A Panopaly of Commentary, Observations and Events

NOTE TO THOSE WITH LACTOSE INTOLERANCE OR WHO ARE VEGAN

Bubble Tea has milk in it. A lactose intolerant friend and I discovered it last night, then I confirmed it by looking at a Wikipedia entry this morning.

GRAMMAR

After all the double checking my writing at my last job and not finding problems, I thought I had an impeccable sense of grammar.

I don't.

Probably better than most, but I'm not perfect.

This whole job search thing along with that Microsoft Office PowerPoint (TM) tutorial has humbled me a bit. Unfortunately, I'm not as sharp as I believe myself.

Kind of a strange realization for me to have at this moment, really. The last time I tried to do some major growing and work against bad habit loops, I had a sense of invincibility, which sent me falling to the ground like Icarus.

Now, though, I find myself more aware and accepting of my shortcomings. At the same time, though, I know that I need to push against my maladaptive habit loops and grow.

Maybe the whole feeling invincible was part of a maladaptive habit loop. . .?

RECYCLING

Does anybody know about any companies that recycle batteries?

IN ANSWER TO MY CONCERNS ABOUT THE BOMBING OF AL-ZARQAWI

He approached the politically strategic bombing from a different direction, but Dan Schechter provided a reason for my concern on his News Dissector blog.

A great blog it is, especially since you can have it delivered directly to your e-mail inbox.

FLOODING IN SOUTHERN NEW HAMPSHIRE

I haven't heard anything about it in the news, but a friend, who lives in New Hampshire, and I discussed all the rain and flooding that Southern New Hampshire has to deal with these days.

From what she has said, it has to do with all the rain falling AND the old dam infrastructure they have there. In other areas, the people running the dams can let some water through to release pressure. They don't have that option in Southern New Hampshire. So even with all the wetlands they may have, these dams that can't relieve pressure causes a whole ton of flooding.

Along with having worked as a homeowners insurance agent in New England, this conversation really reminded me about the oldness of New England. Half the buildings and other structures in the region aren't even up to code! And the fact that there's plenty of grandfathering of those types of laws going on, they don't need to be brought up to code.

I think consensus has formed about a major cause of destruction from Hurricane Katrina last year: the levies weren't completed. I think both the levy situation and the issues with the Southern New Hampshire dams really says something. WE NEED TO KEEP OUR STRUCTURES UP TO DATE TO THE BODY OF KNOWLEDGE THAT WE HAVE -- especially with the rapid climate change we face in today's world.

TRUE MAJORITY HOSTING A TALK WITH AL GORE

Sunday: Talk to Al Gore

"An Inconvenient Truth" is setting records at the box office. Learn more about the movie and the fight against global warming from Al Gore this Sunday evening. You'll even have a chance to ask him questions. Can you RSVP and join us?

http://political.moveon.org/seethetruth/conf.html?id=7987-3055202-zU2p4GdRHi5.6BR.DhrAtQ&t=3

WOULD I SPEND MY TIME BETTER IF I WROTE FOR MONEY INSTEAD OF BLOGGING

After writing that bit about Southern New Hampshire, I've thought that I could write as a reporter or freelance writer with some effort. I would probably need to dedicate as much as I am to my current job search. But still. . .would I enjoy my life more and possibly have a better income, overall, if I took up reporting or freelance writing?

WOOHOO! GOT AN ASSIGNMENT

Just got a call from the temp agency I signed up with a couple weeks ago and visited for the tutorial yesterday. Not the most high paying nor the most convenient assignment, but it sounds like an interesting time. Some company has set up something of a scavenger hunt around the city at bars, and I'll get stationed at one of the bars to make sure things will happen. It has the potential for fun and for connection making, so why not?

MORE COMMENTARY ON AL-ZARQAWI COVERAGE AND THE MEDIA

Have you ever noticed the amount of attention US society puts toward killing and destruction? Do you ever think about the energy we put into these things?

Maybe it would more apt to say it's more of a human nature thing than a US thing? I only have the limited experience of a US citizen with some exposure to other cultures. And even more on the naive side, most of my experience comes from a white male perspective, albeit I have non-white friends and signifiicant other. Unlike Stephen Colbert, though, I won't display a silly picture of myself with an unhappy, cynical looking black friend.

But I digress. On with the commentary.

While working on some errands today, I saw plenty of headlines about the technical aspects of taking out Al-Zarqawi. I haven't read any of it, but it really hits me in the disgusted nerve of all the investigation that our media puts into everything that lead up to the death and destruction of this one guy.

I agree with Bush and his administration on one thing: The media and a lot of us focus too much on the wrong thing when it comes to terrorism and Iraq. Unlike Bush, however, I believe a more productive media would put an equal amount of focus on the root causes of the terrorism and this war. Also, I think a lot more positive productivity would come from a good amount of focus on making and keeping REAL peace