Friends of Science

Ok, first thanks for all the comments to my last post. Really made me realize
1) That people actually read this damn thing
2) The Environment is an important issue to the people of today, and I'm helping to record it's discussion with this blog. That's pretty fucking cool.

It was suggested in the comments of my last post that the alternate side of the problem be explored, specifically a group called "the Friends of Science".

First of all, the groups goal :

To encourage and assist the Canadian Federal Government to re-evaluate the Kyoto Protocol by engaging in a national public debate on the scientific merit of Kyoto and the Global Warming issue, and to educate the public through dissemination of relevant, balanced and objective technical information on this subject.

Friends of Science Webpage

There is a bias towards a certain outcome from the very beginning. Even if they're findings were to the contrary, the group must hide or change many of it's facts if it is to continue it's existence.

The scientists involved have not written peer reviewed work on the subject of global warming in decades, the company is anonymously funded by the oil industry, they get unusual favours in parliament, they have the media's undivided attention despite being the only group of their kind in Canada.... well....

just read all this.

http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Friends_of_Science

Then go do something really productive and visit:
http://www.davidsuzuki.org/



**** Note **** - This is an edited version of the original post wherein I call the person who made the comments to task about listing this page/subject. Now he's a close/longtime personal friend and maybe calling him out on my blog was a little much. That said, he had an uncensored opportunity to reply to my post not only in the comments of this blog (which are still posted wth my replies) but he also has such opportunity to reply on his blog. I was open enough to state an opinon about the environment in my last post, he was open enough to share a counter-opinion, by commenting his views. I replied in kind with a post because I felt that my opposition to his views were important enough to state in a general way. My method of wording the text was in response to the frustration I felt that someone I so respected personally and intellectually was taking what I felt was an uneducated and media driven view. I apologize to Dave if he felt attacked, but I did want to make a point that we need to get above these types of Spin-Doctors if we want to get beyond this problem.

Now everyone, go turn off a light/appliance in your house and recycle everything you can that's in your pockets/wallets and purses.

Have a nice day.

I never post anymore

Hey... I was gonna quit altogether, and I still might, so be happy with these once every two weeks till I get the itch again. I'm not doing this to please anyone.

Ok so shit I am.

Anyways, Rhonda went to see Dr. David Suzuki tonight (I had to be at work or I so would have tapped that!). Anyways, she texts me at 9:30 and says "I gave Dr. Suzuki your webpage". "Crap!" now I have to update!

So Dr. Suzuki, if you read this, welcome. Sorry the place is a little messy, wasn't expecting company. Can I get you something to drink? Perhaps a glass of filtered rainwater, or a glass of organcally grown, locally produced, hand crushed orange juice?

Anyhoo, so this, and Katherine's post on her blog has prompted me to give y'all another "save the planet" tree hugging bullshit post... so sit down and shut up for a sec ... Danny, I see you back there with that spitball, and I guarantee it will mean a week of detention if you throw it.

Now... where was I, Oh yes :

GLOBAL WARMING!!!! ... WHAT AM I DOING ABOUT IT?

Ok, so I'm working on posts and stuff for Rechargeable Future about greening my house and life and such, but until then, check this little list off, and see if you wanna participate.

1 - Vermicomposting - Soon. I bought the kit and such and have their new home all prepped and ready to go. I left the guys with Rhonda for a few weeks to "be fruitful and multiply" then I'm gonna split the colony in half and put half in my box and leave half at Rhonda's. I plan to keep on doing this (as well as the occasional worm swap to keep the genealogy viable), so if anyone is interested in some worms, let me know and I should hopefully have a family ready to depart in about a month and a half.

2 - Flourecent Lights - Got e'm. I buy them in bulk at CostCo or Wholesale. Not too bad that way, and cheaper in power and bulbs in the long run. Plus I'm generous and want to help the environment so I leave the bulbs when I move out of a place. So I'm slowly updating the lightsockets of our world.

3 - Recycle Recycle Recycle - Not just at home, but at work too. Started a paper recycle bin in our office and I'm constantly putting bottles in the bottle garbage (makes the lifeguards drinking money, which is nice, because today's youth are too smart and need to kill a few braincells. Basically less competition for the grand prize in the end). Look up recycling, there are alot of things out there you can recycle that you wouldn't think of - like - cars, batteries, printer cartridges, computers, cell phones, paint, paint cans, concrete.. and a tonne more. I make e'm recycle batteries at work... drives e'm mad.

4 - Walk - Now Andrew will tell you I don't do this enough. And dammit he's right. But I do try and make a point of walking to work as much as possible. With the warm weather, it's alot easier.

5 - Watch what electric appliances you leave on. Computers are the big one. I am a shameless downloader, so my PC is often on. But when not at the machine I make sure to shut off the monitor and speakers. As a backup, I also have the low power settings set on my computer to kick in after 5 minutes. Try and unplug things when you aren't using them, and unplug everything when you're on holidays (well you can leave the answering machine if you really need it). Power leakage is a huge source of CO2 emissions.

6 - Watch an Inconvenient Truth, Who Killed the Electric Car. Visit good environment webpages like Grist.com or ... whatever, there are a million out there and they all have something good to say. Read a book on the environment, I suggest "Greenhouse:The 200 Year Story of Global Warming" By Gale E Christianson... great book. Listen to some environmental music, how about "The Maples" by Rush. Eat an organically grown, locally produced, hand made vegitarian meal, it sounds like a tall order, but hey you just might like it.

7 - Grow Your Own/Buy Local - I have decided to grow a garden this year. I bought a bunch of seeds the past couple weeks, started some herbs for the summer, got some interesting fruits that will be fun to grow as well as help me eat local (got black tomatoes, purple, red, white and yellow carrots, the worlds hottest pepper, purple peppers). Still looking for seed for purple potatoes (or something else cool) and garlic. Tried to concentrate on food I could either eat right away, store for long periods or pawn off on someone else. Also gonna be checking out more farmers markets this year.

8 - Reuse - try to buy second hand where I can. Shop at Salvation Army or Value Village. Get stuff at garage sales (waiting for them to start again so I can get a kitchen table). I keep empty buckets from work for stuff.


So there's a start. Also want to start a tree planting street gang. Basically we'd just go around to places that we figure a tree should be and use stealth to plant the tree and try and propogate it's growth. Hardcore.

And the Winner of the Linger contest is.....

SARAH SNELLING!

Sarah is awarded the two free tickets to the show in Regina tommorrow, and will get a copy of the new Linger album, Root of Truth next month when it comes out.

This works well for me because she lives across the street from me.

It just never ceases to amaze me....

Just about 70 years ago, the United States of America commissioned, built and used a weapon of nearly ultimate power, the atomic bomb.

" On August 6, 1945, 8.15 am, the uranium atom bomb exploded 580 metres above the city of Hiroshima with a blinding flash, creating a giant fireball and sending surface temperatures to 4,000C. Fierce heat rays and radiation burst out in every direction, unleashing a high pressure shockwave, vaporising tens of thousands of people and animals, melting buildings and streetcars, reducing a 400-year-old city to dust."

The country commited a crime of unimaginable horror. Hundreds of thousands were killed. Innocent children and women. Workers, teachers, artists killed without justice or cause.

It just never ceases to amaze me that the nation was never brought to trial. Are we the citizens of the planet Earth so scared of this monster that we will not even rise up together and fucking DO SOMETHING about it. When Hitler killed untold thousands of Jewish, Black, Gay, Mentally Challenged and physically challenged people, the world responded. We stood up for our fellow man and kicked some ASS. Here the Americans are, murderers of likely in the range of a million innocent Japanese people, and we just sit back and go... SHIT that was a BIG mushroom cloud!

Please visit the following page and think about what happened in Hiroshima and Nagasaki. If I were to list all the names of all the people would stretch 10km.

http://fogonazos.blogspot.com/2007/02/hiroshima-pictures-they-didnt-want-us_05.html

Linger Show Poster and Details!

There we go... the first official Linger poster since before I met yo' momma! Still tonnes of time to enter the Linger contest. Just visit their MySpace at http://www.myspace.com/lingerbandcanada, and e-mail pilot@pilotsworld.ca your vitals and the names of the two songs featured on their playlist. It could net you a couple free tickets to this show and a free CD!

Magic 103.5 FM is the coolest radio station on the freaking planet.

OK FOLKS. So last week, I finally got my name entered into the draw for tickets to see the Tragically Hip in Regina. I'd been trying all month to get my name in, so was quite releived when I got in. To my shock, the next day, I would learn that I won the tickets to see the show!

So off the g/f and I ran to the Brandt Center to see the show. We ran into premier Lorne Calvert and his wife at the show. Rhonda had mentioned that she was a hardcore NDPer, little did I know that her family and the Calverts often popped each others back acne.

Anyhoo, the show was a SMASHING success and I'd like to share with everyone a video I took at the show



So once again, thanks to Magic 103.5 and especially the kickass staff at the morning show, GREG AND LAURA IN THE MORNING FOREVER!!!

Can You Name that Compilation?!!?

Ok folks, here's the thing. We're sitting here brainstorming trying to remember the name of an old compilation album from the mid-late 90's. We know for a FACT it had "Detachable Penis" by King Missle on it. We also believe the album to have on it "Say it Ain't So" by Weezer and "Hey Man, Nice Shot" by Filter.

The first person to e-mail me a correct answer to this question (and thus satisfy my aching brain) will recieve two tickets to the Linger album release party slated to happen in late March.

So get on it folks.

Submit answers to pilot@pilotsworld.ca. This is in ADDITION to the other contest. This is just for free tickets and it's to the album release, not the show on the 16th.

Best of Luck.

OH LINGER LINGER LINGER -- CONTEST!

OK FOLKS! I just got the call from the majors. The legendary (and endlessly sexy) Linger has asked me to join them in the capacity of bass player (live at least) and we are performing February 16, 2007 at the Exchange in Regina!

So in order to display how FREAKING STOKED I am about this whole development, I am having another kickass PILOT'S WORLD CONTEST!!! This contest is kickass easy to enter. All you have to do is head over to the Linger MySpace Page ( http://www.myspace.com/lingerbandcanada ), check out their two songs and e-mail the names of those two songs to me at pilot@pilotsworld.ca with all your vitals. I'll have an impartial draw on Feb 9 and inform the winner by e-mail then make arrangements.

So what is the prize?

Glad you asked! It's so good, it's a prize PACKAGE!
- Free admission to the show on Feb 16th at the Exchange for you and a friend
- Free ride to (and from) the show from anywhere between Weyburn and Regina for you and a friend.
- Free copy of their latest release and first full length album, "The Root of Truth"
- Meet and greet with the band.
- If there's an after-party, I'll try and get you invited.

The only catch with the contest is if you aren't actually IN Regina, your ride in will be early afternoon Sat, and back will be about the same time Sunday, and I don't think I have accommodations for you in Regina... so if you bring your own wheels, you'll still get the rest of the prize pack.

The band isn't putting up any of the prize pack (as it stands), but I told them (Dave) about the contest, so they might just put up some extras. So go check out the page today and get those entries in today!!!

Must - Buy - Windows - 386

Microsoft sent this tape to retailers to explain the benefits of Windows 386. Boring until the 7 minute mark when the production is taken over by crack-smoking monkeys. I like that kind of crappy 80's white corporate rap.

Hmmm.. that's why they got rid of it

marriedtothesea.com

Guys, I am truly sorry,

But I am NOT going through this alone.

THE NEW SAND GAME!

It has Zombies.

Sorry.

So ... what you're saying is we're screwed...

http://www.cbc.ca/fifth/denialmachine/resources.html

Busy Bumblebee

Hey folks. I haven't been posting because I hate y'all !!!!

Also I've been very busy. At the moment I'm in the old studio with Linger. They finally cracked and let me play bass on one song on the album. Just waiting my turn to go in the booth and wreck 7 years of work.

If you want to know more about Linger, visit your local library or check out their MySpace page at http://www.myspace.com/lingerbandcanada/.

Also.. .sorry Matt Smith for calling you Mike Smith... It appears I'm a retard.

"I don't care how good the movie is.

Nothing is gonna make me breathe less."

That was the first thing Andrew said to me after watching "An Inconvenient Truth : A Global Warning". Because you see I immediately opened my DVD player, extracted the DVD an handed it to Andrew with the insistence that he watch it RIGHT NOW. Then I raved for twenty minutes.

I'm planning "An Inconvenient Party" for later this month. Everyone is welcome, and there WILL BE DRINKING AND PRIZES!!! I just gotta settle on a date and get some finances together for prizes and such.

I'd like to make a very special VIP invitation to the following folks, due to some contribution they can make to the community or to the other guests at the party. Mike Smith, our Green Party representative this past election or another member of the Green Party from the area (as I know Mike lives quite a way here); any member of a current sitting local government (Province of Saskatchewan, any member of the Weyburn City Council, or even a member of parliament) or a representative of any recognized political party; My good friends Corey Morrissette and his lovely wife Laura (that should cover much of local media, but any other local or regional press including BLOGGERS are welcome (Saskboy, been to Weyburn lately?) as well as local business owners), Jeff and any of his fellow teachers, and any and all of my friends and family past, present and future. I'll try and get a date up in the next couple days, and we'll go from there, but I definately want to hear from all interested parties.

7- Up Pankkkakes

All right sandwich club (that's what I secretly call you Pilot's World readers out there... "The Sandwich Club". I gots some breakfast eats recipes for you... by Pilot

And now....

7-Up Pankkkakes

1 1/4 cups sifted flour
3 teaspoons baking powder
1 tablespoon sugar
1 beaten egg
1/4 cup milk
1 cup 7-UP (room temperature - cold won't rise as well)
2 tablespoons melted butter (Butter bere folks, not margarine)

Mix it all together as you go... start one ingredient at a time, top down. The batter will be lumpy, it's ok. Makes like a gillion small delicious pancakes... medium heat folks or you'll burn it!

Please accept with no obligation, implied or implicit, my best wishes for an environmentally conscious, socially responsible, low stress, non-addictive, gender neutral, celebration of the winter solstice holiday, practiced within the most enjoyable traditions of the religious persuasion of your choice, or secular practices of your choice, with respect for the religious/secular persuasions and/or traditions of others, or their choice not to practice religious or secular traditions at all.

We also wish you a fiscally successful, personally fulfilling, and medically uncomplicated recognition of the onset of the generally accepted calendar year 2007, but not without due respect for the calendars of choice of other cultures whose contributions to society have helped make Canada great (not to imply that Canada is necessarily greater than any other country), and without regard to the race, creed, color, age, physical ability, religious faith, or sexual reference of the wishee.

By accepting this greeting, you are accepting these terms: This greeting is subject to clarification or withdrawal. It is freely transferable with no alteration to the original greeting. It implies no promise by the wisher to actually implement any of the wishes for her/himself or others, and is void where prohibited by law, and is revocable at the sole discretion of the wisher.

This wish is warranted to perform as expected within the usual application of good tidings for a period of one year, or until the issuance of a subsequent holiday greeting, whichever comes first, and warranty is limited to replacement of this wish or issuance of a new wish at the sole discretion of the wisher.

Brain Teaser Yo!

Ok guys... here's a noodle scratcher.

This brainteaser, reportedly written by Einstein is difficult and Einstein said that 98% of the people in the world could not figure it out. Which percentage are you in?

There are five houses in a row in different colors. In each house lives a person with a different nationality. The five owners drink a different drink, smoke a different brand of cigar and keep a different pet, one of which is a Walleye Pike.

The question is– who owns the fish?

Hints:
1. The Brit lives in the red house.
2. The Swede keeps dogs as pets.
3. The Dane drinks tea.
4. The green house is on the left of the white house.
5. The green house owner drinks coffee.
6. The person who smokes Pall Malls keeps birds.
7. The owner of the yellow house smokes Dunhills.
8. The man living in the house right in the center drinks milk.
9. The man who smokes Blends lives next to the one who keeps cats.
10. The Norwegian lives in the first house.
11. The man who keeps horses lives next to the one who smokes Dunhills.
12. The owner who smokes Bluemasters drinks beer.
13. The German smokes Princes.
14. The Norwegian lives next to the blue house.
15. The man who smokes Blends has a neighbor who drinks water.

There are no tricks, pure logic will get you the correct answer. And yes, there is enough information to arrive at the one and only correct answer.

It took me about an hour, but I got the answer... can you?

Give the Green Party a Voice!

As most people who follow politics likely know, the Green Party has been rallying the major networks to allow them a spot in the leaders debate in the national elections. The Bloc Quebecois was allowed a spot in the first election it participated in, yet the Green Party has never been allowed a voice in this debate, despite growing support nation-wide.

I encourage my readers to read more on the subject at http://www.demanddemocraticdebates.ca a website erected by the Green Party. Even if you do not support the values of the Green Party, you might support the values of democracy and feel they deserve a voice. Read up, and if you think this situation is as unfair as I do, please fill out their e-mail petition which is sent to many of the bigwigs that make the decisions in such matters.

Remember, democracy is about more than voting, so participate!

What Kind of Martini are YOU?

You Are a Classic Martini

You area sophisticated drinker, who knows that simple quality is over-rated. You're a knowledgeable drunk, but sometimes you're a know-it-all when you're blasted. You should never: Drink and gossip. You tend to forget who's standing right behind you! Your ideal party: Has a real bartender. But no one mixes a better drink than you. Your drinking soulmates: those with a Chocolate Martini personality Your drinking rivals: those with a Margarita Martini personality

What Flavor Martini Are You?

And we've both played Hamlet too!