tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-85491058501805213492024-02-20T16:11:57.133-05:00A Dick's View of the WorldDick Grannanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13219111688609337793noreply@blogger.comBlogger208125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8549105850180521349.post-65089441333897354362016-03-20T18:38:00.000-04:002016-03-20T18:38:31.173-04:00Living in THE ZONE<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYc6STeHTfLb9CdKpPqohrYbeBvoI-zSOdS52Axs-4G3joQWvSaj7Wza_i9YcHYqs4sTMgWrKeBo-SjhDraiR8VCck0kt789hsxprhxeVc88SFjAkbSg5BSbgrv-8i7nLm9_E0JkJ2VX4/s1600/Suzuki.jpeg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYc6STeHTfLb9CdKpPqohrYbeBvoI-zSOdS52Axs-4G3joQWvSaj7Wza_i9YcHYqs4sTMgWrKeBo-SjhDraiR8VCck0kt789hsxprhxeVc88SFjAkbSg5BSbgrv-8i7nLm9_E0JkJ2VX4/s200/Suzuki.jpeg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
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Who really knows what goes on in the mind of an octogenarian? A few evenings ago we settled down to watch the late CBC news and Peter Mansbridge was interviewing Dr. David Suzuki who is about to turn eighty. He said fifty was nothing, seventy was nothing but eighty is special. On the one hand, he referred to his emerging octogenarian years as the 'death zone' and that he thinks "about death a lot".</div>
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Canadians have come a long way since I was born in 1929. That year the average lifespan of the Canadian male was 60 years. According to Statistics Canada (2012), the average is now 81.24 years. So Dr. Suzuki is correct when he says we octogenarians are 'in the zone'. On the other hand, he said, it is the best of times as he no longer had to worry about getting a job, a promotion or a raise. In other words, he was free to speak the truth.</div>
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In line with his thinking, he pointed out that the human race in general no longer sees itself as part of the biosphere and yet realistically, we are entirely dependent upon it! When the native peoples around the world speak of Mother Earth they don't mean it metaphorically or poetically, he said. Rather, they truly understand humankind is totally determined by it. Thus, the idea of Mother Earth.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiBclLdXGASeMXRmC8Jrqn_zbjVRCWN5vlSbP_UVqN4owqiIHrQBpWJyE1JsaSY15ce_6P5zdZHmjqzOsgwcAa36t38jNtqoy_c5RDl-3WcHx6cVnVLSgo4ItTsNY6Itw7QZGRFZB8Sc8/s1600/Ashes.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="142" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiBclLdXGASeMXRmC8Jrqn_zbjVRCWN5vlSbP_UVqN4owqiIHrQBpWJyE1JsaSY15ce_6P5zdZHmjqzOsgwcAa36t38jNtqoy_c5RDl-3WcHx6cVnVLSgo4ItTsNY6Itw7QZGRFZB8Sc8/s200/Ashes.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
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This general shift in thinking, Suzuki says, has not yet been made. It harkens back to my boyhood days when on Ash Wednesday, ashes was smeared on my forehead and the priest said, "<i>Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return"</i>. I probably did not understand the full implications of those few words. Besides, he probably said them in Latin anyway!</div>
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<span style="text-align: justify;">Suzuki is correct when he says the 'zone' years are the best of time although I am sure many don't agree. For those of us who are fortunate enough to be in good health, have a loving home and time to enjoy "living", what more is there?</span><br />
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Yes, as an octogenarian I do think about death frequently, I would worry if I did not, for that would mean I have lost touch with life itself. Thinking about the end, like the runner in a race only spurs me on to be aware of each moment of each day, and the people I admire and love.</div>
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I have decided to stop writing a weekly Blog. The novelty has worn off and it has morphed into a weekly chore. True, it has forced me to examine my way of living, but that has now become habit anyway. Hence, the plan is to abandon the disciplined weekly blog and move to an occasional one instead. In the meantime, I owe many thanks to my readers, your support has been wonderful. I will be in touch when the time is right in the future.<br />
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<span style="color: red; font-size: large;"><b>And that's Dicks View of the World this Week</b></span></div>
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Dick Grannanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13219111688609337793noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8549105850180521349.post-3420751968065297662016-03-13T18:54:00.000-04:002016-03-13T18:54:01.580-04:00Are You a Happy Camper?<div style="text-align: justify;">
I was fumbling around on the computer the other evening and I came across TED Talks on YouTube. I think TED might stand for Technology, Entertainment and Design. It is also a good English word that means to spread or scatter, like a farmer turning over the hay to dry. TED is a non-profit foundation with the slogan "Ideas<i> Worth Spreading</i>". This particular episode was presented by Dr. Robert Waldinger, a Harvard psychologist. His topic was on '<i>the one thing everyone needs to be happier.'</i><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIGECiL6vprZEepEkkZBzMO9PbAbLgTWYmPi7FFuH8Ds2TtwBXl0fML92Qr_T5G9sjCLf_zmbPjvQsVXjRV1i-DI5D7_f_dzia2f33QTfEUIclkcCIz2JutltJA_zZgclm60BsgUkCFJQ/s1600/Triumphs+of++Esperience.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: justify;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIGECiL6vprZEepEkkZBzMO9PbAbLgTWYmPi7FFuH8Ds2TtwBXl0fML92Qr_T5G9sjCLf_zmbPjvQsVXjRV1i-DI5D7_f_dzia2f33QTfEUIclkcCIz2JutltJA_zZgclm60BsgUkCFJQ/s200/Triumphs+of++Esperience.jpg" width="132" /></a></div>
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Probably every culture has its own idea as to what constitutes a happy life. I know there is an emotional component when we experience a good time or a streak of 'luck'. As a bonus, we also are awarded a marvelous shot of dopamine (a neurotransmitter)!</div>
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It is March Break Week in Ontario and, in spite of the low Canadian dollar, thousands of my fellow Canadians are heading to the warm and sunny south. I am sure those who have been looking forward to their vacation were feeling 'very happy' as they boarded their plane at Toronto Pearson International Airport on the weekend.</div>
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But in life, we need more than an occasional chemical release in the brain to make us a happy person. Our culture suggests ideas that supposedly lead to long-term happiness. They include financial security, a well-balanced life, good health, chutzpah, a great golf score, nice feelings, a sense of humour, and even dying and going to heaven!</div>
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On the other side of the coin, a large group of people were polled and asked to identify their greatest fear in life. Would you believe the majority answered public speaking! And their second greatest fear - of dying! As someone wrote recently the mourners at a funeral would rather be in the coffin than delivering the eulogy!</div>
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The Harvard Study on happiness was started over seventy-five years ago and Dr. Waldinger is the fourth person to manage it. The study originated with students, including President John F. Kennedy, but later added families and wives. A similar study followed young men from inner-city Boston tenements. It began around1940. More recently the study added genetic testing to the research.</div>
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Now comes the big question? What do these longitudinal studies show? "<i> Those satisfied in their relationships were happier and healthier. It was that simple".</i> <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The Washington Post.</span></div>
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However, it is important to emphasize that it is the quality of the relationship that provides the psychological and social well-being. Since each one of us is different and unique, relationships are not always easy. They require constant care and attention. I am sure there are dozens of books and articles outlining the 'do's and do not's' for building such relationships.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCC8vwrghTz3b_ug4j9-dc8aF-2W-1xiUxAjjlnzG3fZIZzxdaD_LNSXZr2xTtITsHS8mD5X45ztOuu2Hhp5Giz3j6ifBFMkuPWEJ448Je5_7J0lm8ScDYo-qOAobygA7mSJqSJ1ouPgQ/s1600/Dr.+knowall.jpeg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCC8vwrghTz3b_ug4j9-dc8aF-2W-1xiUxAjjlnzG3fZIZzxdaD_LNSXZr2xTtITsHS8mD5X45ztOuu2Hhp5Giz3j6ifBFMkuPWEJ448Je5_7J0lm8ScDYo-qOAobygA7mSJqSJ1ouPgQ/s1600/Dr.+knowall.jpeg" /></a></td></tr>
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But this octogenarian is not a psychiatrist and has no advice to give to others on this matter. I leave that to the experts. I simply know from experience that my efforts to be open with those I love and care for has given me the greatest pleasure and security any man could possibly desire. I was so happy to learn that the Harvard study confirms my experience. Thanks TED for a great and encouraging presentation. In the end, love really does matters.</div>
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<span style="color: red; font-size: large;"><b>And that's Dick View of the World this Week</b></span><br />
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<span style="color: red; font-size: small;">I don't like debts any more than anyone else. But the Canadian debt still remains among the lowest (31%) for the Group of Seven nations. We will soon learn if that is to change!</span></div>
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Dick Grannanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13219111688609337793noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8549105850180521349.post-76493022366535776722016-03-06T18:58:00.001-05:002016-03-06T18:58:24.724-05:00In Your Own Room?<div style="text-align: justify;">
Last week, we decided to watch a movie on T.V. and were lucky to find the movie adaptation of Emma Donoghue's book<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> The Room</span>. We were happy to hear soon after that actress Brie Larson won an Oscar for her performance.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOQzds0ILAxOEx_fxpAd51oYY7fJHJ6P1K9Z8J8F0zIgEbyuyHldYCRzVXzyuJbJJrKovgaBEfCxvdI6pP1_nbMlUGvtyZeTtrqayFj-Ai8redkgj2LopSkUwRGwYBwL4HMNmcGMieUvY/s1600/the+room.jpeg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: justify;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOQzds0ILAxOEx_fxpAd51oYY7fJHJ6P1K9Z8J8F0zIgEbyuyHldYCRzVXzyuJbJJrKovgaBEfCxvdI6pP1_nbMlUGvtyZeTtrqayFj-Ai8redkgj2LopSkUwRGwYBwL4HMNmcGMieUvY/s1600/the+room.jpeg" /></a><br />
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The story is about a young woman, and her five-year-old son Jack, prisoners for years in an 11'x11' backyard shed with only an empty skylight. Old Nick, the rapist has lost his job and Jack's mother is afraid he will kill them as he can no longer afford the house and property. But Jack has been taught that the only reality is 'the room' and its contents. Ma has been protecting him from the harsh truths of their existence. The rest of the world was the imaginary one on T.V. Without any social contacts, his 'friends' became the lamp, toilet, bed, sink, and the wardrobe where he slept when Old Nick made his nightly visit! Now her son is in danger and she wants to teach him about the outside world before she executes a plan to set him free. But Jack strongly resisted!</div>
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We all live 'alone' but together with others in the world. Many people build their nest and form their beliefs and, like Jack, stay fixated in that spot the rest of their lives. That is their choice and they have the right to do so. But as Jack slowly discovers once 'freed', there can be so much more to experience and enjoy. I often wonder if, like Jack, we experience what we expect to experience? Do our beliefs, knowledge and understanding of the world alter what we see and hear and not the other way around? In other words do we see and hear only what we want to see and hear? That's what Ma taught Jack under the skylight and that is why it was so difficult for him to adjust to his new reality.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY2_Mm7wd3EY-VTS94FZyuUBwLSan40zmLCm-fFelMXh9Utn-A4X0aqtFmI0DWktUtWrG7azCa5SsO2lNicyllx0isszOyOdWieNJG6-YJ5aVHmOWi33ekLyhLmH39KtgHS0xdIh3CsNk/s1600/Willful+blindness.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: justify;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY2_Mm7wd3EY-VTS94FZyuUBwLSan40zmLCm-fFelMXh9Utn-A4X0aqtFmI0DWktUtWrG7azCa5SsO2lNicyllx0isszOyOdWieNJG6-YJ5aVHmOWi33ekLyhLmH39KtgHS0xdIh3CsNk/s200/Willful+blindness.jpg" width="173" /></a><br />
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It is gratifying to remain safe and secure in an obsessive world but it could also mean the door is shut to personal growth and discovery. I notice that when two people are upset and engaged in an argument they often do not listen to each other. How many times have I heard, "<i>He</i>/she<i> does not understand"</i>. People have certain expectations and they let them override their observations. We all have our experiences, beliefs, and values and when we speak we are not just another Apple android! History has known for years that language is inherently vague and that people talk 'past' each other. Think of the recent <i>'he</i> <i>said, she said'</i> court cases our poor judges have had to resolve! Locked in their world (room) of beliefs and opinions they are unable to<i> 'hear</i>' what the other is saying.</div>
<span style="text-align: justify;"><br /></span> <span style="text-align: justify;">At times, it is also easy to fall back on willful blindness to protect ourselves from becoming involved. Granted we can't absorb everything, but what we choose to leave out sometimes could be crucial. Just think of the rise of Hitler and the results of his regime because people did not speak up in time! I am truly concerned about the recent state of politics in the U.S. What is happening is an excellent example of closed minds and the subsequent deadlock it creates. There are things we should know and could have known, but we choose not to see. '</span><i style="text-align: justify;">Why </i><span style="text-align: justify;">to</span><i style="text-align: justify;"> bother</i><span style="text-align: justify;">!' or, "</span><i style="text-align: justify;"> I really should have said something</i><span style="text-align: justify;">!' Examples abound.</span><br />
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Jack, in <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The Room</span>, had a difficult time adjusting to his new reality. Perhaps it is the constant adjustments demanded of us today that keeps us from challenging our own beliefs and thoughts. Jack made it. So can I!</div>
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<span style="color: red; font-size: large;">And that's Dick's View of the World this Week</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #f3f3f3; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: medium;">Did You Know?</span><br />
<span style="background-color: #f3f3f3;"><span style="color: red; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;"><br /></span> <span style="color: red; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;">At the original Constitutional Convention, Ben Franklin was asked what sort of government did the United States have. He replied, " <i>A Republic, madam if you can keep it."</i> Wow!!!</span></span></div>
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Dick Grannanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13219111688609337793noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8549105850180521349.post-44136083180340416342016-02-28T19:42:00.002-05:002016-02-28T19:42:39.188-05:00The Porcelain ThroneI must admit that there are many advantages being an octogenarian. When one is holding down a full-time job and looking after family duties it is often difficult to find the time to pursue other interests. As an octogenarian, the door is wide open and there is no excuse not to think about life and enjoy, more than ever, every moment of every day.<br />
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However, there is a small downside to pushing the boundaries. I hate all those 'old people' cartoons that find their way into my inbox. Damn it, they are funny in spite of my objections.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixB_Nh9xvcjjbLjXYX9ET3GXOkT5PSE5fe9jfweEcneGdXYKNt5Ti86PQ0tcff9jDuNvZqxYqVDG0_-JmmWb7UeCSWHqZugT8nbKeCBSucnrARYc-5N43iZTXI5NVK6z3BopSQB0Id-HQ/s1600/Toilet+bowel.jpeg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixB_Nh9xvcjjbLjXYX9ET3GXOkT5PSE5fe9jfweEcneGdXYKNt5Ti86PQ0tcff9jDuNvZqxYqVDG0_-JmmWb7UeCSWHqZugT8nbKeCBSucnrARYc-5N43iZTXI5NVK6z3BopSQB0Id-HQ/s200/Toilet+bowel.jpeg" width="163" /></a>As I perch on my porcelain throne each morning after breakfast I tend to review my plans for the day.What firms up my resolution is a very serious test. It will be a successful day when I can rise from the throne without having to lean on the tub rail, pull on a towel rack or press down on my knees! If that exercise bodes well, so does the day.<br />
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Like many others in our culture or milieu, I was taught the 'ideals' to live by (The Garden of Eden!) and the reward awaiting me at the other end (Heaven!), provided I practice those flawless rules. I learned on my own that life is dangerous, sometimes confusing, unpredictable at times and even disappointing. But no one taught me about getting old! It was a phenomenon I observed and ignored.<br />
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Most of us are encouraged to prepare financially for our retirement years. Not easy to do with so many part-time and 'sessional' jobs! But I have to ask: Are there preparatory measures one should attempt prior to finding themselves labeled old? If a college or university was to offer <span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">GETTING OLD 101</span> to first-semester students the registration office would not be jammed with applications!<br />
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It becomes quite obvious to this octogenarian that getting old is arriving at a place quite different from what it was for my parents. It is not the way I thought it would be. We live in a rapidly changing world and being prepared for the unexpected requires preparation.<br />
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Many of the things we do throughout our life are not recognized as contingencies for old age when in fact they are. We know them in another context. The list is long and includes behaviors such as: working to stay physically and cognitively fit, eating right, enjoying music, and having a purpose that reaches beyond life's unpleasantries. I once read that good muscle strength in midlife may protect people from old age disability.<br />
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The very first sentence in Ferenc Maté's book <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">The World's Best Sailboats reads, </span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>"Few things are as exhilarating in life as learning.</i>" I might add, i</span><span style="font-family: times, 'times new roman', serif;">t is always good to have an interesting book while occupying the porcelain throne.</span><br />
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<span style="color: red; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><b><b>And that's Dick's View of the World this Week</b></b></span></div>
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Did you Know?<br />
Proctor & Gamble have discovered a new and growing market. 'Babies grow out of diapers, incontinent adults usually don't.' Did I read that somewhere?<br />
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<br />Dick Grannanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13219111688609337793noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8549105850180521349.post-28871145756925932532016-02-21T22:13:00.002-05:002016-02-21T22:13:18.416-05:00"Us and Them" !<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9Yv1m_emdpPPSAzcBxA2bww7Zr-_-d7zra2RHv3GNBtb1-sQvihkTcikjcMFq2_2IwUDxZWrxXPV3mUWPIO2YKLacRwNuMmCycomUda2jaljHe2NXi7vvrexeA2yFTbJtTsujExiRHEA/s1600/Struggles+of+a+Dreamer.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: justify;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9Yv1m_emdpPPSAzcBxA2bww7Zr-_-d7zra2RHv3GNBtb1-sQvihkTcikjcMFq2_2IwUDxZWrxXPV3mUWPIO2YKLacRwNuMmCycomUda2jaljHe2NXi7vvrexeA2yFTbJtTsujExiRHEA/s200/Struggles+of+a+Dreamer.jpg" width="126" /></a><br />
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In these days of hi-tech, it is amazing just how many bookstores still exist in the greater Toronto area. I was in Chapters a few days ago and near the exit, stood a young man selling his first self-published book. Having had a similar adventure I needed to speak to him about his experience and his book. At the end of our discussion, I purchased an autographed copy. <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Struggles of a Dreamer</span> is an allegory with a message.</div>
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The experts tell us that our culture historically began with the early Greeks. I doubt if they would recognise very much if they walked down Yonge Street today! Over the years, our way of being in the world - our history, literature, science, philosophy, religion, music and lifestyle have undergone huge transformations. Years later the European culture in Canada was further reshaped by the French and British settlers and the aboriginal peoples.</div>
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When I was a boy growing up in Saint John it was not uncommon to see horse- drawn wagons making deliveries. My father would tell the story of standing in his office on Main Street and seeing his first car drive by the store. My mother often reminded us that she was the first woman driver in the city. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWpFVubQIv16KM8Y4KViEPJ4TeV22ImhfhUTv18U0Z5NCalHAusb7JbVH935yc78JTpVRJMZZh9OK8TvEgsQQ5oiAFw7DbYnV446VhY1VTqU5yZG4f7a4vAHpFF8Xhf7URMbVfFfJ01Qs/s1600/Luddites.jpeg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: justify;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWpFVubQIv16KM8Y4KViEPJ4TeV22ImhfhUTv18U0Z5NCalHAusb7JbVH935yc78JTpVRJMZZh9OK8TvEgsQQ5oiAFw7DbYnV446VhY1VTqU5yZG4f7a4vAHpFF8Xhf7URMbVfFfJ01Qs/s400/Luddites.jpeg" width="400" /></a><br />
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Our life is altered by inventions, conflicts, the mixing of cultures, wars and changes in our environment. One of the challenges we all face is a tendency to readily adapt to some differences and yet oppose other deviations. Part of us is encouraged to be accepting, still another part wants the stability of cultural patterns.<br />
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Not only are these changes personal, but social as well. This gives rise to conflict between those accepting change and those who refuse for whatever reason. For example, the current battle between the taxi companies and Uber. It reminds me of the Luddites, the textile workers in 19th century England who realized the new machinery would destroy their way of life. There are men in this world who refuse to accept changes to the role of women in society. They resist because it would require them to change as well! On a wide scale, these cultural disconnects tend to divide nations, people, neighbours and even each of us into camps - "us" and "them". And there lies the rub! Once locked into a position everything is measured by those terms leaving no room for dialogue or compromise! The ability and courage to break free are abandoned. And we are left with an "us" versus "them" confrontation.</div>
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There is still lots of room for books (and bookstores) in our life. Yahaya Baruwa, the young man I met at Chapters, put it this way. <i>"If I died right here and now, I would die a happy man, for I have been fortunate enough to break away from the limiting boundaries of tradition and have begun to discover the limitless possibilities of the world."</i></div>
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<i><b><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">And that's Dick's View of the World this Week</span></b></i></div>
<i><b><span style="color: red; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></i> <span style="color: red; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;">Did you Know? Notes and coins have been in use for 4,000 years. Canada is now considering a digital currency of its own. It would be cheaper than printing bills and minting coins.</span></div>
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Dick Grannanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13219111688609337793noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8549105850180521349.post-48234004965319153682016-02-14T19:50:00.000-05:002016-02-14T19:50:10.810-05:00Exercising the Brain for a Sharper Mind!<div style="text-align: justify;">
To you folks who take a few moments to read my weekly Blog - Many Thanks. It is you who keep me at the keyboard encouraging me to exercise my otherwise lackadaisical mind. It is so easy at my age to think,"<i>Why to bother. I'm wasting my time trying to learn something new at my age!"</i>. I reasoned writing a blog each week might be compared to a good workout at the gym. The Blog writing exercises the mind and the gym exercises the body. At least, that is what I would like to believe.</div>
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Dr. Norman Doidge's book <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The Brain that Changes Itself </span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">points out that not many years ago, scientists taught that the brain was fixed, leading to the conclusion that any damage was incurable. Modern science now believes the brain has a lifetime ability to change even its own structure. The word on the street is that anything a young brain can do an older brain can do as well. Of course, some of us have to work a little harder!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; text-align: justify;">They call this amazing discovery neuroplasticity. The downside is that it works both ways as our brains are also more vulnerable than we previously thought.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; text-align: justify;">Apparently some companies are developing computer-based cognitive training software 'games'. One ad suggests that the user will be able to "bulk up" their brain power just like muscles at the gym. Now I must admit there is plenty of excitement about these encouraging new insights on brain plasticity. I hope some day the new knowledge will bring greater hope, especially for those suffering from dementia. Nevertheless, what role games will play is still undecided. A number of prominent experts, in a published article, suggest that 'some claims made by the game developers are exaggerated and </span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; text-align: justify;">misleading.' </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; text-align: justify;">(The Stanford Letter</span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; text-align: justify;">). As one of the authors said, "<i>You would be better off spending it (money) on a gym membership or a fitness class as these have not been proven".</i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">I admit I tried a few 'brain training' computer games hoping to improve my memory and verbal reasoning skills. I found you learn very quickly, but as the current research suggests, there is probably no long-term improvement. Shucks! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; text-align: justify;">Obviously, more research needs to be done as no studies have demonstrated that participating in some of these games necessarily changes the brain's plasticity. On the other hand, some of the new rigorous therapies are showing extraordinary improvements.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Google Images</td></tr>
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<span style="text-align: justify;">In the meantime, I hope the scientists soon find a way to convince my 'body's plasticity'(!) that I could do without my developing 'pot belly'. The stomach seems to resists every effort to ban it. Apparently, aging male bodies are programmed to include a paunch after a certain age.</span><br />
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In the meantime..</div>
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<span style="color: red; font-size: large;"><b>That's Dick's View of the World this Week</b></span><br />
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<span style="color: red; font-size: x-small;">There are those who suggest we are on the cusp of The Fourth Industrial Revolution and there are those who believe our economy is in a state of stasis. What do you think</span><span style="color: red; font-size: medium;">?</span></div>
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Dick Grannanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13219111688609337793noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8549105850180521349.post-46084877950463634422016-02-07T17:12:00.000-05:002016-02-07T17:12:33.729-05:00Contradictions and Confusion!<div style="text-align: justify;">
I have a wonderful friend who will never discuss politics, religion or sex. Not only that, his world is very simple - black or white. We get along just fine. I know there are others who prefer to attend simply to their own needs and their own life and we also get along just fine. For me, it is not that simple. I find there are many 'buts' and 'maybes', huge grey areas that lead to doubts and confusion. But is that not expected of octogenarians?</div>
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Take smoking for an example. Luckily it has never been a problem for me except at work related meetings where I had to devour all that second-hand smoke from cigarettes, cigars and dirty old pipes! Given the amount of advertising around the dangers of smoking, why do so many people still do it? Are they hiding a secret hope that <i>'it won't happen to them'?</i> Confusing, is it not?</div>
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Most of us are convinced fossil fuels are a threat to the environment and even to life itself. On the other hand, who wants to give up smoking, central heating, a comfortable car or a plane ride to the islands! The girls now pay big bucks for holes in their jeans and Facebook will soon add a 'Reactions' button, but not a 'Dislike' one? Confusing, is it not?</div>
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When all is said and done we humans have to figure out what the common good is and to find some sort of mid-point compromise before we wreck the planet. Not always an easy task! As we all know, there are times when even compatibility is not possible or even desired.</div>
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Of course, not all opposites are negative: night and day, sweet and sour, justice and mercy, hot and cold to name a few. I don't think it's realistic to expect we will always find a compromise in every situation. So how do we proceed? </div>
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The same could be said about the incompatibilities we daily experience with lovers, friends and fellow workers. Obviously, finding agreement in arguments does not necessarily generate a solution! The other side may grudgingly agree to the compromise, but stomp off feeling hurt and unappreciated.<br />
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Each of us has unique needs. For example, I need and appreciate some sense of my own autonomy. Yet, I know I am not absolutely free! Since that is the case, then occasionally, especially with the ones I love, it is best to yield and raise the white flag. It shows I care about the other person's need to preserve their own unique autonomy and freedom. And if it is merely one of those daily little differences, then it is a way of showing respect. I do it because I care about them, not because I'm weak or<i> 'it's the right thing to do</i>'!<br />
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I read one time that too many little compromises will slowly eat away at a relationship. This is probably true if, over time, one partner or the other perceives it as a chipping away at their personal freedom.<br />
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Just like it's necessary to change the oil in my car, I find it is also good to consider revamping my habitual and even fixed ways of doing things. In my case, it keeps me very busy!<br />
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The times are often contradictory and confusing to this old senior, but, in the end confronting my confusion is more suitable than a simple black and white perspective!<br />
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<i>"If you do not create change, change will create you</i>." (Unknown) I like to keep my hand on the tiller!<br />
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<b style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">And that's Dick's View of the World this Week</span></b><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="background-color: white;">Did You Know? The baby boomers in the U.S. are on their way out. Close to 10,000 reach retirement age every day. Great opportunity for the millennials!</span></span></div>
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Dick Grannanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13219111688609337793noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8549105850180521349.post-58222490592661799052016-01-31T16:23:00.001-05:002016-02-01T17:44:05.815-05:00Happy State of Mind<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: justify;"><tbody>
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Two options I passed up as a boy were the opportunities to learn a musical instrument. In discussions with my mother we considered the violin, but I did not like the idea of having to carry it around. Some of my hockey playing friends might see me with it! Nevertheless, I was secretly interested in playing an instrument.<br />
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In our front living room stood an old grand piano. Some days after school I would sit there and run my fingers over the keys. In time, I learned to pick out a melody or two, but could never work the left hand into my rhapsodies.<br />
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Mom thought I was doing well on my <span style="background-color: white;">own </span>and talked me into piano lessons. The lessons were short-lived. Once again I did not want to be seen carrying music books around! Somehow, it did not go with my turned up leather jacket collar. Thus, two opportunities to learn a musical instrument slipped away. But unlike the Ancient Mariner, I did not carry that albatross around my neck until much later.</div>
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In my seventies, I decided to try a musical instrument again. I knew it was too late to become a successful musician but a few beginner lessons at a local high school night class got me started. I thought I could learn a few chords on the guitar, and along with a strum or two, fulfill a lost dream. That would be my level of success.</div>
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Not once did I heard Winston Churchill say, <i>"Never, never, never give up"</i>. On the other hand, I sometimes think our society puts too much emphasis on the idea of success. It leads one to believe there are only two choices in life, good or evil, right or wrong, success or failure! In sports winning is all that matters. In business making lots of money or climbing the corporate ladder is what constitutes success. In life, <i>'winning friends and influencing people</i>' is an important achievement. And by the way, don't forget to pick up your lottery ticket? Just take a slow walk in a bookstore and count the books on how to be successful in almost anything.</div>
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In general much of the advice is useful and good. Who wants to be a failure? But the problem is a single success may provide a useful moment, but not necessarily a happy state of mind. Most of us want to be happy, but just setting goals and achieving them can lead to disappointment. It is unfortunate that we are almost forced to live life as others define it and not the life we truly deserve and want.</div>
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Getting old has given me a sense of what truly matters. Winning the lottery, even at my age is not something I would turn down! On the other hand learning to be content with who I am and what I have been is more than enough. Utilizing the gift of time and enjoying my being alive makes me happy more than anything else. And yes, don't forget that 'wonder drug' called exercise. Its benefits are very well documented.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Google Images</td></tr>
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I wonder if we take too much for granted, believe too many 'truths', live with too many contradictions and lose sight of our deepest needs - to be loved and to be happy above all else.<br />
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I will never be a successful guitar player like Paco de Lucia or Eric Clapton. But strumming on my guitar, often by myself, is a wonderful way to relax and to feel my life is well-lived and fulfilling.<br />
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<span style="color: red; font-size: large;">And that's Dick's View of the World this Week</span><br />
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<span style="color: red; font-size: medium;">Too much salt is not good for you. It is said that cutting sodium could save thousands of lives a year. Adjust your taste buds, it is worth it.</span></div>
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Dick Grannanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13219111688609337793noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8549105850180521349.post-86892049461590118332016-01-24T18:22:00.001-05:002016-01-24T18:22:20.462-05:00COMPROMISE...not Always!<div style="text-align: justify;">
I am no expert but as an octogenarian, it is pretty obvious that everything I have experienced in life has changed and will continue to do so. My aging body is a constant reminder. If it did not change I would still be a baby! If we don't change we die. It is said that even our universe is perpetually changing. As long ago as 500 BCE the Greek philosopher Heraclitus thought the same thing.</div>
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But it's not just our bodies but everything - love, identity, ideas, beliefs, dreams, and hopes. Having said that, I realize that any observation I make is that of a senior citizen. Perhaps what I think, as a product of my mind, is not a true assessment of the actual facts. Have I changed more, or less, than the interchange I am observing?</div>
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It appears to me that the contrasts claiming my attention are becoming more frequent and demanding! Even on the personal level, where compromise should work, there seems to be an unwillingness to reach a happy medium and do what is best for all concerned.</div>
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But in today's world, compromise is often a simplistic solution. We now live in a multi-cultural society. When other values, religious beliefs, history, cultural differences, customs, and experiences are involved, compromise and dialogue will not cut it. At the same time, we have to share our life with some who are insensitive, who keep steering the conversation back to themselves, who are narcissistic, lack empathy or are constantly looking for compliments, be it the negative thinker, or the obnoxious neighbour. Compromise becomes a dirty word!</div>
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Most of us learned at an early age that we are all different. That's a good thing. What I am learning to improve on is respect for those differences. Just because someone is dissimilar or distinct is not a reason to dislike them! Because someone is smarter, has a different skin tone, is more talented, richer, younger, or has stronger opinions, doesn't mean I will allow them to threaten my self-esteem or the way I want to interact with others. I have learned that some can be mean and hurt others on purpose. Apparently they do this to feel better about themselves! They can go and fish in another pond as far as I'm concerned! I will ask them why they are so upset and what have I done to threaten them? So I say I am sorry and leave it at that. Knee-jerk reactions never worked for me and I have no need to 'win' every encounter.</div>
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If there is a chance to have a good discussion, to learn new things and to share ideas and beliefs without threatening or being threatened, I'm raring to go. Bring on the compromise!</div>
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I keep remembering Anthony Doerr's quote from <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The Light We Cannot See.</span></div>
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"<i>Open your eyes, and see what you can see with them before they close forever."</i></div>
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<b><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">And that's Dick's View of the World this Week</span></b><br />
<b><span style="color: red; font-size: large;"><br /></span></b> <span style="color: red; font-size: small;">Did you know? </span><br />
<span style="color: red; font-size: small;">In the United States 20% of families control 89% of the country's wealth making it one of the most unequal countries in the world, according to Bloomberg Business Jan. 2016.</span></div>
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Dick Grannanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13219111688609337793noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8549105850180521349.post-66008766197861284912016-01-10T18:51:00.001-05:002016-01-10T18:51:07.536-05:00Because We Like It!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhQDpr10jkYFJMbhGZR9ajXR7MjmugAIQ8gSQrJk8SbxAJjdqNbYxH5PQNhCbzcQFJBuU-__tVBs5YlWiPAs6uVmMq80X7NQEoBNTZsztHue9fIk8xkt65Ie0Jsot4-pKeWreO_o_bU7c/s1600/star+wars.jpeg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhQDpr10jkYFJMbhGZR9ajXR7MjmugAIQ8gSQrJk8SbxAJjdqNbYxH5PQNhCbzcQFJBuU-__tVBs5YlWiPAs6uVmMq80X7NQEoBNTZsztHue9fIk8xkt65Ie0Jsot4-pKeWreO_o_bU7c/s1600/star+wars.jpeg" /></a><br />
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Let's begin this blog with a confession. I did not go to the theatre to watch "<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Star Wars: The Force Awakens</span>". Like many tales that have a happy ending, General Luke Sky Walker succeeds in rescuing the beautiful Princess. I did see, whether I wanted to or not, the many trailers and newscasts promoting the film. Unfortunately, these short snippets emphasised the lightsaber battles and civil war in the galaxy. So I missed the love story theme and was turned away by the outer-space violence. Nevertheless, thousands loved this return of Star Wars. It should be noted that the young female fans questioned why Rey's replicas were not available on store shelves before Christmas?</div>
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<span style="text-align: justify;">Those trailers got me wondering if most of us have some kind of a morbid curiosity or an attraction to violence? We may be driving along a highway and suddenly the traffic slows down. The accident in the opposite lanes attracts the rubberneckers, perhaps hoping they might see some horrible mess they can report to friends when they arrive home.</span><br />
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Then, of course, there is violence on T.V., in the movie theatre, and, for those who like them, many video games. I believe it was around 1972 when the U. S. Surgeon General warned about violence in games leading to violent behaviour. But our attraction to violence seems to have become worse!<br />
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Carl Jung talked about an unconscious part of our psyche where animal instincts and desires lay hidden in what he called a "shadow of self". Perhaps many of us really don't want to admit that some of the things we do may be harmful in the end...smoking, extreme skiing, watching violent professional sports, boxing, speeding, jay-walking etc. On the other hand, we usually do something because there is a reward. We get points, praise from others, excitement, a pat on the back, across the street sooner, a healthy release of emotion or just exciting entertainment.</div>
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With all due respect to the Surgeon General, it's not that simple. I doubt the entertainment industry agrees with him! On the other hand, when it comes to advertising on our devices, the industry firmly believes they can change our behaviour. Can they or can't they?</div>
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There are many reasons we are attracted by real or vicarious violence. It might be the desire for power, religious extremism, bullying, imitation, cultural background, upbringing, poverty, mental illness, survival, or home environment. Violence is a very complex problem caused by many different factors. But it is also part of everyday life.</div>
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What about the average person? We see more and more of it in professional sports and, because of that, the fans are coming out in larger numbers. Could the ultimate reason for violence be that we like it?<br />
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J. Gottschall is quoted in an article in the National Post (April 2015) saying, <i>"We all say we hate violence. But we are shovelling it in our faces consuming a huge diet of violent video games and sports, and so I think we should admit it; something in us likes violence.</i>"</div>
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That may be true. But for the majority, there is a limit to what we can ingest. Perhaps by the time <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Star Wars: The Force <u>Reawakens</u></span>" I might drag myself to the theatre.<br />
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<span style="color: red; font-size: large;">And that's Dick's View of the World this Week</span><br />
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Did Yoy Know?</div>
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The Islamic State not only depends on oil to survive, but also on selling sex slaves, ransoming hostages, stealing farmland and whatever else they can get their hands on. Results: they can keep fighting for some time to come.</div>
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<br />Dick Grannanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13219111688609337793noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8549105850180521349.post-17607795301326658782016-01-03T17:16:00.001-05:002016-01-03T17:16:18.656-05:00Where Lies the "Truth" in a Changing World?<div style="text-align: justify;">
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I used to think, for example, that the bouquet (scents and smells) and the tastes I enjoy while sipping a glass of my favourite wine was something locked up in the bottle. By pulling the cork, I released those aromas and flavours for my pleasure. Recently I learned that the full development of this gratification only develops when the wine enters my mouth and it is the bacteria at the back of my tongue that creates the final aftertaste and aromas. In other words, each connoisseur has a slightly different and unique experience, so it's somewhat personal and subjective as well.</div>
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Another example. I learned years ago that after childhood my brain was hardwired, fixed and unalterable: it supposedly only changed later in life when the brain cells start to fail! Now I have learned that a basic brain property is what is called "neuroplasticity"- it can change itself! Even better for this octogenarian, I can rewire it to function the way it did many years ago! (See <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Brain that Changes Itself</span> by Norman Doidge, M.D.)<br />
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These two examples and many others reinforce the notion that even 'truth' is subjective and temporary. Each of us interprets all those events in our lives and how we see them becomes 'our truth'. In other words, we can be wrong and not even know it!</div>
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I don't know about 'absolute truth' and will leave that to the experts, especially those who say God dictates the truth! Indeed, did we not learn recently that neutrinos travel faster than the speed of light and some of the known laws of physics seem to be mutable under different circumstances? It would be nice if we also could be more 'open' and less 'fixated'!<br />
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There is always someone out there who has the 'facts' and even when we make our 'facts' clear to them, they still disagree! I have learned to keep my mind open, to appreciate the uniqueness of others, and to "allow being to be" as some existentialists say. But thinking about my own thought processes now and again, helps me step back from my 'truths' so that I can be more objective. Who knows, it seems to lead to a more satisfying and happier life.</div>
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Shawn Achor, once a professor at Harvard University, in his book, <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The</span> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Happiness Advantage </span>says, "<i>Ninety percent of your long-term happiness is predicted not by the external world, but, by the way your brain processes the world."</i><br />
<i><br /></i> Perhaps old Aristotle's simplified version makes more sense, 'Veritas est adequatio intellectus et rei', or in English "<i>Everything is true on the internet"</i>......<br />
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<span style="color: red; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span> <span style="color: red; font-size: large;"><b>And that's Dick's View of the World this Week</b></span><br />
<span style="color: red; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> A Very Happy New Year to all my faithful readers</span></div>
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Dick Grannanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13219111688609337793noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8549105850180521349.post-41163547417480737012015-12-20T17:24:00.000-05:002015-12-20T17:24:01.748-05:00Nativitas<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="text-align: justify;">Growing up in a Christian home meant that Christmas was a very special family celebration. Fortunately for us, my uncle's business was the provisioning of visiting ships. Thomas Gorman and Sons, Wholesale Groceries was located on the wharf at the bottom of King Street in Saint John. Although they did not sell to individuals, they did deliver to our family, almost everything in bulk. It was a 1940's Costco!</span><br />
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Our home was set on a hillock overlooking the Saint John Harbour. In the basement there was a large cold room carved into the shale rock. It was my responsibility to unpack the groceries and arrange them on the long shelves. I thought of this room as 'my domaine', especially around Christmas time when special foods arrived from Thomas Gorman and Sons. Along with the huge home-made fruit cake, with its hard layered frosting, there were boxes of canned and fresh fruit, ribbon candy, assortments of soft beverages, and my favourite - a four tiered brown box of Ganong Chocolates made right there in New Brunswick! It was my duty to keep my brothers and sisters at bay. The goodies had to sit tight till Christmas Day, waiting for the extended family dinner on the 25th. It was <i>"the most wonderful time of the year".</i></div>
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No one really knows the actual birthday of Christ. Although the origin of Christmas is complex, the religious and cultural celebrations around the winter solstice existed for centuries before Christ. (The Babylonians, Egyptians, Arabs and the Romans to name a few.) In the fourth century the Christians in Rome piggybacked on an existing holiday known as Saturnalia, a week-long lawless festival, and declared it a Christian holiday. They reasoned they would win many more converts if they promised to retain the infidels celebration! Adapting 'pagan' customs and incorporating them into their religious culture, eventually became a common way to garner converts.<br />
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Just as the early Christians seized an existing celebration and made it their own, enterprising merchants in our time have hijacked Christmas and claimed it for their purposes - driving the materialistic and consumer driven economy. Thus we have Boxing Day, Boxing Week, Black Friday, Black Week and even Green Monday (on-line-shopping).<br />
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As children were not permitted to open presents until after attending church, usually I was so excited I felt sick during the "Mass" part of "<i>Christ-mass</i>". I understood the religious nature of the holiday, but what was far more important to me, was the gathering of the extended family in our home. The uncles, aunts, older nephews and nieces, occupied the dinner table, the smaller children sat at a portable table close by. That annual gathering of the clan remains the highlight of my Christmas today, even though it is much more difficult to achieve in today's expanding world.</div>
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Instead of brooding over what to buy or being apprehensive of how the gift will be received, I will celebrate - family, love, joy, thankfulness and just being <i>Merry</i> for the right reasons. But more importantly, for this octogenarian, I am most thankful for the greatest present of all, the gift of love and the years to enjoy it.<br />
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><b><b style="font-family: 'helvetica neue', arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">TO ALL - HAVE A TRULY HAPPY CHRISTMAS SEASON</b></b></span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><b style="color: black; font-family: -webkit-standard;"><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">And th</span></b><b style="color: black; font-family: -webkit-standard;"><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">at's Dick's View of the World this Week</span></b></span></span></div>
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Dick Grannanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13219111688609337793noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8549105850180521349.post-12752295408751562542015-12-13T18:00:00.003-05:002015-12-13T18:00:36.454-05:00The "Echoes of My Mind"<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: justify;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjatFinxVOH1O1mBkHj03Hzt6PuThbBsZi9PJbSX0AolmQgFRppF0QmNpyb4DqFvJwwwzEf-_qogCI3I8qA-W4z_EnC_t628kFXQxMeu6ojqs-1FETzRc8l1-Bt0L2THTePIEbv-RvBBFc/s1600/Dick%253ABand+Nov%253AClub+2015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjatFinxVOH1O1mBkHj03Hzt6PuThbBsZi9PJbSX0AolmQgFRppF0QmNpyb4DqFvJwwwzEf-_qogCI3I8qA-W4z_EnC_t628kFXQxMeu6ojqs-1FETzRc8l1-Bt0L2THTePIEbv-RvBBFc/s200/Dick%253ABand+Nov%253AClub+2015.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Good Back-UP!</td></tr>
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A few weeks ago, at one of our boat club's "Open Mics", I chose to sing a song dating back to 1963, Peter, Paul and Mary's '<i>Puff, the Magic Dragon'</i>. It's an imaginary adventure of a young boy growing up in 'Honalee' but later abandoning his friend, the ageless Dragon. What surprised me most, as I looked out over the audience, the majority were mouthing the words or quietly singing along. For a few minutes we were enjoying this fantasy together.</div>
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But it is not only children who believe in imaginary dreams, all of us have done the same. Stories, especially simple stories, are a very powerful way of portraying the world where everything is for the best. Often we are blind to the inconsistencies. As someone once pointed out, 'There is a fine line between fact and fiction'. Children and adults can easily get caught up in our need to believe in a world that is is basically good. Remember the music of Vera Lynn during WWII:</div>
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<i>There'll be love and laughter</i></div>
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<i>And <u>peace ever after</u></i></div>
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I am still waiting to see! There have been over two-hundred wars since Vera Lynn expressed that hope! As a matter of fact, there has been a war some place in the world, since the day I was born! So much for <i>'peace everafter'</i>. This reality urged me to stop and think about the many convictions and beliefs I held that have become, like Puff himself, swept away in the wind of reaching for maturity.<br />
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No doubt my early perceptions of the world were related to where I grew up. And rightly so. Most of us don't live outside our social, cultural and legal environments. Whether we like it or not, we depend on others to survive and would have a difficult time attempting to exist in a social vacuum. On the other hand I am not drifting towards Franz Kafka's view that the world is essentially chaotic.<br />
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In spite of my need to be 'together with others in the world', there is always a sphere of personal existence where I must think and act independently. I have learned from children who naturally are curious and constantly ask the question "why"! This octogenarian believes it's important for me to do the same and examine a life time of thoughts and beliefs. I should not be afraid to ask, how I know something to be true; where are the inconsistencies; are my convictions really mine; do I hold this thought because of what others say; do I believe that because it's comfortable? Or the really big question: Why bother, I am too old to probe around..let it be!<br />
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I have learned to abandon some cherished philosophic and 'rock solid' beliefs that provided much comfort in life. But in so doing, there is always the residue of asking myself, what if I am wrong? As any writer worth his or her salt would say once again, 'there is a very fine line between fact and fiction.'<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidyXeuwVUjA30MKVz28N23Dxoi4OlrzWXcJrO1VEsm8XZhOhLXt2AkzVa3XpQmyX-gJOSM7OibqS3fU68IpH-T6mxtr3Ha1OyO3Gz3gZlqGDYox6pBel0b9RX_fcRjoRgIvyvgpK0R7lQ/s1600/What%252C+where%252C+who.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidyXeuwVUjA30MKVz28N23Dxoi4OlrzWXcJrO1VEsm8XZhOhLXt2AkzVa3XpQmyX-gJOSM7OibqS3fU68IpH-T6mxtr3Ha1OyO3Gz3gZlqGDYox6pBel0b9RX_fcRjoRgIvyvgpK0R7lQ/s1600/What%252C+where%252C+who.jpeg" /></a></td></tr>
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There are those who believe we are entering the post-literate world where the moving image is king and that so many are not interested in learning, but are simply 'hungry for distraction'. However, retirement has blessed me with the time and patience to explore the valleys and caves of my own mind and to discover new and wonderful things about my tiny place in the world.<br />
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Perhaps the only possible way to find "peace ever after", is in the "echoes of my mind". It was great knowing you, Puff!<br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: red; font-size: large;"><b>And that's Dick's View of the World this Week</b></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: red; font-size: medium;">Did You Know?</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;">There are five key points in the Paris Agreement on climate change. In the U.S., combined wind and solar, only generate less that 5% of their electricity. It's a long way to Paris!!!</span></div>
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<br />Dick Grannanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13219111688609337793noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8549105850180521349.post-35327402770407190132015-12-06T18:34:00.000-05:002015-12-06T18:34:46.384-05:00Shackles on Our Minds<div style="text-align: justify;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnXAatvRocdK6lRhzreXhY4F1ZJ7DMA4V4x3wFV2i54MHdIcq62ou8Lu0ie4R9wo13hHFSFWf09QcqSbXLrpZIw89V4HvQa-D2Fa0hxk4-jpYpVlQKeCKU7JRONdqcV3wgO_g6urjO_4w/s1600/Young+boy.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="142" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnXAatvRocdK6lRhzreXhY4F1ZJ7DMA4V4x3wFV2i54MHdIcq62ou8Lu0ie4R9wo13hHFSFWf09QcqSbXLrpZIw89V4HvQa-D2Fa0hxk4-jpYpVlQKeCKU7JRONdqcV3wgO_g6urjO_4w/s200/Young+boy.jpeg" width="200" /></a>I started my education at Saint Peters School in Saint John. However, the following summer my family moved to a new home on Rockland Road. There I attended Grades 2 - 6 . Unfortunately I had to move back to Saint Peters to complete Grades 7 and 8. I will never forget my first day in Grade 7. Without being fully conscious of, what one might call the first stages of puberty, I knew I was big and gangly. The 'biologic clock' was certainly ticking. God forbid that anything embarrassing should happen in front of my new classmates.</div>
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Because it was a new enrolment, the seven of us arrived late and were marched into a room full of boys the same age. Miss Dever, her grey hair pulled back in a bun, was standing beside her desk, ruler in hand. As we came into the classroom we marched along the far wall towards the vacant seats in the back. I was painfully self conscious and definitely trying to keep a low profile as twenty boys watched us in silence stumble into the empty desks. Unfortunately, Miss Dever knew my father. As I was slinking along the wall, desperately trying to appear unnoticed, the dead silence was broken by her words, <i>"Dicky, is that you?</i>" I was crushed, my cover was broken and my effort to 'fit in' was destroyed by those explosive words.</div>
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Miss Dever's question did not change my personality, but they were a source of serious embarrassment that effected my behaviour right up to university. I was 'centered out', the very thing I feared most. This caused me, in a school environment, to become silent and withdrawn. A perfect subject for Dr. Jung, no doubt!<br />
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I don't believe my shyness in school was a core personality trait (some may dispute that!) but I must admit, I always attempted to keep a low profile. A wallflower perhaps? I had to make a special effort to change my behaviour once I reached university. Playing sports was the answer for me. I had to work hard 'to be the best' and that required determination. Sports psychologists suggest that our brains want to drop out when our efforts reach the 40% level. Think push-ups or holding the plank position in the gym! But 40% means there is 60% still available! The coach that taught me the most was Bill Beveridge one time goal tender in the NHL (N.Y., Montreal, Ottawa)<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl8WAoo_2cqfN9HFJfFr9UcJI9kMv-pzY9QoDgLswzjiMAii3dHE9dX2ATVvAfWdoGtrMiQ2snG-teEJGPPwA2lM2U_H18FxDL2WXCquo2VQJODiZUgFz3sbSPECmeb3xK80mqKhgmrXg/s1600/Miss+Dever.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl8WAoo_2cqfN9HFJfFr9UcJI9kMv-pzY9QoDgLswzjiMAii3dHE9dX2ATVvAfWdoGtrMiQ2snG-teEJGPPwA2lM2U_H18FxDL2WXCquo2VQJODiZUgFz3sbSPECmeb3xK80mqKhgmrXg/s200/Miss+Dever.jpeg" width="140" /></a></td></tr>
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As an octogenarian life has taught me that people can change if they wish. Changing our 'core', or fixed personality, is probably the most difficult. But, like most things in life we can shape, develop and attain a new attitude. Like striving to learn to play a new instrument, or to lose unwanted weight, we 'inch' forward one step at a time.<br />
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Believing this makes it difficult for me to deal with obstinate, inflexible and stubborn people who are convinced - <i>'that's the way I am.</i>' Quite frankly, getting old is wonderful, there is absolutely no reason not to change ....................... unless, of course, to do so is stupid and unreasonable!<br />
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<b>Bye, bye Miss Dever!</b></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-size: large;"><b>And that's Dick's View of the World this Week</b></span><br />
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<span style="color: red; font-size: medium;">Did you Know?</span></div>
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Perhaps it is getting near the end of discs and downloads. Are we willing to pay for streaming music?<br />
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Dick Grannanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13219111688609337793noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8549105850180521349.post-18868826734242863602015-11-29T20:28:00.004-05:002015-11-29T20:28:50.153-05:00One Discombobulated Senior Citizen!<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCBfuyqLdJIcG6nNiABqAIoMCzCVAqiqGjfv4NASHDkSQ2hKK4e9LOpER-4UO4cjlwnCe8H2FQjBLNo7YZgVjZx4wHKCCYPzZ3iWjOL4c1Iq3shvPE6qeJxHmOjmPvWWcq3hdZkEHbll8/s1600/caterpillar.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCBfuyqLdJIcG6nNiABqAIoMCzCVAqiqGjfv4NASHDkSQ2hKK4e9LOpER-4UO4cjlwnCe8H2FQjBLNo7YZgVjZx4wHKCCYPzZ3iWjOL4c1Iq3shvPE6qeJxHmOjmPvWWcq3hdZkEHbll8/s200/caterpillar.jpeg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">1930's Bulldozer</td></tr>
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Over eighty years ago, Don Hansen and I were playing in the snow that had been recently ploughed off the road in front of our house on Douglas Avenue. A large caterpillar tractor had gone by earlier and the huge mound of snow was begging for a cave. We carved out a little tunnel and scooped out a larger hideout deep in the snow bank. We took off our mittens and made a little bench around the parameters of our make believe Eskimo home. Unknown to us the Bulldozer was making a return run to push the snow further off the road. I ended up deeply buried and Don was rolled onto the sidewalk. He quickly ran to our front door. My mother recruited a man walking down the street to shovel the snow away to find me and drag me to safety. I still carry a mental image of my red mittens torn to shreds by the caterpillar's track!</div>
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They say self awareness begins somewhere between one and three. If I was not aware of my existence prior to that snow plough event, I sure was after. I knew I had escaped death by the 'skin of my teeth'.<br />
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Strange as it may sound it was the T.V. coverage of the Remembrance Day Event that brought back this memory of my 'roll in the snow'. As an example, what surprised me is how my opinion of war has changed since the late thirties. In 1939, when William McKenzie King was Prime Minister and King George VI and Queen Elizabeth were in Saint John looking for support for a war about to begin, I got caught up in the hoopla! Like so many young males I was all fired up and ready, to put on a uniform and go and fight the enemy. During most of that war I regretted my age barring me from becoming a soldier. Yet, in spite of the hype, propaganda, music, the signs and above all, the weekly announcement of local soldiers and relatives killed, I was confused. I sat down with my mother, who had lost her younger brother in WW1, and asked her why? I remember saying, 'B<i>ut don't they have fathers and mothers, brothers and sisters also'?</i><br />
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While it is true our experience in life helps form our opinions, how we see 'our world' differs as we learn more and are exposed to new and dissimilar experiences. In WWII it was clear, or at least we believed it was so - the 'Natzies' and the 'Japs' were the enemy. It was easy to take sides and visualize the outcome. Certainly ISIS, with its ethnic cleansing, mass murders, rape, beheading, execution of homosexuals and adulterers, enslavement of women...is one enemy. But what happens when they are 'defeated'? There are too many other players involved. Who are the "good" guys" and who are the "bad guys"- Bashar al-Assad, Russia, the Islamic regimes, Shiites or Sunni, Hezbollah, Kurds, Al Qaeda, Boko Haram, America, France, Germany, Turkey etc...........There are just too many teams, wearing different jerseys and seeking their own goals, to see the end results.<br />
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<i>"Can anyone plausibly argue that assisting in the achievement of Saudi, Russian, Iranian, and Syrian government goals will make life better for the people of the region?"</i> (Huffington Post - Politics, Canada)<br />
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How does an ordinary citizen like this octogenarian decide what we should do? No longer is it just "good" versus "evil". Some of the "evil" we know, but what are the end goals of some of the others players? Are we taking seriously as to why so many young people are angry and flocking to ISIS? There is no easy "fix" and the Western powers have made some very bad mistakes. ISIS can not exist with the rest of us on this planet. So what do we do now? I hope the new government has some very enlightened advisers.<br />
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One thing is sure, we need more than a snow shovel to dig our way out of this one.<br />
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<span style="color: red; font-size: large;"><b>And that's Dick's View of the World this Week</b></span><br />
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<span style="color: red; font-size: medium;">Did you Know?</span></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-size: medium;">McDonald's and Subway are about to stop purchasing meat raised on human antibiotics. It contributes to resistant to super bugs.</span></div>
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<br />Dick Grannanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13219111688609337793noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8549105850180521349.post-49733502008832757692015-11-22T19:47:00.000-05:002015-11-22T19:47:03.831-05:00How We See the World ??<div style="text-align: justify;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNAgytppQiFPizI7YwKYoqmEcx3b17eXAJzf07ptm_R5bSGcSsHdG8cn-nomRlzCPEMhpGS324E02WaPns1BdbLzDY_DjEthD78HLsyfu9DlgtXyGA1wTKfifK6a540v1HgTperSJZVlA/s1600/The+Arab+Mind.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNAgytppQiFPizI7YwKYoqmEcx3b17eXAJzf07ptm_R5bSGcSsHdG8cn-nomRlzCPEMhpGS324E02WaPns1BdbLzDY_DjEthD78HLsyfu9DlgtXyGA1wTKfifK6a540v1HgTperSJZVlA/s200/The+Arab+Mind.jpeg" width="200" /></a>One of the joys of being a retired octogenarian is that there is more time to read and relax. However, I have a peculiar fetish: for serious non-fiction reading I like a paper edition. The reason for this: I read with a pen in hand to help me focus and remember important ideas. Also with non-fiction I try to multi-task (!) and read more than one book at a time. My current companions; "<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The Arab Mind"</span> - 1983 edition by Raphael Patai. No doubt it is out of date, or better be, but it does give a great historical background. Face up on my desk and waiting frequent visits is <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">"Flight from Famine"</span> by Donald MacKay. It's an account of the Great Famine and the Irish who arrived in Canada in the early 17th century. We think we have it tough today! Finally, one everyone should read, "GUT" by Jill Enders. <i> "A gastrointestinal tour de force"</i>, says one M.D. </div>
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On the recreational side I enjoy my non-paper Kobo Reader and chose authors like Ken Follett, Jeffrey Archer, and Michael Connelly to name a few. These and<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"> other writers</span> entertain me during the 4 pm coffee break. Actually, Maureen and I will be off to cocktails and hors d'oeuvres with Michael Connelly early next month!!</div>
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More to the point. I am currently reading Archer's<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> Jack Daws. </span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">A German officer is speaking during the occupation of France. "<i>I'm an existentialist. War enables people to be what they really are: the sadists become the torturers, the psychopaths make brave front-line troops, the bullies and the victims alike escape to play their roles to the hilt, and the whores are always busy." </i>Given the violence currently being experienced in France and many other countries, that clip seemed to make a lot of sense.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">I have to ask myself, how can 'a lone-wolf terrorist' or a well orchestrated group, blatantly enter a building and mow down unarmed and presumably innocent people? Are they moved by their own impaired minds or by some extreme movement? Are they just deeply troubled and over zealous? Is not an all-embracing egotism one of the classical symptoms of schizophrenia? Or have they just given Charles Darwin's principle of 'natural selection' a little boost?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Each of us looks at the world through our own tainted glasses. In so doing we develop our ideas and get emotionally attached to them. That is why it is so hard to get another to see your point of view, or for you not to believe your view is the correct one! No one wants to admit they are wrong or to be ignored by friends and acquaintances. I know, I don't! Each of us has an opinion about gun control, religion, history, politics, sexual behaviour, the hijab, and even the the number of Syrian refugees Canada should admit.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Nevertheless, most of us don't go around killing those who disagree with our view of the world. Hence, my unprofessional point of view is that those individuals who perpetrate these horrendous crimes are both deeply troubled and over zealous.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Yet there remains the quote from Nelson Mandela, <i>"When a man is denied the right to live the life he believes in, he has no choice but to become an outlaw." </i>We all see the world differently.</span><br />
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<span style="color: red; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><b>And that's Dick's View of the World this Week</b></span><br />
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<span style="color: red; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: medium;">Did you Know? Will cyber attacks by ISIS get worse as tensions increase? The U.S. defense doctrine says that destructive hacking <u>could</u> be considered acts of war!</span></div>
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Dick Grannanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13219111688609337793noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8549105850180521349.post-17850194405005367142015-11-15T18:20:00.001-05:002015-11-15T18:20:25.031-05:00Of Heroes and Cowards<div style="text-align: justify;">
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Back in the early 1960's I was living at the Pension Swiss in Brussels, and doing my fair share of travelling about Europe. Years later, while at home for my mother's funeral, someone found a large packet of letters (<i>par Avion</i>) among her things. I still possess them. They were the letters I sent home on a weekly basis from Belgium. Until that day I had no idea she had kept them but I was moved to realize she thought them of some value. For some reason the recent events in Paris urged me to search them out and reminisce.</div>
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Once, when in Paris for a few days, I was walking along a side street when two armed Sûreté Nationale (now Police Nationale) approached wearing side arms. One took my left arm, the other my right, and quickly ushered me into the foyer of a nearby apartment building. I was told to remain there until the motorcycle entourage, transporting President Charles de Gaulle, had passed by.</div>
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The French are very good at security and I was quite surprised when I heard the news on Friday night that another attack on innocent civilians had occurred. Bombs went off in the Stade de France during a soccer game and many innocent people in the Le Carillon Restaurant, and the Bataclan Concert Hall, were slaughtered or seriously wounded. It is said that ISIS was responsible and that they, in their religious fervor, said they were attacking <i>"the capital of adultery and vice</i>". Is there not something wrong with this logic! What vice could be worse than wounding and killing innocent young people attending a rock concert on a Friday evening? It appears, as someone once wrote, 'men kill over religion, land, natural resources and <i>intractable hate</i>' - and those cowards were taught to believed they were purifying the world!</div>
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<i>"We have not defeated the idea, we do not even understand the idea." </i>(U.S. Major General M.K. Nagata talking about ISIS.) He got that right. What is happening today is a new form of warfare and new ideas will be required to resolve a very troubled world.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNXioDYI_o9ZZZNWC9PVxFM6vVSGQ9KlkbZhE7ya_5mzMBlvc8_UZ36VCRX7s3BCUerP5ByQ4rqw_5kf8uXVsqNpJBiEVoyEkuaysV4EluPqg0c1jL-Qk0A56JRYJGaPFXByYFzX9mxK0/s1600/Remembrance+day+2015.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="178" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNXioDYI_o9ZZZNWC9PVxFM6vVSGQ9KlkbZhE7ya_5mzMBlvc8_UZ36VCRX7s3BCUerP5ByQ4rqw_5kf8uXVsqNpJBiEVoyEkuaysV4EluPqg0c1jL-Qk0A56JRYJGaPFXByYFzX9mxK0/s320/Remembrance+day+2015.jpeg" width="320" /></a>On November 11th, just a few days prior to the events in Paris, our nation paused to remember the recent wars of the past. War is not a new experience for Canadians. I was a teenager during WW11 and even though we did not have the social and professional networks we have today, we were kept informed. We knew who our heroes were and we were proud of their sacrifices. Today Canadians are part of the military intervention against the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant. It rages as we speak. Canada is again at war and yet, we know so little about the enemy or the heroes who will be returning home soon!</div>
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I would like to return to France someday and visit the beautiful city of Paris one more time. I hope that day comes soon. Be brave 'cousins'.</div>
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<span style="color: red; font-size: large;"><b>And that's Dick's View of the World this Week</b></span><br />
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<span style="color: red; font-size: medium;">Did you Know?</span></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-size: medium;">Getting hacked has gone big time: Cyber crime now costs businesses almost $450 billion globally!</span></div>
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<br />Dick Grannanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13219111688609337793noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8549105850180521349.post-39579939700050917702015-11-08T18:12:00.000-05:002015-11-08T18:12:34.080-05:00Just Chuck it Out!<div style="text-align: justify;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMX0cdZGz87FQmBqv1LUQGqsDOqtePgsAN4GWIyRfEsEg0FdPDsn0jN12fTqFOpJBjTTM7Jolwul5RjjtoY0oicVZoRDOZfyqxpo8zkgyThWbYhwViMmBvP4jGQDX5Ub6QoN074wgPyvc/s1600/repair+man.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMX0cdZGz87FQmBqv1LUQGqsDOqtePgsAN4GWIyRfEsEg0FdPDsn0jN12fTqFOpJBjTTM7Jolwul5RjjtoY0oicVZoRDOZfyqxpo8zkgyThWbYhwViMmBvP4jGQDX5Ub6QoN074wgPyvc/s200/repair+man.jpeg" width="200" /></a>I 've owned an Everio JVC video recorder for a few years now. Not long ago, as I was getting ready for a trip, I pulled it off the shelf and tested its functionality. It didn't work! When I purchased the camera I asked the salesperson about repairs. He told me to bring it in if there was a problem. I took it back to the store and was given a phone number. I went home and dialed the number. I was told it would be $80 just to look at it, followed by the cost of repairs!</div>
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I then called Everio and was put through to the service shop.<i> "When did you use it last</i>?' an elderly voice asked. I told him about two months ago. He then instructed me to remove the battery cover, take an ordinary eraser, and rub the little shiny bars that were exposed. I did. It worked! Charge $0. Of course I was lucky to have the proper tool on hand - a pencil with an eraser!</div>
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We hear a lot about <i>the environment</i> these days and that is a good thing. But there are two important reasons why, as individuals, we should move beyond merely a general statement ("the environment"), to our own behaviour (1) and health (2).</div>
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What we don't hear asked often is why we are throwing so much stuff into the dump and the recycling bins in the first place! Whatever happened to repair shops, there used to be one on every corner? As consumers we do have options - fix it or get it repaired if possible! But even that is becoming next to impossible. It would appear that manufacturers now make things that are unrepairable. They don't sell parts because they want the customer to buy new. They use low wages in developing countries to make cheap products that we are expected to throw away, and, of course, buy new again. Somehow we are forgetting that 'buying cheap leads to spending more down the road'.</div>
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Just think of the lamps, coffee makers, clocks, smart phones, T.V. sets, recorders, computers, vacuum cleaners, cameras, clothes and even junk jewelery that could still have a useful life if repaired. Think of the mountains of stuff that would remain in use and not lie rotting in the local dump, as much of it does in spite of our efforts to recycle.<br />
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Equally important is our personal environment, both outside and inside. Our health is pretty much determined by the quality of our environment. Air pollution is often linked to premature death, cancer and severe respiratory problems. In some parts of the world, including parts of Canada, water is becoming an infectious agent and the chemicals it contains are causing severe illnesses.Think of toxic waste and what it is covertly doing to our health and well being. The bottom line is that our health is pretty much determined by the quality of our environment.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtnPR5SFBMPxXlYyTIbbWU0KJE9pvY5VeHoA173EPhHFJjpdBqUsx_9l_XaleUmW8pMfkkLF2H8esMNKbU8Gmjik4T89uzOeJcUOHYX3UbiXoLIhLTsePmB9eP3MX_Gni2hdJTxUno0yc/s1600/this-changes-everything-9781451697391_lg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: justify;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtnPR5SFBMPxXlYyTIbbWU0KJE9pvY5VeHoA173EPhHFJjpdBqUsx_9l_XaleUmW8pMfkkLF2H8esMNKbU8Gmjik4T89uzOeJcUOHYX3UbiXoLIhLTsePmB9eP3MX_Gni2hdJTxUno0yc/s200/this-changes-everything-9781451697391_lg.jpg" width="131" /></a><br />
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Naomi Klein in her book "<i>This Changes Everything</i>" points out that the climate crisis is a result of capitalism. For sure human activity is involved. Mankind (especially we Canadians!) has historically treated our earth, as simply a bundle of resources waiting to be exploited! Thus the environmental problems fundamentally rest on over population, expanding demands on resources, resources that exist in a very finite and limited world.</div>
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This octogenarian is left with this troubling thought: If we, as consumers, have so readily bought into the idea of a <i>'disposable world</i>' and a '<i>non-fix-it</i>' mentality - what will happen to you when you get old and sick?<br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: red; font-size: large;">And that's Dick's View of the World this Week</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: red; font-size: medium;">Did you Know?</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"> That the matter that spews out of smokestacks and our exhaust pipes hurts more than just the climate. It harms our health as well!</span></div>
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<br />Dick Grannanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13219111688609337793noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8549105850180521349.post-76392380686452067062015-11-01T17:51:00.001-05:002015-11-01T17:51:17.696-05:00The Just World ?<div style="text-align: justify;">
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Back sometime in the 1960's there was a semi-autobiographical book by Joanne Gramberg with the catchy title, <i>"I Never Promised you a Rose Garden.</i>" It was later made into a movie, a play and eventually a song sung by Lynn Anderson the 1970's: "<i>Rose Garden</i>".</div>
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In the past two week, Maureen and I attended the bedside and, unfortunately a few days later, the 'Celebration of Life' for a beautiful niece. It was a very difficult time for all the family, for her young husband had died recently and now, two university students are left on their own. For some strange reason the words of Lynn Anderson's song kept popping into my head. None of us have ever been promised a Rose Garden!</div>
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Poor old Job of the Bible faced the same conundrum. He apparently suffered a number of misfortunes in life. His friend suggested that perhaps he had done something wrong to deserve such bad luck.</div>
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For some reason we like to believe that the world is an unbiased and impartial place. I was told that, "<i>If you work hard, eat right, exercise regularly, your life will be fine</i>." I learned as a young boy, that if I was bad and 'got hit by a truck, I would go to hell'. I think it is wise to have a sense of what you want to achieve in life and the guidelines to get you there. But on the other hand, believing that the world is nonpartisan or neutral place causes us to believe there is a rationale for everything. Have you ever heard someone say, 'You reap what you sow', or 'The chickens come home to roost'. How about, 'What goes around comes around' or the real killer, "I told you so!' In the U.S. 30 Americans fall victim to gun violence every day and an additional 58 people a day kill themselves with guns!(Bloomberg-October 25, 2015) Does that sound like a Rose Garden to you?<br />
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The negative side of believing that the world is an orderly, predictable and just place can also lead us to believe that people get what they deserve. The poor deserve their poverty, the raped girl was asking for it, sick people deserve their illness...it's their own damn fault! When we don't know how to deal with tragety in our lives, we often look for something or someone to blame!</div>
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There are times when we try to do good and fail. Angus Deaton, who recently won the Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Science, is skeptical about foreign aid for example. He pointed out that even the best aid projects may compromise institutions and undermine democracy. It weakens the official organization's will and ability to provide their service and do their jobs properly!</div>
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Perhaps the lesson to be learned from the terrible migrations now taking place in Europe, is that the world inflicts violence, discrimination and poverty whether people deserved it or not. The world is not necessarily a fair place! People suffer without any apparent cause.<br />
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To watch a member of your extended family die is no easy experience. We are often attempted to think WHY? But the stark reality is that the world is not the place we want it to be. So we are left to struggle on and to learn once again, how much we depend on one another to make our life's journey successsful. After all, no body can promise you a Rose Garden.<br />
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<span style="color: red; font-size: large;"><b>And that's Dick's View of the World this Week </b></span><br />
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Did You Know?</div>
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Unfortunately, there is a large group of baby boomers who are reaching 65 who don't have sufficent savings for retirement. What are they going to do? And not only that, many are living longer than previous generations!</div>
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<br />Dick Grannanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13219111688609337793noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8549105850180521349.post-14016347257498945372015-10-26T11:57:00.001-04:002015-10-26T11:57:13.177-04:00Distracted Living<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgALBIwwKkQtV_NfxsAmhDqTdcbgm9CGI1jnUT8FX0PJK7GA-EQLoVfOWXV8TGuqz7eoUvKMU90YLgSydFuqHgE6kGV9meJXpIutzMXCTU93f3eixqXZ4sYGTu4-NrTbm06ExRzuftTA4U/s1600/Bus+accident.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: justify;"><img border="0" height="147" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgALBIwwKkQtV_NfxsAmhDqTdcbgm9CGI1jnUT8FX0PJK7GA-EQLoVfOWXV8TGuqz7eoUvKMU90YLgSydFuqHgE6kGV9meJXpIutzMXCTU93f3eixqXZ4sYGTu4-NrTbm06ExRzuftTA4U/s200/Bus+accident.jpeg" width="200" /></a><br />
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The news was not good from Bordeaux, France when I woke up the other morning. Before getting out of bed I plug in the 'buds', so as not to disturb Maureen, and listen to Metro Morning with Matt Galloway. The terrible news was that a bus in French carrying pensioners, and a lorry carrying wood, met head-on and burst into flames, resulting in the loss of 43 lives. I have no idea why this happened. I do know that distractions make driving more dangerous. According to Transport Canada, almost two thousand fatalities were reported in 2013.</div>
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Even driving through wine country on a tree lined road, in a bus full of elders, distractions abound. Even worse, in a big city like Toronto, we engage frequently in bumper-to-bumper traffic jams, road construction, cross walks, rain and bright sun, honking cars, talking passengers, navigation systems, phone connections, changing lanes, pedestrian crosswalks, bicycles - all screaming for our attention. Perhaps the worst distraction of all is just good old woolgathering! The tremendous amount of distractions surrounding us while at the wheel, is almost overwhelming. Unfortunately, we now live in what some call the "Age of Information" and our mind, not only when we are driving our cars, but during our waking hours, is continuously being drawn away from the here-and now. </div>
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Thanks to new imaging technologies, scientists are beginning to see the relationship between thoughts and emotions and chemical releases and reactions throughout the body. Our mind has developed and adapted to change over the ages, but have our brains developed quickly enough to successfully deal with the onslaught of information and our belief that we need to know everything!</div>
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In her best selling book GUT, Giulia Enders suggests Rene Descartes quote, <i>"I think, therefore I am</i>" should be updated to <i>"I feel, then I think, therefore I am"</i>. She goes on to say that science's concentration on the brain has blinded us to the fact that we are made up of more than just our grey matter. With all this new knowledge from imaging tedhnologies, we are learning there is a strong physiological connection between the mind and body. We also now know there are chemical releases and reactions throughout our body caused by our thoughts and emotions. The little smart phone we use so frequently, for so many different tasks (all demanding our attention!), is more powerful than the most advanced computers IBM had only 30 years ago! And it seems our brains are not wired to multitask it all very well. Trying to keep up with emails, Facebook, texting, driving et cetera, produces the stress hormone cortisol and, at the same time the fight-or-flight hormone adrenaline, both of which overstimulate our brains and cause errors in our thinking. It also creates a dopamine reaction. Dopamine controls the brains reward and pleasure center and encourages us to seek more and more, leading to addiction! Did you ever notice how many constantly clutch their phone in their hand? Some experts go so far as to say there are cognitive losses as a result of our constant multitasking. Others argue, multitasking is a 'diabolical illusion' and is worse than pot-smoking, as it interferes with memory and our ability to concentrate. (The Guardian - October 2015)</div>
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All these distractions take us out of the here-and-now and cause us to fail to notice the things we pass. As our grade school teachers used to say, 'The mind that is constantly distracted, is unproductive.' Today, we are learning all these distractions can also be dangerous.</div>
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Ben Franklin put it this way, <i>"Let all your things have their places, let each part of your business have its time"</i>. We try to multitask when we still don't even know how to talk, hum and whistle at the same time!</div>
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<span style="color: red; font-size: large;"><b>And that's Dick's View of the World this Week.</b></span></div>
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They can now attach electrodes to a patient's brain (motor cortex). The motor cortex is that region of the brain that controls movement. The wires can then be connected to sensors so that the patient can actually feel with a prosthetic hand!</div>
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<br />Dick Grannanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13219111688609337793noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8549105850180521349.post-43053200797207800072015-10-18T19:48:00.002-04:002015-10-18T19:48:19.713-04:00Almost Becoming a Spectator<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBveyn4fD0SD9r3MFVjm9ov2qNnLeVbfxQEe-yJQgYjQM00J5bwl4x2CstnD8BLSkEM74Y_a25mBc4mpPuUSIbrIMBnf0JPRjFq5X3hfpBEjfa_0fZqtJ5Vcp9D1sBbPINlTar_fISxmQ/s1600/Shinny.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: justify;"><img border="0" height="118" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBveyn4fD0SD9r3MFVjm9ov2qNnLeVbfxQEe-yJQgYjQM00J5bwl4x2CstnD8BLSkEM74Y_a25mBc4mpPuUSIbrIMBnf0JPRjFq5X3hfpBEjfa_0fZqtJ5Vcp9D1sBbPINlTar_fISxmQ/s200/Shinny.jpeg" width="200" /></a><br />
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Back in my youth, participating in sports was the norm in 'Auld' Saint John, New Brunswick. Organized sports only became a reality in high school. Most of our early 'equipment' was home made. Eaton's Catalog shin pads and frozen shoe goal posts, served us well on Lily Lake. As an adult, it was fast pitch softball and sailing in the summer, and hockey and skiing in the winter.</div>
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Having been a participating sports enthusiast for many years, one would be led to believe, as I maneuver through my upper octogenarian years, I would have become a steadfast sports spectator. Not so. I followed professional hockey for a few years but lost interest. When living in the States, Saturday was football day in many of my friend's homes and, Saturday Night Hockey was usually a must here in Canada. But I was not interested! I was not a consumer of spectator sports and remained indifferent believing watching sports on TV was just a 'waste of time'. My motto: Spectator sports will never be a replacement for the real thing.</div>
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Suddenly, in the past few weeks, Blue Jays fever has seeped into the emotions of this timeworn old man and I have been slowly seduced by the excitement. Not enough excitement, mind you, to pay big bucks to attend a game, but enough to have the TV tuned in as I move about the house!</div>
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So what is the reason for my attraction to this spectator sport? Obviously I hope the local team wins. But what if they don't? Just a few moments of disappointment and then on with our lives. Obviously I am keeping an eye on the Blue Jays, because I find there something of value.</div>
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Although the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo have invited chess and bridge to apply for inclusion in the games, Sport England has decided that, <i>"Its all in the mind, then it's not a sport</i>". But the controversy does remind us that not all sports are the same. Some attract gamblers, others are drawn by the violence, by national pride, to some revitalization or artistry, or the spirit and hype of it all.</div>
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Thinking about this new interest in spectator sports, I am reminded of the old philosophical discussions about the theory of values. At my age the arguments seem hypothetical but of some interest. The philosophical question: "Do values exist objectively or subjectively?" Am I being attracted to the Blue Jays because they meet one of my needs or are the Blue Jays a 'good' in themselves? Are truth, beauty and the good, ideas that can stand on their own two feet? Or are values simply subjective, only in the eyes of the beholder? Oh Hell...I am off on a philosophical hunt and 'Frankly my Dear, at my age, I don't I give a shit!'</div>
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As a social animal what attracts me to the Blue Jays hype is, not only the rituals and display of human skills, but the 'fellowship' and excitement of <u>not</u> being alone in the world. Togetherness, for what ever reason, is part of being human. We love the roar of the crowd, to share a common experience, to recognize our interdependence. And even more importantly, we bridge the gaps between us. Not a bad thing in this multi-cultural society! As well, we share the unexpected and discover we have a common interest. Sharing a cause goes beyond our individual differences and lifts us above everyday life. A big sports event can do all of this and, and at the same time, give a jolt to our testosterone, dopamine and hormones!</div>
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We TV spectators, at least this individual one, share in those experiences vicariously. But not enough for me to actually travel down town! No, I am not yet a full convert to 'spectator sports'. I just have my toe in the water. Sorry, Blue Jays. And then there is the Maple Leaf hockey team? Whoopie Doo!<br />
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<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; color: red; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">And that's Dick's Vi</span><span style="font-size: large;">ew of the World this Week</span></b></span><br />
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There has been a handful of oil refinery outages in the States this year that have disrupted the flow of gasoline and kept the price high. And, said one expert 'they don't have to give it away all at once' whenthe problem is solved!</div>
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<br />Dick Grannanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13219111688609337793noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8549105850180521349.post-11604661795851432262015-10-11T19:54:00.000-04:002015-10-11T19:54:43.190-04:00Risky Business - the New Norm?<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWQTcH4do8l5FxjWYwNe4Nu4oAcUvCncYnYwfnhQa5S2UfQ34LvoxTAXUBA7Utxf-9QcLNvzViqKUZWgqLhIRJ899wExyTaVd13KRFWwcHOGHA6w9Eb_nIzRYwUfLbzSJu4mcaYkaqZhA/s1600/Overprotected+kids.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: justify;"><img border="0" height="100" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWQTcH4do8l5FxjWYwNe4Nu4oAcUvCncYnYwfnhQa5S2UfQ34LvoxTAXUBA7Utxf-9QcLNvzViqKUZWgqLhIRJ899wExyTaVd13KRFWwcHOGHA6w9Eb_nIzRYwUfLbzSJu4mcaYkaqZhA/s200/Overprotected+kids.jpeg" width="200" /></a><br />
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Maureen and I live on the 20th floor of a high-rise condo in Toronto. Visible from our west balcony is Beverly Glen Junior Public School situated in a large green park and fronted by a quiet side street. Every morning and mid-afternoon that street is bumper-to-bumper with cars delivering or collecting the eager young students. Every time I view this phenomena I ask myself why? I don't deny that living in a big city poses its own special dangers. But on the other hand, most agree that learning to take risks is an essential part of growing up.</div>
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Remember when we were kids someone would say,<i> 'I dare you </i>...'. We actually did some rather stupid things in order to save face among our peers. But we also learned to have a sense of confidence in ourselves.</div>
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Not only kids play 'dare', but adults as well. When you went into the boss's office to ask for a raise, or changed the direction of your career, or accepted a job you were not sure you could deliver on, jumped into a 37' sailboat and crossed the North Atlantic or skied the back trails at Lake Louise the day they were blasting down the potential avalanches - you were taking a risk! Remember last year, when George H. Bush, who uses a wheelchair to get around, celebrated his 90th birthday by skydiving out of a helicopter!</div>
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Some of the words we often used to describe these adventures are, risky, dangerous and even precarious. Today '<i>Precarious'</i> has found a whole new meaning within the job market. In fact, almost 45% of the jobs in the Greater Toronto area are now labeled Precarious Employment! Why? Because they are non-standard, risky, insecure, unprotected, poor pay, part time, self employ or home based.</div>
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Standard employment, at least for MEN, emerged after the Second World War. Standard meaning full-time, with benefits, security and often potential for growth. Today many firms are looking to cut costs and plan to increase the use of 'contingent, outsourced, contract or part-time workers'. Even thirty Federal government departments and agencies have used unpaid interns the last few years,</div>
and very few were hired later for paying jobs! (Globe and Mail -January 2015)<br />
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Our politicians have been insisting, for example, on how they are going to produce large numbers of full-time manufacturing jobs if elected! But, fabrication plants (fabs), rows and rows of machines in windowless rooms with hardly any human workers, are beginning to take hold. What comes next is the<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> Internet of Things</span>, where physical objects are embedded with electronics to talk to each other in these factories. This is why many are saying the basic fundamentals of coding is becoming the new literacy. On the other hand a report done by the Toronto Dominion Bank suggests that as the economy improves Precarious Employment should decline.</div>
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I know what it is like to lose a job and to settle for a contractual position. In my case the contract was a bonus because it provided me with a living while I searched for standard employment. The risk was well worth taking. But the times 'they are a changing'.</div>
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As an octogenarian I don't take, or is it necessary to take, a lot of risks. But now and again an opportunity presents itself and, well it might add a little excitement to the habits of everyday living!</div>
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Mel Brooks, the American film director, screenwriter, actor and producer once wrote. <i>"If you're quiet, you're not living</i>.<i> You've got to be noisy and colourful and lively</i>." And life itself, after all is one big risk and very precarious. Our kids will have to learn this lesson sooner or later.</div>
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<span style="color: red; font-size: large;"><b>And that's Dick's View of the World this Week</b></span></div>
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Facebook and Google run an annual <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Hacker Cup</span> competition and fly in computer-science-minded young people from around the world to compete for prizes and meet with Valley recruiters?</div>
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<br />Dick Grannanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13219111688609337793noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8549105850180521349.post-58264249623499875542015-10-04T21:12:00.000-04:002015-10-04T21:12:09.132-04:00Converging Accessible Violence<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEYwioC2k6e_TbZLeFhTDzoJTYe_KEm399F4Uas61D1WoDDm6fYzgR6GPukg_D5vaFs8rdzWI8GTlmQFS5SOxHqDruafhLMaY07NHSdBmfyNsO2IV_nIjjV2fvm9ZBxvfrWrnuCgw9iQc/s1600/Toough+Hoockey+Player.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: justify;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEYwioC2k6e_TbZLeFhTDzoJTYe_KEm399F4Uas61D1WoDDm6fYzgR6GPukg_D5vaFs8rdzWI8GTlmQFS5SOxHqDruafhLMaY07NHSdBmfyNsO2IV_nIjjV2fvm9ZBxvfrWrnuCgw9iQc/s1600/Toough+Hoockey+Player.jpeg" /></a><br />
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I remember playing hockey in the Commercial League in Sudbury many years ago. It was not uncommon for fights to break out, at least a few times a game. It was a tough league and it's not hard to remember the player who tripped you the last time the teams met. When a fisticuffs broke out there was usually a convergence of players to defend their team mates. You have seen the scene on TV - gloves flying off, sticks dropped and a pile-up in the corner of the rink. For some reason I managed to stay out of the frays and peacefully skated around the arena during the brawl until the referees managed to get the game under control. In the early part of the season I would get a few cat calls from the spectators, but later in the season I usually garnered occasional clapping as I skated near the boards. After all, bystanders came to watch hockey, not prolonged boondoggles!</div>
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I must confess I don't get angry often. Most irritants are picayune anyway. I probably get more irritated at myself than angry with others!</div>
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Unfortunately, human anger often degenerates into violence and I have always wondered why there is so much violence in the world. Is violence innate to our nature? Is it something we learn? If so from where, or from whom? Can we identify the conditions that generate violence? In other words, is the human race a bunch of "bad asses" that can't be kept in line?<i> "My 'genes' made me do it!</i>"</div>
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Perhaps there is some truth to that expression. A common opinion today is that violence has strong evolutionary roots found in our genes and culture. Fighting about resources for example. (Think current election propaganda and Trans-Pacific Partnerships!). As social animals we are influenced by the behaviour we observe around us. Other animals don't seem to learn from experience but simply respond from stimuli...a kind of behavioural algorithms. At the same time evolution also required cooperation and peace for survival. </div>
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Some like to say that today's violence comes from our exposure to our many media devices. Watching a lot of violence cause us to be aggressive they say. But after years of study the jury is still out and it is believed there is a very weak link between exposure to violent programs and aggressive behaviours. Probably the violence we are exposed to on our converging devices, desensitizes us and may even lead us to believe that the world is a dangerous place. But Canada is still a very peaceful country and let's keep it that way!</div>
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Violence has always been with us. Early Greek dramas and even Shakespeare included violence, torture, rape and revenge in their stories. And yes, violence on our devices is a huge business and it sells because it's easy to produce,</div>
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Anger and violence are not the same thing. Anger is an emotion and violence is a behaviour. It is normal to be angry from time to time and it makes sense not to let it build up. Take some time out and change the situation. Just hold on to your hockey stick and gloves and do a few circles around the rink before you get back in the game.</div>
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<b><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">And that's Dick's View of the World this Week</span></b><br />
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Did You Know? Netflix has produced its own movie called '<i>Beasts of No Nation</i>'. It is a <b>violent story </b>about an African warlord. Some theatres are not going to screen it!</div>
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<br />Dick Grannanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13219111688609337793noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8549105850180521349.post-88652408553719458562015-09-27T19:14:00.004-04:002015-09-27T19:14:56.696-04:00What's on Your Mind?<div style="text-align: left;">
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Did you ever say to yourself, "<i>I wonder what my life would be like now if I had made a different decision years ago?</i>" Frank Sinatra looked back on his life and wrote a song about regret. "<i>Regrets, I've had a few. But then again, too few to mention." </i>We make decisions under all kinds of circumstances. There are the minor decisions on a daily basis. Life happens! Then there are the major decisions that change our lives. A few years ago FORBES listed a number of common regrets of older folks: worked too much; failing to keep in touch with childhood friends; worrying about what others think; having a lack of confidence in oneself or wished they had grabbed that dream job - and so on. In other words there are the short term mistakes we might have made and the long term missed opportunities we might have let slip by.</div>
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Some new brain research, using MRI or Magnetic Resonance Imaging, show that unhealthy regrets over missed opportunities in life can actually lead to feelings of depression. So it's not only we octogenarians who need to disengage ourselves of our regrets and worries! Besides, there are those incidents where it's too late and nothing can be done anyway! That's been called a misuse of the imagination.</div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikJZWGvZyK0uusIsTIuI0Qm9UNMChJFWSNoXXKFeQ1JfSZi7ff5lQT8mwXTQLK-N_hYc4CIkEg-JmhnnUBREu3SZQhWcJb0ByShBnfyE1zi6KThyhAgyzPDuP7h1eQBbEu3YRvdqp8il8/s1600/worry+wart.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: justify;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikJZWGvZyK0uusIsTIuI0Qm9UNMChJFWSNoXXKFeQ1JfSZi7ff5lQT8mwXTQLK-N_hYc4CIkEg-JmhnnUBREu3SZQhWcJb0ByShBnfyE1zi6KThyhAgyzPDuP7h1eQBbEu3YRvdqp8il8/s200/worry+wart.jpeg" width="143" /></a><br />
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<span style="text-align: justify;">I presume low level worries help us to plan ahead. Bur serious worrying can be just a waste of time! My staying awake half the night fretting over some embarrassing social blunder or kicking myself for a foolish faux pas, was a very useless exercise. Usually the next morning friends won't even remember what happened - and you won't remember either a week later!</span><br />
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The word 'worry" is an old English word meaning annoy or even strangle. And that is exactly what we do..strangle ourselves! We all remember calling someone a "Worry Wart". I think that expression dates back to J.R. Williams, a Canadian born cartoonist who did the <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Out Our Way</span>" bit in the 'funny papers'. (I am aging myself!) You probably have met someone who worries audibly over almost everything. I once worked with such a person and it was almost impossible to finish a task and move on. Too much worrying can be serious and become a form of chronic anxiety. They actually worry themselves sick and the expression, "<i>Get over it"</i> does not usually help.</div>
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We all take risks every day. Just hop in your car and drive on a major highway! But we need to be careful that we do not, in our own minds, overestimate the risks. Being worried is not the end of the world, but it is part of the world we live in. Did you ever notice that two people can find themselves in the very same situation, but their experiences are very different. There are no monsters under our bed so never misunderstand the power of our thoughts to change things.</div>
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Somebody once wrote, "<i>The only thing that makes it part of your life is that you keep thinking about it." </i>So as Bobby McFerrin once sang, "Don't worry, be happy".</div>
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<span style="color: red; font-size: large;"><b>And that's Dick's View of the World this Week</b></span></div>
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Some U.S. states still forbid auto makers to sell cars directly to customers, they must use independent dealers. So Tesla Motors, the builders of pricey electric cars, are opening 'stores' where potential owners can learn about the car, but can't discuss prices or test drive them.</div>
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<br />Dick Grannanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13219111688609337793noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8549105850180521349.post-5893421782569789262015-09-20T20:11:00.001-04:002015-09-20T20:11:30.437-04:00'Flu -ish' Me!<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: justify;"><tbody>
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Suddenly the last days of summer opened up in Toronto. A whole week and sun, warm temperatures and surely, some wonderful boat time! It was not to be. I succumbed to a foreign invader! A nasty cold or flu virus struck on Tuesday morning. 'Me' thinks it was the flu, although a self diagnosis is not recommended. But it was more than one of my usual simple colds. It includes fever, body aches and a very dry cough. </div>
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So, I have been at home all week wearing a heavy grey knit sweater and hanging out on the front room chesterfield. No, Maureen did not kick me out of the bedroom! I just could not find the switch to turn off the persistent dry cough - to say nothing of the tossing and turning. But "Doctor Mom" insisted I drink hot honey-lemon drinks before banishing myself to that lonely couch.</div>
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However, I thought I should also consult Dr. Google, and searched the Mayo Clinic page. It supported Dr. Mom's cold remedies to help me along, but I found something I did not like - 'there is no cure for the common cold', and I could be sick for one or two weeks! The remedies suggested don't heal, they just make the passage a little more comfortable.</div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Now that I am feeling better I have to ask myself, "<i>Is it too early in 2015 for the flu bug to bite</i> ?" I took a peek in </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">FluWatch</span> and it reported there is<i> </i>little or no influenza activity in Canada at the moment. However, week 34 (August 17 - 23) does show a few levels have been reported. Ha, I caught the little bugger when I made a visit to one of the big hospitals last Monday morning for a blood test. My younger sister, a nurse, has always advised me to stay away from hospitals!</div>
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For me it has been a bit of a journey. I don't ever remember feeling this disabled. But even worse, some of the thoughts and ideas that roamed through my imagination, as I lay awake late into the night, were somewhat unsettling. Should I go to emergency? I hate sitting there for hours on end especially if I have a simple cold. But what if it is pneumonia? That can be serious stuff for an octogenarian. I recalled a card I had received from my older sister, dated June 11, 2015, who was hospitalized for a "minor" fall. <i>"Dear Dick</i> - <i>John brought me a box of cards from home. The obituary for Frank Forestell (</i>a boyhood friend<i>) was in the box so I thought I should mail it to you. Hope you move onto the boat soon. Love Betty." </i>The next day I received a phone call that she had died. This is what it is to be human.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3QsF0GrWwnjtEOaYs3CSfJP84BPrx3-BqPrkf4Euq0fLmGzMC-CGf9QeJ_E7K9W-9Y5aRPsjY5KVuOLTzGvj_pIvPKaMOO_NAjN_kwgPJ3cP9IXQ72WiRsI6gufOoYXcvPRWRBTj_U64/s1600/Never+take+anything+for+granted.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3QsF0GrWwnjtEOaYs3CSfJP84BPrx3-BqPrkf4Euq0fLmGzMC-CGf9QeJ_E7K9W-9Y5aRPsjY5KVuOLTzGvj_pIvPKaMOO_NAjN_kwgPJ3cP9IXQ72WiRsI6gufOoYXcvPRWRBTj_U64/s200/Never+take+anything+for+granted.jpeg" width="200" /></a>Not only did my illness keep me awake, but those memories of loved ones and the thoughts of my own future, made it impossible to sleep. Most of all I pondered the though that when I die everything is changed. Everyone I loved, and everything I worked for, is no longer there for my comfort and enjoyment. I know our culture does not encourage thinking about death, but we sometimes underestimate the power of our thoughts. As an octogenarian I still have someone to love and everything that matters.........I peacefully fell asleep.</div>
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I am not sure that this is a quote but it seems to stick in my mind so I will either claim it or adopt it.<i>"I am here. I'll never take that for granted."</i></div>
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<b><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">And that's Dick's View of the World this Week</span></b><br />
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The world has a refugee problem? How will it be solved? Turkey might not be perfect, but it has opened its doors to almost 2 million people! Shame on the procrastinators!</div>
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<i><br /></i>Dick Grannanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13219111688609337793noreply@blogger.com0