Visiting Africa

How do you see South Africa.  It is  a beautiful place but not without its challenges.

Faces of Africa is a compilation of video and still photography of recent travels there

Enjoy the Africa video link here

Thank you all for your feedback, I am really glad you enjoyed it!

Balance of Law

We live in our insular worlds; increasing pressure to not disturb the larger systems that are in place-- where does that leave us?

A challenging question for sure; it is difficult to take action against unfairness whether it is police misconduct or failing politicians, responding to the needs of poverty or giving more of ourselves.  Government structures are creating laws that increasingly restrict what public misconduct is as well.

But the world we live in is a complex one, technology for all its amenities has also resulted in the ability for computer smart programmers, to exploit average consumers credit cards; while most of the world love craigslist, how do we contend with the violent behaviors from predatory people? And we are suppose to be able to trust the politicians we put in office to act on our behalf and band together when they do not resulting in someone who does.

The balance of the law is not just about what we expect of the judicial system and legislators, but what our action result in.  In a world where things just keep increasing in size, how do you leverage help when there are so many burgeoning causes-- all of them with meaning and justification for action.  Overwhelmed we often won't disrupt the status quo.  But keep in mind this, the most exciting, meaningful and important events throughout history have been disruptive; disruptive technology, disruptive social moments, even in business there are opportunities that exist because of calculated disruptions that break the mold of what is tradition.

Organizations like policymic, policemisconduct.net (The CATO Insitute), IPCC, Harvard scientist converting energy into energy, Pew Research, and thousands more mark the importnace of individual actions; more  importantly the power of crowd sourcing-- something we are part of but don't often use.  We as individuals have the power like never before to assemble in an interconnected philosophic way, mount our ideas and beliefs and change the world.  It does not always work out with the ease and simplicity we would like it to, sometimes we can even question why bother; but in the end, we have moved the needle across the arch that bends towards justice.  We as individuals are the balance of the law.

Boston's Finest B & E

It's 3:03 a.m. and Boston's Finest(Estb. 1854) has just finished doing reconnaissance and dusting my place for finger prints.

After a late night B & E, I placed a call to my local 911. Before long, and after establishing that my event is a non-critical emergency, the 911 operator dispatches Boston's Blue to my address. Within 30 minutes, I receive a call that they are down stairs waiting. An officer responds, followed by a sergeant and a detective.

Every day officers from the Boston Police Department (BPD) make their way to residents and citizens in need of their assistance. And though it is not my wish to ever have to call them for any type of emergency, it is nice to know that they are there and on call 24 hours a day 7 days a week and 365 days out of the year. Wait... lets make that 425 days of the year, if you calculate officers over time, take away from family time and just plain time to contribute to making our lives a little more comfortable.

Have you ever stopped to think what The City would be like without them. How much more insecure would you feel? Think about it. No one to call during the Marathon emergency, no direction during special events, no response to emergencies such as a violent crime, and no one to respond to the smaller emergencies. No one to intervene in domestic violence, in general no one to offer a safer more secure City.

Granted the BPD is not perfect, but I have to acknowledge the fact that neither am I; so it is important to acknowledge what we appreciate about them when our opportunity comes.

Thank you for standing up to the criminals that are not concerned about the quality of life most people want for their children; thank you for stopping by the schools and talking to the students to create a better relationship with students and letting them know that you are there to help them first, not threaten them; thank you for being considerate and allowing the ambulances to make their way during an emergency; thank you for getting out of bed to dust for fingerprints because someone broke into my house; thank you for being approachable and thank you for not disliking me because another citizen was a jerk and fucked up your day.

Your job is a tough one on many levels; from salary restrictions and cutbacks to risking your life and everything between those ends of the spectrum; office politics, law suits, lies and challenges towards advancement; and the resources you need will not always be at your disposal-- you try harder nonetheless. I appreciate everything you do right, every time you do the right thing and every time you try to do that.

From us, the residents of Boston who don't take time to thank you enough. Thank You. Please continue to do your best and I will continue to acknowledge why we should be thankful you are here.

I say hello every time I pass you even if I don't know you; I may say have a great day, just because I don't think anyone else has and perhaps that is enough to make a difference in your day. I hope the result is that you might make things a bit easier on someone else-- pay it forward.

You put in a lot of hours and a lot of years, but it does not go without thanks for what you add to the City, and the people who live here-- we are in need of your service.

After a total of about 3 hours, all of the officers from Boston's Finest have left the crime scene in my home. My home has returned to the secure feeling place it was at one time, despite the impact of the criminal who broke in, knowing that Boston's Finest is not too far away. Though every mystery will not be solved, every criminal will not be caught; justice will not always be served, you still make a difference.

In their wake (the visitors in Blue), advise, good conversation, assurance, and insights that reinforce my confidence in their ability to carry our their job. They leave me with a bit more appreciation then before they arrived. They are good people, not just cops.

Amazing Life Amazing People

It was 3:00 p.m. Sunday afternoon on a late Spring day.  Having gotten up early to do some gardening, much of the day got away from me.  It was about this time that I was feeling like I needed to be doing something else.  I didn't just want to go for a drive but I was still lost... almost lacking focus.

I fired up the Harley Davidson VROD, having decided that I would take a quick spin since it was so nice outside.  Still, I wasn't sure where it was taking me.  Initially I planned on going to the grocery store to get some multi-grain bread.  While Trader Joes has my favorite bread, they don't have many of my other favorites (I try to stay away from processed foods).

My friends in Estonia have a strong sense of national pride and it is one of the things that makes them so amazing to me (Allan and Karoli).  And this is the heart of this article, the impact friends have on what you do in life.  Where you meet them, what is occurring at the time and where you are spiritually/ metaphysically etc.


I lead a very ordinary live, my experiences are exceptional, and exceptional experiences become what they become because of what I want out of those experiences.  Secondly, the people I meet are amazing not because of who they are (meaning their social status) or what they have, but because of what they want out of life.  Zach C. I met during his short and simple visit in Boston, but he had a lasting impact on me as a result of our discussion about decisions regarding college, professional writing experiences, social networks and technology.  Lisa is a woman I met from Canada who moved to Australia.  She is amazing in so many ways; from the very natural way she inspires me to write to her insights into my being, she seems to understand things about me no one else does.  Andre and Andria befriended me and have become life long friends after talking about my book Seed (still in the works).  Andria's background directly relates to the topic of my writing interests.  Lise from Quebec has an exceptional gift of kindness and has invited me to come and visit with her and her husband.  They are an extraordinary couple and seeing them together elevates the joy in my heart-- there relationship is magical yet simple.  David who is an English specialist from Switzerland has chosen to return for another visit.  David also dances competitively (he is quite good).  And Amanda and Mark, whom I visited with last summer opened their home and hearts each is a master in their fields of photography and sculpture (respectively).

I have made friends with people all around the world.  Today was exception on a local level.

Four years ago I met Mario after purchasing a sailboat to sail from Boston to Cape Cod, on my first solo open water journey.  No instructions just faith, research for what I needed.  Prior to making the full trip, I connected with Mario after searching for an alternative motor for my sailboat on Craigslist.  Mario provided  a motor I needed to make the trip safe.  Upon arriving in Hull, MA, Mario greeted me with kindness and as promised, a motor.  Harry was a long time friend of Mario's and offered a battery that I needed, further ensuring safe travels.  So my motorcycle ride took me across Boston, into Cambridge, back to Boston and then out to Wollaston Beach in Quincy, then to Hingham and finally to Hull, where I would be reacquainted with Mario after passing his house-- four years after our initially meeting.  Having passed his house, I turned around noticing two boats in the driveway.  That had to be him I thought.  To my pleasant surprise, Mario was working on his boat.  We greeted each other as old friends might.  His hands soiled with grease and dirt from working on the motor, firmly gripped my own, it was a comforting familiarity.  We began talking about sailing, motorcycles and Craigslist- as friends would.

Each of the persons I have just spoken of reflect something in me that is somewhat of a quest.  Perhaps it is a quest to get the most out of life, possibly to answer questions I have not been able to answer myself, or perhaps it is to engage with people who seem to make my life more amazing just by knowing them.  Their kindness, positive energy and personal journeys speak volumes of what I seek myself.  In this respect I suppose we are very much the same.  We all had a journey, a story to share and a desire to listen for something new.

Every Year Freeze

 (tap on any of the images to enlarge)

It was a clear day so I did one of my favorite things to do, drive; my other favorite thing to do is being happy.  Today it was the combination of driving, and dropping my body temperature into near freezing water.  I made an early departure out of Boston and headed to Cape Cod so I could jump in the Atlantic Ocean.  This is my new annual ritual as of last year.  The big answer and question towards the end of this article is, Why.  

It was already the 20^th of the month and though I did not make my New Year’s Day goal of making the jump on January 1st, I was determined to make it happen today.  The air was warm enough earlier in the day to allow me to open my window for a little while- but only a little while.  As a hiker I started to think about needing to preserve my body heat for when I enter the ocean, so I decided to close the window after about 10 minutes.

Last year, I visited P-Town (Province Town for those who are not familiar with the area), located in Cape Cod.  I went to Herring Cove Beach because it is the farthest point East in the United States.  There is something very special about being at an end point; it arouses something primal, deep within us.  Understanding that there is no more available.  Think about it, no more water, electricity, food, land, people etc.  Upon my arrival for the first time last year, I was surprised to see so many friendly people, seemingly seeking something similar to myself.  Among those people were 4 women who had decided to jump in the Atlantic Ocean naked (commonly called skinny dipping in the U.S.)  I asked them if I could take their picture and they agreed to allow me to do so(see this blog).  Feeling inspired I followed suit, mainly because I had an overwhelming feeling to do something different, memorable.  I recall taking off my clothes and staying in the ocean for about 10 minutes before feeling the need to retreat.  It was much warmer last year(among the 10 warmest in U.S. history) It was also one of the most liberating experiences I ever had.  Something about breaking convention, doing something you have never done, and taking yourself to new limits.

I felt like I had taken life by the horns and continued on the path to shape my own future.  This journey is not new for me; several years ago I made a decision to transform my perspective on life.  I had committed to being happy every day of my life (see blog here).  Put simply, I have molded my life around my Windows- it is those Windows that are the force behind my happiness.

I arrived at my destination and reflected briefly on the road trip out here.  The fact that it was Winter, the trees were bare left me feeling very alone though listening to Sarah McLachlan Building A Mystery, kept me company.  Now at Herring Cove, I drove over small piles of sand left by the strong winds, mading my way to the parking lot; a long stretch of space to accommodate the large population of Summer visitors- very different than today.  Though by the time I departed, there were probably 20 cars on the beach.

The ocean swells were close to seven feet (2.2 meters).  For a moment I thought about the risk of an under tow that could potentially pull me under.  The winds were billowing at about 35 miles per hours, the tide was rising and it made sense for me to give this a second thought.  So I did.  I thought to myself, if this is that way I go, it is worth it.  I love the ocean, sailing, swimming and deep sea diving; I can't think of anything else that offers so many ways to enjoy what it has to offer.  While I thought there was a risk, I decided it was minimal.  I went back to the car, pulled out my towel out and headed back to the water.  I peeled off my clothes, stuffed them in the sleeves of my winter coat and took the plunge.  I was so motivated that I returned to the car, covered by my towel, retrieved my camera (to take the picture below), and jumped back in the ocean for a second time.  I am so certain that anyone would share my enthusiasm that I invite anyone to join me on January 1, 2014 and see how powerful this experience can be for yourself.  

Why?  The real question is why not?  We can spend the rest of our lives wishing we climbed that mountain, ran that marathon, committed to a cause we really believe in, took a chance and started that business, or took that trip around the world.  My life is now tailored to what makes me happy, not in a selfish way, but in a way that makes me feel more alive.  Experiencing being in temperatures easily capable of inducing hypothermia does just that;  it reminds me how amazing the simple things in life can be, and something else;  it is a transformation away from the typical existence, making me acutely aware of the gift of life.  Never will you feel more alive than when you are in the face of a great challenge.  Never will you feel more successful than when you overcome that challenge; do so, and your self equity rises exponentially.  Next year, same place, same time 

Photography: Remarkable Eye (http://www.remarkableeye.com/ )

Spirit of Happiness

As human beings we go through a whole range of emotional extremes and subtleties; from the need to get up and go to work (whether or not we like it) to celebrating special occasions; from meeting new friends or  successfully completing a goal, to anger about opposing views from our own.  But happiness is a higher state of being; it is an internal wealth of opportunity we can use to transform our lives.

The Dalai Lama has written a book on happiness which millions of people follow; though I have read many books on happiness; I do not believe happiness requires spiritually in the formal sense.  Michael Argyle, in a 2002 publication indicated that from 2001 to the Autumn of 2002 (when his article was published) over 100 new titles have been released on happiness.  With so much emphasis on it, why are we still publishing information about happiness?  Simple, it is the foremost balance we can achieve as human beings.

Happiness is a balance we find within ourselves.  So where do we find this happiness?  Certainly not in material and superficial objects.  No, such things offer a certain pleasure but there is a clear difference between pleasure and happiness.  Happiness is a state of mind when other factors that offer superficial happiness are absent.  Owning a Porsche, a home, getting a raise, eating great food; these things offer momentary pleasure; more importantly, go too much in one direction or the other and they can disappear.  Too much food you over eat, have a car too long, it loses its appeal. Take another example slightly different scenario.

Place yourself on a beach watching the sunset.  While being at the beach provides comfort, the act of watching the sunset (with someone or without someone you enjoy), provides an internal long lasting memory that cannot be removed.  Standing atop a mountain overlooking a grand valley or other mountains on a clear day offers something similar.  Owning a sailboat is one experience but sailing in a wide open space with gentle trade-winds can be transformative.

I begin each morning with a ritual of my own that offers the happiness I seek.  Based solely on my actions and my self understanding of what I need I; each morning I go through a series of meditation poses; I also recite my own personal mantra.  These two activities are not based on anyone else's knowledge, approval, or acknowledgement.  These activities merely add what I found balances my inner self.  They are absent of desires, result in no questions, yet provide complete and utter happiness; it is because nothing else is attached to their existence that allows these activities to be so fulfilling.  More over happiness is something you need to find on your own journey.  So what led me to these activities that provide such balance.

As I was standing on a large boulder, overlooking the Atlantic Ocean, relieved of any inhibitions, I raised one knee and began; arms spread, palms up...  It simply felt right.  A release of needs, desires, wants and an absorption of what seemed to exist on a similar plane; the rocks, the ocean, the sunlight, the air.  The absence of give or take, mere existence in the present, and the state of being.
  

Hiking the Pinnacles

What is it about the need to get into the mountains and recharge?  The air, the solitude, the achievement; all of these things or something completely different.  Yesterday it was about reengaging.

The Pinnacles National Monument is a beautiful National Park, and yesterday was no exception.  The heat made it an especially quiet and solitary hike.  It was hot as heck which made my hike a bit more intense; it also meant that I would see very few hikers on the trail.

The Pinnacles are pretty awesome.  It begins with straight paths and tree cover that offers nice shading; it quickly progresses well groomed but more aggressive winding paths along the rock formation from times past volcanoes.

While I did not see any rock climbers, there were a couple of other hikers enjoying the serenity of the area despite the 95 degree temperatures.  Bring plenty of water on this hike as the temp at the higher elevation was pretty intense due to the heat radiating from the rocks.  I will say the trail offered plenty of places to rest if needed that provided small shading.

Atop the High Peaks Trail, I got to enjoy the flight of the magnificent condor, with their expansive wings were impressive; circling around me as though I might be their next meal and an alert to other potential predators, or perhaps the flight of the condor was my reward for making it to the top.  Either way it was a pleasant experience and wonderful view of the Salinas Valley and mountain ranges.

As I made my decent, I paused to capture images through the lens that we don't always get to capture with our senses and retain in our memories.  Though the man made tunnels are unique, they are unnatural so I actually prefer the natural arches the trees offer.

I always find a tree to hug and exchange energy to ensure earth knows I appreciate all its diversity and offerings.

Today? Julia Pfeiffer State Park.  It is suppose to be some of the most breath taking views that California hiking has to offer.  I'll keep you posted!

ps I just figured out why I needed this hike... I had to get from in front of this screen that takes up entirely too much of my time; so see ya!  Off to my next hike!

Be happy, have fun, and live every moment of your life Today!

SmW

A Day in Boston the BLC

Auntie and Mom

by Scotland Willis
(click on photos to enlarge)


Boston is an amazing city.  I tell all my guests and friends  it is the Big Little City, with a population just over 600,000 people.  What Boston lacks in population, it recovers in activity and vibrance.  Today was one of those days.  A look at some photos will tell the story, in less than two hours, I made a choice encounter, explored the wild, enjoyed great music, and observed the wake of an unfortunate fire.

Puddingstone Place

That's just it, there is always something happening here especially when the weather breaks.  People come out of the wood-works like you would not believe; like ants emerging to explore the newness of the landscape, the energy, the voices and sounds of The City are all remarkable.  Boston is full of entertainment, which you'll find in just about every part of the city if you choose to explore.  And that is the key; when you do Boston, you have to open yourself up to explore-- everything.

Today was one of those days.  After an early rise, in anticipation of the great weather Boston was going to have, I began my day with a short workout; listing the things I needed to get done, a quick visit to my moms to see my visiting aunt from Florida, clean house (Puddingstone Place) and I am out-a-here!  And before I could get out the door, a cardinal, posing for me- possibly signaling that this was going to be a brilliant day.

Jackson Station T stop

A short walk to public transportation and my journey begins; the cool, but warming air feels great!  As usual I pack my camera in anticipation of capturing something unusual-- that is exactly what happened.  My arrival at the Orange Line T(Boston's underground subway), and I encountered my second subject for the day, a bird of prey.  Swooping  over my head, it perched itself upon a ledge in the train station, allowing me to capture its stature.  Wow, (thrilled that I brought my camera with me)!  I should have known it was going to be this kind of day.  If this was the only thing I captured it was well worth it.

Mr. C' Jackson Station T platform

A walk down the stairs to the platform and I encounter a young aspiring engineer who also plays the guitar.  I decide to engage in a conversation only to learn that he is attending the same school for under graduate work as my graduate school.  It was an honor to meet young Mr. C'.  We exchanged emails and hopefully will stay in touch.

Berklee Music Students Boylston St.

I disembark at my stop "Back Bay!" the conductor announces, and begin to absorb the life of The City.  You can feel the energy rising.  A simple turn right, and a left two blocks later leads me to the clamor of locals and visitors soaking up the sun and enjoying the outdoors
 on Copley Plaza; this leaves me with high anticipation of what is still to come as Summer is just around the corner.  This time last year we were still flirting with bitterly cold temperatures.

Up a few more blocks to the iPhone store and off again to connect with the city.  It is definitely a walking day.  Half a block up I begin to hear the sound of The City come to life.  It looks like Berklee music students have gotten together to have an outdoor jam session.  Beneficiaries? all onlookers.

Boylston & Mass Ave

Too interesting a day to take underground transportation the whole way so I start to walk to Fenway.  Fire! wow.

So that is a typical day in Boston, perhaps not so typical; but if you take time and put effort into making the best out of Boston, you will not be disappointed.  There is almost unavoidably plenty to do and see in Boston.  Whatever you do, don't just sit around and do nothing.

Female Insecurities

Female insecurities manifest in many ways.  They can result from years of ridicule in school, abusive parents, peer pressure, or the common pressures of societies expectations (you're too fat, ...you're not beautiful enough, ...buy this to look sexy, "...if your not beautiful, you're something else- and that's not important, so be somebody").  Yesterday I had a conversation with someone I truly Love(not romantically).  I was deeply troubled by a statement she made because it was not something that would come up in the basic context of our conversation [embarking upon a new relationship], but rooted in her life experience, impacting her self perception.

It ended up something like this "...I always felt that Latino men weren't attracted to me", no exactly like that.  Ok. Stop!

First of all, I am seriously passionate about Latina culture for many reasons- sex appeal being one major attraction; they maintain a culture that is enduring with passion in their dance, music, dress, and even attitude.

That being said I could never allow my self image to be defined by this culture, nor can it influence whether or not I feel whole as a person.  This is where my warning to(let's just call her Alise) for Alise was anchored.  My suggestion was simple 1) look at how a certain culture manipulates your father and his need to feel accepted 2) "you are both beautiful and sexy".  The issues is more so that most men don't have the courage to communicate what they think about you (as far as attraction goes).  So don't get bent out of shape if a particular type of person is appears to not be attracted to you.

Think of how much of one's life is molded around branding sexuality and beauty.  Then think about equating the amount of time you spend striving to achieve that status.  My question is simple; does the amount of time you invest in clothes, physical appearance( I am specifically omitting health, because maintaining your health is very important- so it can be a fine line), aesthetic appearance, lifestyle facades, really repay itself in the end?  For some perhaps it does, but what is that threshold of return on investment? When do we compromise our self confidence for superficiality and desire for acceptance?

Siem Reap SE Asia

The best return on your investment is to find what makes you feel whole be systematically eliminating the superficial factors that might define who you are.  Who do you end up with?  Can you find peace and confidence in who you see as you look at yourself, without depending on the elements around you to color up who you might not be?  This is not to say that the world we interact with will not influence us, it should to some degree; just be clear on who you are when you embrace something new.  Allow that person, event, thing, culture, activity etc. to enhance your life (by adding character) but not define your life.

Being you is awesome, especially when you take a step back, look at what you appreciate about what you have done in your life, smile at what is good and wholesome about you- then, just enjoy being you.     

Females are not the only ones with insecurities; it just happens that I care about this one more than words can say.

Sound on the Charles

 Sitting dockside on the Charles River, enjoying the usual sounds of the river currents rushing the docks continuing towards the shoreline, I stop to enjoy the sights, something I would not usually be able to enjoy until late April mid May. The temp is about 50 degrees and the city soundscape of Boston fills the backdrop, reminding me why I enjoy my time here so much.  What should be a cold winter day is substituted for an unseasonably mild 54 degrees as foretasted by local meteorologists.  Apparently it will be like this for the remainder of the week.  Last year this time it was a mere 28 degrees.  It... is... a ...day.  

While in some cities you might enjoy the weather, the beaches, night life or theater; you might even enjoy an abundance of those things; Boston however has just the right balance of all of these amenities.  Compact and filled like nuts in a Snickers bar, Boston is very satisfying. Boston can be viewed as the Little Big City or the big little city- it's true.  All of this in a compact area makes it easy to act as an ambassador to the City.

  Highland Park is my most favorite area in Boston. From here you have access to every one of the most interesting aspects of the City- all within fifteen minutes.  From the Museum of Fine Arts (mfa) to the USS Constitution, from Fenway Park to the theater district- all are nearby.  Perhaps the most charming attribute of Highland Park in Boston, is it's suburban feel. 50-75 year old trees line back yards and streets- a feature found in few other areas in Boston, with such density- though each neighborhood has its uniqueness. But here one can feel as though they can get comfortably lost while remaining in the City- this is the place to be.


 If mild weather glitches have you eagerly anticipating the more permanent warmer days slow your role for just a bit- it's coming.  Before you know it you will find yourself making regular visits to the Charles River.  Whether you like to walk, run, cycle or just sit and observe, the Charles is a great retreat. Do you hear it?  It's calling you.
As this new 2012 season of tourism approaches, visitors be mindful; you won't want to miss Boston this year.  And feel free to visit Puddingstone Place Bed and Breakfast- it is equally beautiful; and of course it is in Highland Park.

Shifting from Climate Change to Climate Extremes

 by Scotland Willis

The discussion over climate change, has been a hotly debated issue since it's inception.  Advocates fiercely reacting to opponents of climate related issues with great fervor to emphasize the seriousness of potential threats.  Now is not the time to add to that flame, but rather clarify- and continue to do so.  Choosing a discourse that is based on observations, reasonable extrapolations, and comparative data year over year, is imperative.  Action is a must.

Yes, it is impossible to predict exactly what is going to happen with the weather patterns around the world, many experts believe the extremes will continue to increase aggressively- a likely scenario.  But if speculation, projections and modeling aren't sufficient (a task carried out by experts in the field of science), then why do we depend so heavily on them with regards to economic market conditions?  Such models are known as market predictability models; hundreds of billions of dollars each day depend on such projections and their outcomes.  Why? Simple, they are a good indicator of human behavior with reference to increasing or decreasing the price of various commodities.

 Why then, are such sophisticated systems dismissed in climate modeling?  Asserting that using probabilities and potentialities is not a reliable source, is a poor argument for non-action by policy makers and the general population for that matter.

It is important to be able to translate this into climate extremes and human behavior; market behavior is of course very different- or is it.

If we think of the environment in an inverse sort of way, we can look at it a bit differently.  While we can't change the weather based on how many people are going to buy a share of sunshine or speculate on rain; we do do this in a sense.  People bid on crops and other agribusiness all the time.  The performance of the weather significantly determines whether the price of wheat will go up or down.  Take the fires that destroyed the wheat crops in Russia.  People who speculated that the price of wheat would go down when those crops matured lost their bet in terms of stock futures.  Why? because the unexpected wildfires that destroyed the crops thus increasing the price of wheat.


And there is evidence that governments have been tampering with, artificially experimenting and manipulating the weather patterns over the years.  But the other and more important point is that we (the human species), can intentionally shift the way we impact the environment.  It is true that if agribusiness could make enough millions they would play war games with other countries crops but that is not the topic of discussion here.

The former discussion is solely to raise awareness of potentialities.  What our human impact is doing is having an accelerated impact on weather conditions.  Climate change will always occur, but climate extremes will significantly impact how we live and what quality of life we can expect.  The other point of the discussion above was to look at the comparison of using predictions and forecasting to influence our decisions about legislative policy related to climate change.  A book written about crowdsourcing (link here), provides some insights to predictive modeling as a powerful source to understanding economic market behavior


In 2011, the United States experienced twelve (12) extreme weather events; the record in 2008 was nine such events.  These are generally events that translate into $1 billion in damage or more.  Two good resources to defer to are both the NOAA (link here) and a Public Broadcasting Service program NewsHour (link hour).  From Snowfall records in January of 2011 that paralyzed the midsection of the United States to the hundreds of people who died from record tornadoes that hit the country; more extreme weather patterns are striking with great force and increasing frequency.  The NOAA estimates $52b in total damage for weather related events in 2011.  These unusual weather events are not solely in the U.S.

This past Fall season, my travels took me to Thailand during flooding that struck the far north and continued southward decimating communities.  And early in 2012, Latin America is experiencing recording flooding, wildfires and droughts (Huffington Post).  Along with the extreme hurricane type winds that battered the U.K., these patters emit a warning signs that should have legislators acting on firm policies to protect the native populations.  Planning is the key.  But when project like Rancho Cielo Solar Farm get canceled one must ask why, and not just point to the DOE-- but ask who is pulling the strings?  How do such project like this get usurped politically?  Start by asking what is at stake for the existing industries that have dominion over energy sources.


Real Solutions
Locating energy sources closer to the populations that use them is an important decision to make.  A tremendous amount of energy is lost when electricity from power generating plants are located long distances from the end user.  But no one wants a coal burning plant in their back yard (unless you live in Washington D.C. [ Capital Power Plant], 60,000 tons of carbon dioxide).  Solution, find a different power source.  Granted that in some areas, certain environments are not hospitable to certain power sources.  The efficiency  is simply a poor trade off.  But in many places geothermal, solar and wind are seriously under utilized.

What to Expect
Expect more extreme storms.  The capacity of the atmosphere to retain more energy and moisture means that the release of such energy will be more extreme.  Can we harness more of that extreme energy and find creative ways to stave off or offset the negative impact? Can't answer that one.  But we can trust what is before us and act accordingly.

Extremeness:

• Snow: January record snowfall in Chicago blizzards that pounded 22 states in the midsection of the US;
• Spring: Tornadoes 3 largest twister outbreaks in 6 wks $25b dmage;
• 300 killed in 3 days
•  Tuscaloosa, Alabama leveled due to tornadoes;
• Joplin Missouri: Late May leveled killed over 150 people200 mph winds
• Hurricane Irene; ravaging the East coastline
• Droughts  TX $10b loss crops, livestock, timber, (hottest Summer in TX
• over 6000 1m acres over labor day weekend.
• Kansas 100 days over 100 temp

Astounding New Year

Amazing, is the best way to describe the first day of 2012.

Waking up early I decided to start my day with a hike.  I had not made plans much past that, because I intended on returning to Boston and watch the Patriots game.  After stopping by a locally owned coffee shop, where I enjoyed a brief conversation with an employee, I continued onward to my destination.

One of the most pleasurable things about living in the Northeastern United States, is the opportunity to enjoy a wide array of activities due to the change in seasons.  Skiing, running, cycling, sailing, hiking are all at one's disposal more or less.  Today my hike would be the first time I started the new year this way.  The pine trees are just one reminder of what makes nature so spectacular- healthy and green all year round.

The day before I called the park rangers office to ensure the area was open and that it was not hunting season, not wanting to be a human target nor wanting to wear special clothing to indicate I am not the desired target for a hunter.  Thankfully hunting season had ended just a couple of weeks earlier.  I was anxious to begin the year this way- my first accomplishment of 2012.  It wasn't about me, it was about doing something for me.

I picked up a trail map outside the office since the offices were closed due to the new year.  I packed away my compass determined not to use it, and began doing some light bushwhacking after starting off on a trail.

What made the hike invigorating is the prospect of getting lost. Perhaps it was because there was no real threat; I had my compass if I needed it, it was early in the day, and I was relatively familiar with the landscape. The hike itself was only rated as a level 6.  I remember feeling slightly frustrated because I had to cross a road during my hike; I paused and realized that was not why I was out here- issue resolved and back to enjoying myself.

The landscape reminded me of Colorado at times.  Because of the vastness of Colorado and the diverse animal and tree life, it provides an overwhelming sense of aloneness.  Aloneness is different than solitude; there is an absence of company.  At times it can be discomforting, not knowing where help might come from if an accident occurred.  There are also times I wonder, what if something in me actually failed-- what would I do, more importantly, what would happen; how long would it take for anyone to discover I was even gone.  I don't think I told anyone where I was going specifically.  All that didn't matter too much, the sense of throwing caution to the wind was of greater importance.

I was lost in a controlled way, for about two hours before I regained my bearings, I headed back to the car. I usually move at a pretty good clip, today was not exception.
After arriving at the car, I already decided towards the end of my hike that I would then drive to the end of Massachusetts (where I have never been), and continue to indulge myself in starting the new year off differently than every before.  I arrived at Provincetown or P-Town to the locals.  It was exactly what I expected.  Exuberance best describes the inner sense of emotions.

High tide was coming in and the sun was on its way down.  Several things ensued that postponed my planned departure.

As I began walking down the beach my first encounter was with a mother and two daughters.  They were writing something in the sand and I asked if they would like me to take a photo of them.  Gleefully they responded "absolutely".  Their happiness turned into communion, and they invited me to join them as we substituted photographers- I was not a subject.  This event immediately raised my enthusiasm about being there.  It that had been my Ted Koppel sign off and I had to head back home, that would have made my day, but it did not end there.

A man who presumably lived in the area, came riding down the beach on a beautiful stallion.  If you don't have a love for horses, this might not seem significant but for me it contributed to a perfect day.  I have always had a passion for horses and committed to owning one some day.  While this may not have been a highlight, it reminded me of when I went horseback riding  on the beach in Costa Rica.

This experience had me feeling like the Universe was placing everything in order, that I was hoping for this day.  Though the day was coming to an end, it felt more like it was just beginning.  What what really happening was my year was just beginning- figuratively and literally.

Another 100 meters from my horse encounter and a group of ten or so women were performing their annual ritual.  Though only four of the women decided to take the bold initiative of stripping charging the Atlantic Ocean as well as seemingly defying the obstacles of the new year.  You could almost hear their karma saying "no obstacle before me will stop me from my....", something.  Honestly there is no way of telling what they might be thinking, yet it was evident that there was a sense of defiance.

Their act was inspirational as the men and women abound cheered them on.  In fact so inspired was I that I followed suit.  OK too much information, but I could not resist the sense of liberation and defiance.  Over the centuries mankind has always challenged his greatest foe, the planet.  Defiance of gravity, defiance of immobility, defiance of penetrating the atmosphere... of the ocean depths, and mountain tops.  This was one of those occasions, perhaps not quite so grandiose-   though for me, it was every bit as fulfilling.  I stayed in the ocean for about five minutes, absorbing the moment; enjoying the unmistakable sensation of the near freezing water.  I recall not wanting to get out.  There was more to this day and I did not want to miss any of what else might be in store.  I feel the Universe has a way of ordering things, this was my moment.  As a deep sea diver I embrace the water, I like to think we share a certain kinship.



Afterwards we all gathered around the ritualistic bonfire.  Having changed into fresh dry clothing and drying off, I simply reflected on the events of the day- pleasant.  I was indifferent to the ride home; neither ready to go nor stay.  I said goodbye to my new friends and promised I would return next year.

A Good Life

What does it mean to have a good life?  Do you define a good life as financial success; a life that is free of major conflict or struggles; maybe a life where you get to live out your dream-like lifestyle; and perhaps a good life is determined for you by your charitable deeds.  Whatever your definition(s) may be, it is certainly more complex now than any time in history. But why?

As society continues to progress, it has a tendency to accelerate the pace of activities; the internet, global communication (including social networks), productivity requirements, intellectual competitiveness, physical and health improvements; all are contributing factors to social dynamics that might influence what a good life is composed of.

But here is another perspective, perhaps a good life begins very early.  Perhaps a good life is based on our ability to learn and do what is right.  As we age we are influenced by our parents, people closest to us; then peers, in school, our neighborhood; teenage years expose us to larger social groups, work environments and extra curricular activities.   It is how we receive and process information in these groups that informs our behavior- perhaps not solely (as we are hard wired differently), but certainly in a way that can lead to a good life.

As I look back and reflect on my own upbringing, I think about the people who I have a strong appreciation for, as I attempt to emulate their positive attributes.  My reflections also force me to think about misdeeds, cruel or unkind things I might have said or done.  At times it allowed me to fit in to certain group, as the group dynamics took their toll on the victim of our jokes or remarks.  Seemingly harmless, but the long term effects are what concern me most.  I realize this now as I continue to mature (hopefully until the day I die) - I call that learning.  And periodically when we learn more about ourselves, we get the opportunity to go back in time and make amends with such misdeeds from our past.  It is my belief that this makes us better people.  It is a different way to build character through struggle- our internal struggle.  It is not about having regret, but about the affect of not completing our life's circle; when you do something that is not in harmony with the circle, a piece gets removed until you figure out how to get it back so you can be complete.

Liberating myself from past behaviors grants me more freedom to enjoy what I consider to be a good life; I am a sailor, cyclist, runner, hiker, reader, writer and friend.  For me, these are the components that make up a good life now.  Caring about people, how my actions affect their life, and how my actions affect the planet is yet another aspect of a good life.

I have a certain peace about me, like never before- I call it happiness.  So here is my pitch, be happy-- every day of your life, strive for it.  Teach people around you about being happy and what you do to maintain happiness.  I made a list a long time ago that I still use and share.  Make a list of 10 things that make you happy, promise yourself you will do and acknowledge one each day.  Having done at least one of those things; I believe you will spend the rest of your life being happy.  This is a good life, this is my theme song- Good Life enjoy

Unexpected Changes to a Greener Planet

Deliberations, sometimes they get in the way of getting done what we believe in.  Consideration for this, consideration for that; what will they think; WHAT IF!!!  Eeeeak!

Stop... breathe, and do what you believe in.  This is a much simpler statement than the what our genetic coding suggest we go through for decision-making but there is more than a speck of truth in it.  There is so much activity in sustainability and climate change often it feels like someone else is or can do whatever is on your mind- not so.  Each person acts as another potential persuasive vehicle to advance work tremendously important to protecting the planet.  Even if its been said, say it again, add a twist.  We must constantly strive to balance protecting the natural resources accessible to us and the way we use them.  There are millions of people, billions for that matter, waiting for someone with the right tone, approach or message that will resonate with them enough to take active steps to contribute to making a different in the many areas that make up sustainability and preservation.

After a brief hiatus, returning to this work is paramount for me; there is so much work to be done and I cannot count on what everyone else will do so I will continue to do my part and be more diligent in doing so.  Expect more articles from me more frequently, that share important advances in technology, resources, activities and changes in climate related matters.  I don't have all the answers but I feel reinvigorated after returning from Asia and having gone through a certain cleansing for myself.  I found what I needed to regroup and continue with what I believe in.

The world is a beautiful place; I want to fulfill my role in it and preserve it for as long as possible.  My goal is to help inspire others to do the same by sharing my knowledge and determination to do the same.  What you don't find here (looking4answers) you will find here ( at green elements).

Recently I spoke with my ex-wife who shared with me some amazing progress I never thought I would hear come from her lips; I Love her she is an amazing woman.  This evening she told me all of the steps she was taking to be a more active participant in climate consciousness.  Throughout the entire conversation I was smiling to myself realizing how important it is to continue the work.  You see, we don't always know when what we share with others will have the desired affect, but we can't allow that to slow us down or prevent us from doing the work.  What did she share? 1) She is walking our son to school 2) she is (as well as my son) designating a separate disposal for recycling and trash- and my son is keeping her on her toes; 3) she has replaced all the lighting in her home with CFL; 4) she has taken a conscious step to reducing the highly processed food and nearly eliminated soda from her/ their diet.  YAHOOW-OOOOOh!  Nothing could make me happier relative to what changes she is making regarding climate change.

I want to remind everyone that CFL can be extremely dangerous so follow the necessary precautions when handling them.  I have provided a link here >> What should I do if I break a bulb?  .  LED is really the best lighting technology but pricing is still an issue.

Life without Microsoft-- Linux

Choices.  Academic, personal, social, there are so many choices.  Combine choices with fear; and you can go into a type of psychological paralysis in making simple decisions about any of the above categories.  In fact, choices are not necessarily the difficult task, but the fear of making choices is.  More unfortunate is that fear (when managed methodically) can control how we behave, react and live.  From the fear of terrorist attacks to choosing not to use certain operating systems; we sink in our courage to stand up to what is unjust or perhaps we fail to stand up because we want to be as comfortable as possible.  Tonight is different; though it can be said, for me every day is different.  Not one to follow the normal crest on the wave, I dumped Microsoft this evening with the help of a new and very good friend.

I took up the Linux system; and if you are not familiar with Linux, make it a point to learn about it.  While I will say that the process is rather time consuming (largely due to my slow internet connection), learning and observing the process of upgrading my operating system (OS) from MS to Linux was the best decision I every made from a technology perspective.  But other decisions led up to that which cannot be ignored.

I took time off from graduate school to work on writing my book.  Other things came up and leading to this summer being one of the best I have had in my entire life.  People I met, places I have and am going, decisions I've made, have all played a role in the shedding of MS to Linux.  I am a firm believer in the power of subatomic particles developing an organic attraction to other subatomic particles in a way that brings people and systems together that would otherwise not occur; it influences our decision-making in many ways to respond to the nature of those subatomic particles that behave in similar ways.  It is the very conversation that lead to a conversation with my physicist friend who also installed my new operating system.  Were it not for these deep conversation there is a strong possibility I would never have had the opportunity to install Linux on my computer.

Not that it is critical to know, but Linux is much less susceptible to viruses, less resource consuming, more efficient and as simple to navigate as the system I was previously using.  In fact, I have more space on my hard drive, more efficient use of my hard drive and more choices for how I use my computer than every before.

Granted that I have a physicist willing to take the time to walk me through the installation and set up of Linux, but I would be willing to share the experience and the process for installing Linux over the more traditional OS any time.

I no longer have a fear of whether or not the system will work; fear of losing my programs or documents because the majority of people are using another OS; I have taking the confidence of my decision-making up a notch, because quite simply, I am not one to follow the pack. 

We have all choices to make; don't be blinded by the system set up to keep you in fear or create patterns that prevent you from exploring; whether that means exploring life, cultures, science, or different technology.



One translation of Ubuntu, I am what I am because of who we are (from Wikipedia).  This is the source of the Linux OS which I installed.  Open source is an important framework from which the Internet was modeled as well as the networks it sustains, some elements have reemerged as a result of the Internet.  As new systems emerge, it is important to exercise the liberation of the social network of the Internet which more resembles society at large.  Moreover it resembles what somewhat reflects the nature of the Earth, that everyone take ownership of and is able to participate in the development and maintenance of it.

It is my belief that the human experience is suppose to be general, but develop an expertise; better yet, be a great generalist with expertise in multiple areas- you will increase you intellectual capital.  I am as grateful for my beginning education in epidemiology and environmental engineering as I am to have Linux as an alternative to the other OS; for without either, I would not have be able to be where I am today.  Knowledge is power, and my epi experience has granted me insights into life I never would have known. 

I continue to be as happy about life and my experience in it as I can possibly be.  I am free for fear regardless of what tomorrow brings; I am embracing the moment...right...now.

If you have the opportunity to installing a new OS such as Linux, do it.  I can't promise you will be as happy as I am, but then you will have to make your own choices-- won't you.

Good fortune to all!