Is the occupation over?
Not by a long shot. I’ve taken a step back and am finding new ways to support the global movement. It was interesting to participate on the front lines but I soon found that I was vulnerable to attacks, criticism and political branding. According to the US government, the Occupy Movement borders on terrorism and the Canadian powers to be, shout out that we are radical ideologists. The groups have been infiltrated by subversives, conspirators and undercover agents. I wouldn’t have believed it if I hadn’t experienced it first hand.
There’s a lot at stake here folks and the big boys aren’t too happy about being exposed or losing their grasp on the worlds resources and wealth.
In the meantime, I’m signing petitions, following the action and keeping my head low and back to the wall. Not that I’m paranoid, I just don’t need the extra stress in my day.
Transmedia Producer Alison Richards has produced and directed award-winning documentaries, feature films, commercials, and music videos. ‘F-Stops’, her first feature film, won the Remi (best film) Award at Houston Worldfest and won for cinematography in Cannes, France. Her documentary ‘Every 15 Minutes’, about adolescents and impaired driving, is being used statewide in California as a teaching aid for high school students. Her most recent feature length film ‘Bare Knuckles’ has become a …
Friday January 27th, 2012
5:30 – 8:30 PM
Room 418 – City Centre branch
Surrey Public Library
Phone: (604) 598-7420
(Surrey Central skytrain)
I love Wikipedia!
I love the internet!
I love the freedom of access to information!
As a writer, filmmaker and educator I rely heavily on access to information. I’ve spent marathon sessions online; reading, researching and dissecting the truth from fiction. I’ve written detailed and accurate accounts of events in foreign lands without ever having stepped foot inside them. I have traveled to exotic (and not so exotic) locations and have felt totally at home because I visited them online and familiarized myself with the customs and practices before boarding a plane, train or automobile.
I get my news from the internet.
Accurate, unbiased, factual… Not the crazy, hyped-up propaganda that is shown on television, but the REAL NEWS. Straight from the mouths of the news-makers or from eye witnesses on the street at the actual location. I trust the internet, not blindly… but after careful sorting, fact-checking and comparative analysis. I’ve visited countries where abject poverty and severe oppression caused by tyrannical dictators and corrupt governments is perpetuated by control of access to information found on the internet.
Control of information = Control of the masses.
As a Canadian with full rights and freedoms I am blessed to have been able to educate myself and gather a wealth of knowledge via the internet. Whenever I have a question, I immediately go to the internet. Wikipedia more often than not, leads to the answer. I am the Queen of Google in my circles. No doubt remains on any subject, the instant I raise a query it vanishes with a few keystrokes.
Knowledge is Power
We’ve witnessed the results of power shifting back into the hands of the people through the magic of the internet. The playing field is being leveled. With each revolution comes resistance from those who are being stripped of their controls. The only way to stop the international movement for democracy is to control the access to information.
SOPA = Control of Information
If you don’t understand or know about SOPA check out the Wikipedia page
January 18th is National Blackout Day
If you find that you go to a site on the 18th and all you see is black… think about how dark our world would be if that happened every day.
Don’t let our freedoms be controlled by unfair legislation. Educate yourself. Get the facts. Question authority and act accordingly.
I’ve known Andy a long time, he’s pretty mellow and easy-going. Once in a while he suffers a bout of road rage or becomes frustrated with the system, but for the most part he’s even keeled.
I noticed on that particular visit that he was more upbeat than usual. He seemed to be at peace with the world… he was more serene than I’d ever noticed… he was incredibly positive.
I commented about it and he shared these simple words.
“I decided to be a better person.”
Apparently he tells himself that every morning. “I am a better person”
He reminds himself at suitable opportunities, such as:
When someone cuts him off in traffic…
“I am a better person”
A drunk tries to pick a fight at the hockey game…
“I am a better person”
He get’s overcharged on his phone bill…
“I am a better person”
The neighbor cuts down his tree…
“I am a better person”
Now that doesn’t mean that you go around allowing folks to walk on you, slam doors in your face or rip you off. It’s more like ‘turning the other cheek’ than ‘an eye for an eye‘. It’s a frame of mind that allows you to feel sorry for the jerk that offended you instead of stooping to his level.
Sounded good to me so I decided to add it to my daily routine.
When I wake up in the morning I spend a few minutes visualizing my day. I’ve done this for a while and it works great. I picture all the activities I want to carry out, the people I want to meet, the places I plan to go, the food I will eat… and I give thanks. BEFORE it all happens. I get up on the right side of the bed that way. I decide before I even throw back the covers that I am grateful for an amazing day. Why?
Because, I am a better person.
Chances are I’ll have a crappy day when I neglect to do it. But if I run into a snag (Or a belligerent fool) I need only remind myself that I’m a better person.
Note: I don’t think I’m better than you. I think you’re pretty awesome too. The world needs us. Forget about making resolutions. Everything is brighter when you utter these words.
I remember when my kids were little. They played outside every day. They built stuff, made stuff and invented stuff. We did crafts and made cookies. We thought that their toys were pretty high-tech compared to what we had played with as kids… I fondly remember an Easybake Oven that cooked with a standard light-bulb. They were on the front line for video games and remote control.
Life has got more and more complex since then. It’s all about shopping for a social experience. Kids role-play online instead of in the forest or park. They decorate a virtual environment instead of building a fort.
Even Lego has changed. Here’s an ad from 1981
My kids would spend hours creating amazing "structures" or "vehicles"
I would find little pieces around the house, curse when stepping on a block on the stairs… threaten to lock it up if I found strays in the living room… But it was such a great toy that I could never bring myself to limit the play.
It’s a crisp fall morning with traces of frost on the edges of rooftops and sun shining on drops of dew that cling to blades of deep green grass. I’ve had my tea and done my chores and stand in the kitchen window soaking up some vitamin D while preparing some french toast for a late breakfast. Real French toast, made from freshly baked French bread, organic eggs and farm fresh butter from the local market.
I call a fellow writer to join me, it’s so much nicer to cook for two, but she’s fighting a deadline and regretfully declines. I decide to cook a full batch and freeze the extras for popping in the toaster later. I’ve always been very conscious of my diet (having been raised by a nurse) and was particularly zealous about nutrition when raising my children. The proof is in the pudding since all three children are strong, healthy and grew to be giants. (My boys are 6’9″, 6’5″ and my daughter 5’10″)
Over the fence in the backyard I spot the bobbing heads of teens from the local junior high on their run through the neighborhood. They pass the opening at the car port and I watch the thickness of the pack as it trails down to the last few stragglers. I am reminded of my own days in P.E. where our militant teacher marched us outside in all manner of weather and made us run till our lungs burst and bile rose up in our throats. Okay, I’m pretty sure she didn’t abuse us, but gosh darn it was hard work staying with the leaders.
When I lived in California (for over a decade) it was rare to see school children running round the block. Sure there were the active kids, the jocks and the skaters, but most kids were too spoiled or fat to make it to the end of the block let alone around it. I don’t blame it on lack of exercise or activity, the culprit is poor diet.
Every visit to the local grocer I’d find myself staring in horror and disbelief at the contents of young mother’s shopping carts. Packaged (prepared) foods, frozen dinners, soda pop, chips, cookies and sugar-coated cereal. No wonder these kids were so out of shape. Sharp contrast to my cart contents; fresh fruit and vegetables, grains, dairy, fish and lean meats. I silently recite the Canada Food Guide (revised since I was a kid) as my anthem for shopping while I cruised the isles.
I rarely if never (only when other people drag me there) eat fast food. I choose sushi or chinese over MacDonald’s and Taco Bell, but mostly I prefer to cook for myself. I love good food and luckily have culinary skills to offset my desires for delectable dishes.
I feel sorry for those kids who don’t have a chance at a normal healthy life. I don’t blame the parents since most have little or no knowledge of how to balance a diet or prepare healthy food. Immigrants enter the country and mistake fast food as acceptable cuisine. I think of the food carts in Thailand (their version of fast food) with fresh greens, spicy salads and fish soups. Admittedly, I was completely grossed out whenever I passed a vendor selling freshly roasted crickets and beetles, but these are actually good for you!
The governments have failed the children. They make modest attempts to control the sugar intake of youngsters by banning the sale of soda on campus or offering healthier alternatives for cafeteria lunches but more has to happen. Laws need to change. Subsidies for healthy foods and free classes for parents who desperately want a good diet for their kids.
The city of New York attempted to impose salt restrictions for restaurants and packaged foods. (as of March 2011, a mere 7 companies have complied)That’s a good start but so much more needs to be done. How about corn syrup, processed sugars, preservatives, additives, palm oil? When I read packaging on prepared foods my stomach churns. How can people eat that stuff!? Apparently it’s yummy.
They’ve never tasted my french toast.
As I set fruit compote (no added sugar) and maple syrup on the table (sometimes I use banana and peanut butter on my french toast, but I’ve already eaten a banana this morning) I am reminded of a video I watched last night. Back in 2008, the government in Japan declared strict action against expanding waistlines.
Companies are fined for employees that measure-up over acceptable limits for belly fat. The penalties are heavy and the Japanese take it seriously. I can’t imagine what would happen if this type of policy were implemented in North America. One thing for sure, our health care costs would drop dramatically and I’d see more kids running around the block.
