Insanity

This oil spill seems to be the only thing on my mind lately; actually losing sleep over the images I see and the articles I read. The thought of 500,000 gallons of oil and other gases pouring into a precious ecosystem, a day, makes me ill. Containment hasn't worked, Top kill hasn't worked and now, an option that IS on the table, is the detonation of a nuclear weapon to try and seal off the leak. Russia has done it 5, FIVE times and has worked relatively well (at sealing the leak). What hasn't gone so well are the side effects of detonating a nuclear warhead in the oceans. It kills life, life that we depend on to keep ours. It poisons the water that we drink and the air that we breathe. With the dead zones (areas where there is no oxygen for life) spreading across the gulf, some as big as New Jersey, something has to be done and fast. Already 90% of the fish in oceans of the world have been fished and the recent spill threatens extinction of Blue Fin tuna not to mention complete death of coral reefs if a nuclear warhead is detonated.

This spill MUST be a WAKE up call, a FUCKING environmental fire alarm to the humans that WE are killing ourselves, FAST! The temperatures are getting warmer, oil is flowing in the water and almost no fish are left in our water. It is estimated that between 70% and 80% of the oxygen in the atmosphere is produced by marine plants. Now we are thinking about NUKING the ocean floor?

Put the pieces together.

It is time to realize what is important.

We are part of this earth and all that keeps us alive IS what we get from the earth so we should STOP poisoning it.

A meteorite took out the dinosaurs and WE are going to take ourselves out...

This is really scary because, unlike a fairy tale, things don't always end with a happy ending.

National Prayer Day

As I go to read the paper, there on the front page of the Fox Cities Post-Crescent, is the headline "Turning to Prayer" Can it help? My answer? Yes and no.

Let me digress.

Yes, Prayer helps if you are religious, even slightly, the "power of prayer" will give you some comfort and peace of mind. As in the way of getting results, NO, prayer doesn't do anything. In my humble opinion, prayer is but wishing for better things to come and knowing deep down that you are being superstitious.

"But Brendan, I really believe in the "power of prayer." "Praying really works!"

okay, PROVE IT! until then answer me these questions and ponder my statements below.

Why doesn't BP and the Federal Government save themselves billions of dollars by stopping efforts to contain the oil spill and pray that it stops. Pray that all the fragile wildlife and ecosystems survive the tragedy?

Why is it that when people pray for ill ones to heal they die, die faster than if treated by science?

Why don't more poor devout Christians win the lottery?

Why does it cost money to have some guy on satellite TV pray for me?

Why isn't the economy better? It seems people are always praying for more money, better jobs more industry.

Why do people keep praying, instead of doing?

The answer to all of these questions is easy when critical though about.

Prayer isn't going to do shit. If you want to get a job or to have success in your life you are going to have to work for it. Get an education or have a skill that will get you paid. Maybe you are talented or lucky, some people do have good fortune but most have to work hard, not Pray for it.

If you are sick, there is medicine and science on your side. You can pray too if that makes you feel better, but without treatment prayer won't heal you.

Everything that is prayed about can most likely be solved by taking action.

If there is a GOD he in no way, shape or form gives a shit about capitalism and our economy, domestic or global. I imagine GOD dislikes religion as well; anything man made for that matter. All of the things developed by man have done nothing but separate culture over time by colors. GOD doesn't care if you want more money, especially if slave labor and raping of the planet are the means to our "growing" economy.

Let's look at our situation critically and think about how naive and selfish prayer really is, even if it is for other people in dire situations. Why should GOD listen and help you? Why are you so privileged?

GOD gave us this place to live and it has afforded us with everything we need to survive and prosper. If used correctly we (all people under the sun, not just Christians) can get closer to GOD. By creation of religion we've been playing the who's right who's wrong game and trying to obliterate nations and spread what is believed to be the truth. In order to do this, wars must happen and weapons are needed. Weapons and churches cost money. Money is made by owning what has true value. Resources that were placed here for all not just those who can afford them. The environment then is squeezed of natural resources to make money to make weapons to make war to take more resources to spread the freedom and truth and when all is said and done nothing of value (oil, freshwater, fish, clean air, forests) will exist and we will all die.

So instead of praying for more money and a better life. Why don't you start creating a better life by living more responsibly. Start doing so at a local level. Stop buying cheap things from China. Grow some of your own food. Don't drive so much. Don't consume plastics or things not compostable. Support the local Mom and Pops and not the big box stores. Compost don't throw away. Recycle, reduce reuse. Instead of going to church go on a mission trip or volunteer in a 3rd world country. Turn off cable news and listen to NPR & BBC. Donate to save coral reefs and rainforests. Don't build obnoxious homes. Eat less sushi and red meat.

I don't think I know it all but I do know that we are destroying the good that was given to us and for whatever reason have lost the focus on what is important to keep the human race around. We are all organic matter and mankind is losing touch with that. Synthetic fertilizers, GMO foods should wake us up and realize that we are losing the very things that have given us this voice. The voice for the planet. Let's not screw it up by relying on prayer.

let's start taking action.

(Not So) Happy Earth Day!

Sunlight, Oxygen and water sustain our precious life. Without these we die. The value of these items far exceeds all the dollar bills in the world. Why then, does economic policy always take precedent over environmental? Wouldn't science tell us that no economy, society or life can exist without the resources to make them.

Sadly, most people care more about the stock market then the farmers market. The earth is always changing, always creating. Things that have taken millions of years to develop have been wiped out by humans in a about 1 percent of that time. Oil has peaked, China has cut all of its trees, destroyed its water, the rain forests are vanishing, Coral reefs are being bleached, fish overfished and suburban sprawl destroying ecosystems all over the US.

These are things that you won't see on MSNBC, FOX NEWS, USA TODAY, or talked about in CHURCH.

We as people need to protect what we still have while we still have it. We need to realize that our gift of life has been supplied by the energy that the sun, water and air have made possible. We are of organic matter and need the earth to keep us alive.

I was watching an episode of VANGUARD on Current TV and was disturbed to see what urban development and suburban sprawl have done to the Florida Everglades; one of the main resources in Florida.

Here are some articles of interest regarding the situation in Florida and eastern USA.

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=11097869

http://www.grist.org/article/fortune-and-flame/

Here is the dim news in Nevada:

http://www.lasvegasnow.com/Global/story.asp?S=6943263

Read about China's environment hell:

http://notesfromthebartender.wordpress.com/2009/11/20/hell-on-earth-the-unseen-side-of-chinas-modernisation/

What can you do to help your earth?:

http://www.uga.edu/srel/ecoviews/ecoview060326.htm

http://www.saveourenvironment.org/

Most importantly, people need to educate themselves and lead by example.

You Are What You Eat

Many people tease me for wasting my money at places like Whole Foods, Outpost, Trader Joe's and Farmers Markets or for eating at local restaurants that are going to charge more than their big corporate counterparts. There are obvious reasons (to me) why I prefer buying grass-fed beef that is humanely raised at 5.99 a pound versus 2.99 a pound and that is because not only are the animals treated better during their existence but also for what goes into their bodies while being raised.

There are major issues in the Department of Agriculture and the money that subsidizes the farms that make our food. Check out these videos below and start thinking about what you buy at the grocery store. Try to buy local and spend the extra cash. Some will say, "Brendan, its easy for you, you don't have a family to feed, we just can't afford it." I'll say, you can't afford not to. The fact that the majority of the food in big retailers and chain restaurants is making you lethargic, fat and in the long run will cost your overall well-being.

Don't buy over processed food. BUY real food.

Educate yourself and buy smarter and costs WILL go down.

Please avoid products with PALM OIL (this destroys rainforest and is NOT good for you)

Please avoid High Fructose Corn Syrup (this makes you FAT)

Don't eat $1 double cheeseburgers at fast food (Nasty beef raising standards and destructive environmental behaviors)

FOOD INC TRAILER:

http://www.foodincmovie.com/

Peter Jennings presented this great piece in 2004:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fXAZ_7JO7EA Part 1

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nEAJTgosdo0&feature=related part 2

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a6ksPAEGLgk&feature=related part 3

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nqcrQixAKJc&feature=related part 4

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SUQOjGq3wRE&feature=related part 5

Easy Tiger

Today Tiger Woods apologized for putting his penis in over a dozen different vaginas while married with children. That's not a very respectable thing to do Mr. Woods but then again it's your penis and your life. I feel bad for your wife and children. Your kids will eventually learn what you did to mommy and probably have quite a bit of contempt for you. You do have over a billion dollars so I'm sure your kids would be fucked up no matter what and you'll be able to buy them whatever they need to get over the fact daddy likes sex.

The apology on national TV angers me. This is a private situation and the apology should be all about those close to you, not the fans and the sponsors. Do you think steve in Charlotte, watching ESPN in his boxers eating a hungry man really cares if your rich ass wants to put it in random girls vahjayjays? No, we expect that! Steve wants to watch the highlights of his Bobcats!

Athletes that make millions and millions of dollars as young men are gonna have a lot of sex with a lot of strangers. Kobe Bryant is still hittin up the hot coeds and just about every athlete has a girl in every major market. Fact, men with money will use the women that want their money by having sex with them; Don't be angry at these guys.

Woods was married though, and as much as I understand how sex in professional sports works, once your married, you've decided to live with one woman and grow old with her; the casual sex must stop when you say I do.

Now go golf! Sitting at your mansion golfing alone will not create more sympathy from your fans. They don't care about your personal life, they want to see majors won. Hell, I'd have more respect for Tiger Woods if he, got a divorce and embraced his sexuality and started bringing scores of different women to his tournaments. Knowing woods is gonna go home with a trophy, a million dollars and have an orgy in the clubhouse makes me forgive him all the faster.

Go get 'em Tiger!

I can't believe its been 2 weeks

2 weeks since my last posting! WOW!

I guess its cause I've been very leisurely lately.

I decided last second to go to New Orleans for the Super Bowl with my friend Nic Hanson. It was a blast but next time I don't think I will drive there...Milwaukee through Chicago to Memphis, even Jackson Mississippi up until the bayou, everything looks the SAME. it's flat, winter death, ugh. I though I was going to drive off the road several times to spare myself the sight of one more Cracker Barrel.

While down there it was like Mardi Gras on steroids, with all the anticipatory Super Bowl parties and Carnival parades, they gave a nice vibe to the overall party atmosphere. Super Bowl Sunday was too intense to ever conjure up a proper description worthy of equalling the moment. I will just say it was sheer drunken bliss, as if the whole city had won the lottery.

After some car troubles and traffic we returned to dull, drab Milwaukee where the most exciting thing happening was measuring how much snow had fallen...

unemployment is boring the hell out of me so I bought some tickets to San Francisco in April with my good friend John Busch. We are gonna hit up SF for a few days and then head to LA for a few more. If I can get a job out there I'd love to be able to sign a lease while I'm on vacation. I can wait awhile before april though, as I will be turning 29 on the 11th and the last 5 years have gone WAY too fast.

Some great jams