture! Well, nobody else in Japan eats dolphin, or knows about dolphin hunting. Perhaps it is only a local culture thing. But what local culture needs 23000 dolphins a year?

4. National Pride. They make a point of showing how the dolphin and whale hunt is part of resisting the world and saying "no, you have taken away this and that thing, but you will not take away the whale hunt!" and then killing all the whales they can get their hands on.

5. Pest Control. The Japanese authorities claim that dolphins eat too many of the fish and should be brought under control. The response of this film from several well to do marine experts is that this is biological nonsense. (worth looking into thouugh)

Now there are some things to consider here. If Taiji looses the dolphin hunt, it probably looses its only real source of income. There is a market for dolphin... even if its to package it in such a way that nobody knows that it is dolphin. But the only reasons for this market are bad reasons which leaves me perplexed...

Then there's the issue where dolphins are considered to be self-aware and also aware of humans. I am not about the quasi-mystical oneness of the universe or the spirituality of man and beast. I believe that God created man in his image and that humans alone have a spirit and a soul. However, I have heard so many stories, and seen things in this documentary, that makes me think that maybe dolphins are a different category of animal. The testimony of divers and surfers who experience a sort of connection and communication with a dolphin. Testimonies of people who were about to be attacked by a shark when a dolphin rams the shark to drive it away. At this point I like to think that God gave the dolphin a mandate at creation. He may have said to the dolphin "I am making you very intelligent for a purpose, see these strange creatures, they are the representation of me, they are my image, you are to watch out for them when they are in the water." Then there are stories of researchers and dolphin trainers utterly amazed when the dolphins understand communications and communicate back.

So what do we make of this? I think that if there is no need to eat the dolphins (which there isn't) then they ought to be respected as a particularly self-aware creature unlike a chicken or a cow. In North America we respect dogs in this way, you know, man's best friend, that faithful and empathetic companion. Furthermore the meat is toxic and the unfettered slaughter of any creature can only do harm in the long run. I see no real reason (except for Japanese selfish pride) for this to continue.

There was a scene where it showed the 'save the whales' protesters. I was both amazed and aghast at how much conviction and passion they had. It was both inspiring and lame. I don't see protests like this, it seems like a different world. Perhaps my culture has hardwired me to not make a disturbance and not do anything. What to do about that now? Hmm...

Why I Don't Watch the News

Sunday, May 23, In the year of our Lord 2010

Moosomin Saskatchewan, Parents House

8:09 AM, Anticipating Church.

Weather is cold but bright.

For the past four years I have not watched the news if I can help it. This might seem strange to most people and perhaps deserves an explanation.

I am the sort of person that thinks about things a whole lot, trying to find answers and solve problems. The news presents problems so big and often so terrible that it bothers me and I must find some sort of answer and become part of a solution. The problems are often so big and so far away that there is really nothing I can realistically do except watch / read about it in the news. When I read headlines about Babies being thrown away or our national health care system being really stupid or anything regarding the war in Afghanistan there is really nothing I can do about it. I've written letters regarding our national health care system, and they might have been read by someone, but its all just too big and too far away to bother getting worked up about. It happens every day, over and over again, like a hammer trying to beat me senseless or dull and corrode my sense of morality.

Does my knowing about a situation change that situation in any way? Once I have been told that x horrible event has taken place, what am I supposed to do about it? I can't do anything about most of them really, and this makes me disillusioned and jaded. I suppose I could pray about the things I see in the news, but I honestly would rather not watch the news at all. Perhaps this is selfish?

How much of the news is really relevant to our lives anyway? Some random quarky thing happens in Newfoundland. Scientists are doing strange experiments under France and Switzerland, the Taliban are fighting... again. Some things are important to know in order to keep up with what's going on, but since everyone else watches the news I find out about these things soon enough.

So then, in an effort to keep myself away from depressing thoughts and because I can realistically do nothing about 99% of the news, I have decided not to watch it and have not missed it one bit. I do not aspire to becoming an ignoramus or to remain happy in my little oblivious bubble I can give local situations more time and effort, which they deserve.

Nice Day in Saskatchewan

Saturday May 15, In the year of our Lord 2010

Caronport Saskatchewan, My House.

Enjoying the cool breeze, 6:16PM

Weather is sunny, warm, and perfect

We finally have good weather!

Isn't it strange that we call some weather 'good' and some weather 'bad' according to what we expect it to be. Weather is not inherently good or bad, it just is... and who are we to discredit God's workings anyway?

But yes, today was an absolutely beautiful day! Everything is turning green, I got out my summer shorts, and even the mosquitoes have come out to help us enjoy the warmth. I spent most of last summer in an air conditioned call center so I am not used to the heat or the mosquito venom... but we are quickly becoming reacquainted.

I have been working with the changing seasons. This morning I went out to buy my kitchen necessities. I was previously using all of my room mate's stuff, but now that he's moved out I need to get my own stuff. It was a good experience, deciding what I needed, buying it with my own money, and setting it up today. I also purchased two pole lamps to set up in the living room so that it doesn't become unbearably dark when the sun goes down. This has been good for my independence and makes me feel empowered.

I asked a bunch of neighbors to play some Frisbee in the heat of the day... it was quite warm and a lot of fun. Frisbee turned into a shared burger supper where I cooked up the bacon. Mmmm... bacon... There is no way that bacon can be good for you, but it tastes so good.

I didn't get as much cleaning done as I wanted... but it has been a productive day all the same.

Greg Out.

Ninja Burger!

Wednesday, May 12, In the year of our Lord 2010

Caronport Saskatchewan, My House

Sitting in messy room, 11:24AM

Weather is Sunny, Warm, Calm

This is a silly post.

Ninja and Burger... two words that we don't normally associate with each other.

The first time I heard 'Ninja Burger' was on my way to my room mate's pre-wedding party (which was a blast I might add). My mind stopped working and tried to put Ninja and Burger into a coherent understanding. I didn't think they were serious... but they were... it is a table top game!

It felt as though my mind had to turn itself inside out to get the picture. Ninja delivering fast food driven by honor and duty. A secret fast food franchise that promised to deliver honorable and just burgers, hand-broiled in the traditions of their ancestors, in under 30 minutes or they commit seppuku (ritual suicide).

Perhaps an example is required. The president is on his personal jet surrounded by his personal bodyguards and gets a hankering for fast food. He calls up Ninja Burger (which he believes is a joke) and orders an Honorable Ninja Burger Biggie Meal and it is up to the players (who are ninja) to deliver the meal to the president on his jet plane without being spotted by his bodyguard. How do they do it? It doesn't matter how, but they WILL succeed because they are ninja! and ninja NEVER fail.

While intercepting the presidents plane in the super duper ninja burger stealth jet the ninja encounter one of their rivals who is also trying to deliver to the president, Samurai Burger. The Ninja leap out of the stealth jet onto the Samurai Burger jet and engage in an epic sword fight and condiments war while freefalling with their Samurai Burger foes.

After infiltrating the president's plane the ninja stealthily place the meal on the presidents lap and leave before anyone can see them. How did they do this? They are ninja, that is how!

So yes... Ninja Burger. I was so enthralled by this ridiculous idea that I went to download the game books. I actually ended up buying a download and discovered that the game is amazingly simple. It was designed for the 'Beer Engine' which is so simple that you should be able to play it while drunk.

So there might be some wacky crazy fun involving Ninja Burger this summer... at least I hope I can find enough people to try it out a few times. Perhaps the final boss for the campaign will be a thrice undead ancient armored hairy undead horse on steroids with its mate who are secretly also ninja!

Adventures in Munchkin Land

Monday, May 10, In the year of our Lord 2010

Caronport Saskatchewan, My House

Time for one more entry, 11:54AM

still cloudy, drizzly, cool, and windy

This is a fun post.

Once upon a time me and some friends played a game of Munchkin Quest. For those who have never heard of Munchkin Quest before, it is a board game that makes fun of every Role Playing Game and nerdy thing ever created. Someone had placed a level 3 undead horse in the dungeon.Now a level 3 monster isn't really that intimidating, but since it was the beginning of the game some of us weren't able to take it out yet. I had some interesting cards in my hand that I wanted to get rid of... and this is where it got interesting.

One of the guys was going to attack the undead horse, I played the 'hairy' card, which turned the undead horse into a hairy undead horse (level 8). The other player was forced to flee.

Later, someone went to try and kill the hairy undead horse, so I played the armored card to make it an armored hairy undead horse (levl 13). The player actually died...

Now a door opened up and the armored hairy undead horse began wandering around the maze and we tried to avoid this now quite intimidating beast. Some more people tried to kill it, and I played the ancient card, which turned the armored hairy undead horse into an ancient armored hairy undead horse (levl 23).

This monster is now tougher than a red dragon (the pinnacle monster of Munchkin). It gets better though. All of us combined our forces and actually managed to kill the ancient armored hairy undead horse. We thought that we had saved the world (or something to that effect) until a card was turned that brought the most recent monster back from the dead...

So now it is a twice undead ancient armored hairy undead horse with even more interesting powers at its disposal. We avoided that thing until we were nearing the end of the game and we eventually killed it... again.

Well... it came back again. This time it was a thrice undead ancient armored hairy undead horse. (I don't even know what level it was... it was like instant death). Now if I had stayed in the game long enough I would have made it a thrice undead ancient armored hairy undead horse on steroids and its mate. :)

So there you have it, the most terrifying creature we have ever encountered in Munchkin. A thrice undead ancient armored hairy undead horse on steroids and its mate.

Our Place as Christians

Monday, May 10, In the year of our Lord 2010

Caronport Saskatchewan, My House

Getting ready to go back to work, 11:39AM

Cloudy, cool, drizzly, windy

In the last few years I have been learning my place in the grand scheme of things. Theses lessons have been revisited in the last two weeks as well. What is my place in the grand scheme of things? The Bible says that we as human beings are made in the image of God. We are to have dominion over all creation. As Christians we become sons [and daughters] of God, heirs with Jesus inheriting eternal life and God's endless favor.

This sounds really impressive and even arrogant at first, but there is the other side of the coin too. The Bible also says that we are to be slaves of righteousness. We are to submit to Christ in all things. Jesus set the example by washing his disciples feet and so that that if the master is higher than the follower, those that followed him would be the lowliest of all. We are helpless without him, we are as sheep, powerless, foolish, but loved.

As Christians we have no rites. If I want something, I have no rite to it, only God can give it. Our place is one of submission. As North Americans we are hardwired to think and believe in rites, basic human rites, political rites, legal rites, rites rites rites. The one who follows Christ has no rites before God. [edit: Actually to say we have NO rites before God is heresy, we have the rite of sonship and adoption, we have the rite to enter into God's presence] Can you imagine us tiny little creations pointing an accusing finger at the all powerful, benevolent, eternally wise, just and holy God? He has promised to give us everything that we need, he is the good shepherd, he loves us with an undying and jealous love.

So if I don't get what I want, blessed be the name of the Lord.

If I am in pain and confusion surrounds me, blessed be the name of the Lord.

If my friends all get really good things and I become envious, then may the Lord break my stubborn pride so that I can say from my heart, blessed be the name of the Lord.

Snow in May

Friday, May 7, In the year of our Lord 2010

Caronport Saskatchewan, My House

Sitting in front of my Computer, 5:19PM

Partly Cloudy, Cold, Breezy

The last couple of days have given us snow and rain followed by more snow. The snow stopped and the sun came out, then it started raining, the rain turned into hail, and we weren't quite sure where the hail came from because it was a mostly open sky. The grass is all green and everything is growing, even in the snow. Saskatchewan is a strange strange place when you talk about the weather.

I was struck by something as I was walking to work, the vibrant green of the grass poking through the contrasting white of the snow and also poking through a shallow body of still unfrozen water that reflected the sky. I was enthralled and had to stop to admire the scene. Words can not express the experience that I had encountered, even now the description I have given can not give the expression justice. The scene reminded me of pictures of the Bayou taken from helicopter. I was struck by the sensation of new life all around me, green, mirrors and portals that reflect the heavens, the white of the snow and the snowflakes falling around me. It was one of those rare magical moments where God's natural revelation grabs a hold of you and you stop....

to give Him worship.

I wasn't really expecting snow in may. I should have been expecting it, I always expect it in Saskatchewan, but for some reason I thought this year would be different. The snow isn't just physical though. I have been working through the loss of a good room mate as well as my girlfriend deciding to move back to the Yukon for the summer. This has been a painful week. But even amidst the snow and wind and cold there is new life and a glorious summer to be had.

I suppose that there are many seasons to life. Each one has a time to be worked through. We [speaking for every piece of my self] shall plot our course and raise our banner. Boldness, Courage, Trust in the Lord Jesus Christ.

A Season of Change

Tuesday, May 4th, In the year of our Lord 2010

My House, Caronport Saskatchewan

Anticipating Scott's Stag, 5:40 PM

Rainy, Windy, Cold

It is the season of change.

I am of a disposition that is disturbed by change. Perhaps a disturbance is a good thing though, it prevents stagnation. My house-mate is getting married on Saturday. I am very happy for both of them. Scott will be moving out this week, taking all of his stuff (which is most of the stuff in the house) with him. He goes to live with a different house-mate now, and I don't blame him. She looks a lot nicer than I do, probably smells nicer too. I'm sure their new life together will be a bed of roses... pedals, thorns, and all. I am anticipating times when I will not envy their situation in life and can quietly snicker at a safe distance. I am truly happy for them though.

My lot for the summer is cloudy and unseen. There are a lot of unknowns that I will face. Thankfully a place to live and a place to work are not one of those unknowns. I plan to resolutely prepare for my next mod in September, accomplish meaningful goals at work, and attempt to break out of my social shell. Maybe this year I will succeed.

I suppose I should think of something witty to amuse my yet to make an appearance readers with, but I am not quite sure what else to say.

One of the things that has inspired me is Eric's blog. It's just a random scattering of impressions, thoughts, stories, and opinions, but I find it insightful, intelligent, even funny. Perhaps it is more meaningful because I know the author. There are so many students that aspire to be like Eric... little do they know that his life is mostly normal just like theirs. Or at least that's what he wants us to believe. Secretly, he is an uber super zombie slaying ninja who can steal the weather. Yeah, that's right Eric, if you're reading this, I know it's true.

But yes, a season of change is upon me. What else can I do except praise God even when the darkness closes in and their is pain in my heart. We will face this new challenge boldly, confidently, with expectancy that God is at work.

Greg out.

Mission Accomplished

Mission Accomplished. We found a hole in the security grid. If you set your blog to only be viewed by invited readers, the readers can forward the invitation email. That was the only glitch we found. I figure that it's about as dangerous as what we already use (a password that can be forwarded just as easily). So my blog is now open.

What to say about myself... I suppose that's all that a blog is, where I get to talk about myself and everyone else gets to read it and talk about me. Not that this is a terribly bad thing, but it seems rather selfish. I started a moodle blog, but nobody ever read it. Will anyone read this one? I guess I'll see.

So, to anyone who is reading this, I am Greg. What else can I say about myself? I like to write and want to be a professor some day. I also hate reading books, which is a strange combination. I want to write books, and teach in a university, but I don't want to read books. How puzzling. I thought for sure that I would come to a solution by now and reconcile these strange tendencies of mine, but I have not.

I work at the Briercrest College and Seminary while taking Seminary classes. The work is varied and usually interesting. The pay could be better, but I don't have to drive to work which makes up for it I think. This year I have been trying to manage work with homework with getting / making healthy food with relationship with sleep. Lots of responsibilities trying to get my attention. It seemed as though they were all crashing in over my head, but I only have a few more more days and I'll be out in the clear. There's a light at the end of the tunnel, and whether its sunlight or a freight train I don't really care, they are both legitimate exits to this tunnel.

So I think I've spent enough time blogging at work. We'll see if anyone reads this. Please respond if you do so that I know you came to visit... if I can remember to check on it that is...

E-Birth

Well that was quick. My blog just created itself the moment I hit go. My blogging avatar was born at the click of a button. He shot right up out of the e-ground (which at the time looked like black liquid) formed himself, and the e-ground is now a green creation for exploration... or something to that effect.

So yes, I have created a blog. I have stayed away from this sort of technology until my boss asked me to find some way to create a private blog that would fulfill the needs of our distance learning program. This is a test run. How many people am I able to allow access to this blocked blog. Sigh... my job is a difficult one. It's only a matter of time before I have to log on to Second Life again, or explore the possibilities of distance learning through other virtual means (City of Heroes, World of Warcraft, Twitter, [maybe not Twitter] beta versions of Moodle) the madness will never end.

At the end of this experiment I may use this space for something more.

For the moment, I love my job.

Greg out


[Edit] I have discovered that one can allow access to 100 readers in Blogger.