Just a voice in the wilderness

Tidying up the MSS for marketing (3rd re-write so far) and took a break to give Dog a walk. I never realised the woods could be so noisy. A neighbours dog, barking over half a mile away was almost deafening. Falling Maple leaves that have plated the paths and trails with gold make a surprisingly loud papery rattle as they bounce from twig to twig in their leisurely plummet towards the ground. The far off noise of a Woodpecker trying its best to get a migraine with the loud 'pock-pock-pock' of their burrowing into tree trunks with their beaks. Dog panting like an unfit asthmatic. Squirrels arguing in the distance over who gets the last of the nuts. Not forgetting the irritating buzz of an outboard with a faulty or no muffler, running at full tilt down the neck of the Narrows.

Am trying to avoid thinking about the US elections, although it seems the world and next doors cat has an 'Opinion' on the matter. The Mainstream Media seem to want Barack Obama for the next US President from what I can see, and if he doesn't win by a huge landslide, there are a lot of people who will be looking very red faced if he doesn't. Me, I think that the US public will vote for who they vote for tomorrow, and there's an end to the matter. Just so long as whoever gets the job doesn't make a complete mess of things, I'm pretty much okay with that.

That's about as non-partisan as I get; although if they go ahead with the ludicrous carbon 'cap and trade' regulations, may the good Lord have mercy on the US (And world) economy. The UK's bunch of economic illiterates seem to think that passing the 'climate change bill' will change the climate (It won't). Might totally screw the economy, but as the UK is hopefully a part of my past, I really am not that concerned. Sorry for sounding so uncaring, but when I was there I lobbied my MP, wrote to the papers, voted my conscience, but I was in a minority. The part of the electorate that went to the polls disagreed. That's Democracy for you.

Now I'm just another ex-pat, making my way the best way I can until my permanent residency application gets processed. I'm in Canada, I'm gainfully employed and contributing to the Canadian economy. All I need is a sympathetic agent or publisher, and who knows?

Shifting

Back in high school, one of the things that always stuck with me in Science lessons was how the Earth was in a constant state of change. Mountains erode, and rain washes the erosion into the sea where it turns into sediment, and after an Eon or two, plate tectonics turns it into dry land again, and maybe into a mountain if it gets folded enough. Animals live, they grow, predate on other things, then they die and are either consumed in their turn by other creatures, or the tissue is broken down into it's basic components and recycled.

I think I heard somewhere that in every breath we take we are rebreathing several molecules once exhaled by Leonardo Da Vinci. Everything we have is second hand. Our basic elements were created many billions of years ago in the heart of suns and supernovae (I am of the mind that there is nothing 'Intelligent' about 'Intelligent design', but that's just my opinion). Matter itself is said merely to be organised energy.

You might think stuff is the same as in your grandparents day, but if you look at the process of life, everything changes. Rivers change their courses. Volcanoes erupt or become quiescent. Deserts grow or shrink. Coral atolls grow on extrinct underwater peaks. Nothing stays the same. Things wear out and get fixed or rust. Eventually, Deep time makes basic elements of us all. Life is a massive recycling machine. Even our pollution eventually gets recycled, although it does a lot of damage in the short to medium term.

Ocean currents shift. An underwater landslide might block a deep water current so that is forces the flow towards the surface, the resultant upwelling might displace other currents which are local climate drivers. This might alter local rainfall for a few years causing local droughts or flooding. These mechanisms can and do occur. They are recorded both in scientific study and by historical anecdote. Mostly they stay local. For example, a number of small English fishing ports have been effectively turned into inland villages when storms have choked their harbours with sediment.

Now this isn't to say that humankind doesn't have an effect; it does. Local sea defences alter minor currents, shifting erosion patterns, creating and submerging low lying land. This is old tech. The Dutch have been reclaiming land for centuries. East Anglia has a great deal of land 'reclaimed' from the sea. Clear logging changes the transpiration patterns from trees affecting local rainfall. For example in BC the trees put out so much moisture after a wet day that you might be forgiven for thinking whole mountains are on fire.

Overgrazing can create deserts. Incidentally, it is a very bad idea to give a Goat to poor families in areas where the grazing is poor. Goats, in sufficient numbers, create deserts. Deserts and deforestation can create local climate variations. Enough of these variations can cause regional variations which can alter global climate. By contrast, variations in Solar output (Like the current minima) cool the Earth down and this can cause all sorts of effects which there is little or nothing humankind can do about.

As a child, I used to get all het up and anxious that the sun might stop working suddenly one day. No more sunlight. Everything freezes and everything dies. For several years I used to have periodic bouts of anxiety about this until I learned a little fatalism. Some have abandonment anxiety, some obsess about their appearance and social groups. I was fretting about the sun stopping working, go figure. I was about eight years old at the time. Serves me right for being such a bookish child.

I think what I'm trying to say is this; You can tax all you like. You can cut down as many forests as you like. It won't make a difference in the long term (Apart from make a lot of poor people poorer). We are part of the Earth. We affect, and are affected by Earth. Everything shifts, everything changes, there's nothing you can do long term but get used to it and enjoy the ride. It's called life. Douglas Adams (With whom I almost share a birthday) had it right in the Hitchhikers guide to the Galaxy. There's nothing you can do about it so don't panic. Or strive for the stars, which might not be such a bad idea.

Now I have to breakfast and walk Dog. Fall is a little more intense this year, a little cooler. I shall just wrap up warm and enjoy the scenery.

Interpretation

Picked up on a report that 'global warming' is 'very likely' caused by humans. Firstly there seems to be a lot of mainstream fuss about this, saying that 'It's proven' or repeating the mantra 'the science is settled'. Yet when you actually read the original studies from which the reports quoted are derived, you find a lot of 'mights' and 'could be's' which prove absolutely damn all. Add that to the current cooler weather cycle we seem to be in, which the 'anthropogenic' component hasn't seemed to touch at all.

Here on Vancouver Island it seems to be a little chillier than normal, but then that's well, normal for this time of year. At least according to the weather records from Nanaimo airport. Then, those only go back so far, as do the studies which are claimed to 'prove' that it's all humankinds fault and all you naughty humans should be sent straight to bed without any supper. There's no real like for like data, and all the current data out there does not appear to make a datum.

By comparison, I tend to read a lot of history. Not just 20th century history, and not just the western version, but from as many sources as I can. That tells me that everything the media bangs on about as the 'worst ever' is mostly just headlines to sell newspapers. No matter what you read in the papers / media about Weather phenomena, I will lay pretty good odds that what they are claiming as the 'worst ever' has been easily surpassed in the past thousand years before any 'anthropogenic' influence. Now I'll concede that we as a species do have an effect on our environment; overfishing, deforestation (Ironically for biofuel plantations to 'prevent' AGW), pollution; but the CO2 levels appear to have very little to do with climate, and 'carbon taxes' do more harm than good economically. Ergo my postulation is that this has more to do with the politics of control than real science.

Well, that's just the interpretation of a hack who likes to write science fiction. If the theory says that because of increased CO2 we should be having much warmer weather and it's actually getting cooler, I'd say that the 'theory' as presented has either been misinterpreted, or was pretty far over the wrongness event horizon to begin with. My interpretation? It's just Weather, and there isn't anything we can do about it.

Global what?

Had to smother a sceptical guffaw at the continued failure of the Weather to follow the computer models. Here on the island it's been pretty cool despite sunshine, and today is grey and damp. Over in the UK they are experiencing a dollop of the white stuff, which is unseasonably early, but not without precedent.

I know the 'warmista's' out there will hang onto their theory of anthropogenic climate change come what may, but it seems the climate has other ideas. Glad the price of gas is at 108.9 locally, although it would make life easier if it dropped down to below a dollar again. Time to wrap up warm.

Forever Autumn

Ah, but I was younger then, and full of the folly of youthful love. Shan't tell Wife though. Just a little place I once was, and the way I once felt about a special girl. Great tune, pity that the vid gets all anthropomorphic and cuddly in the middle, but it had the best sound quality.

And another old favourite from Jeff Waynes concept album 'War of the worlds'. Thunderchild. Never fails to get me where I live.

Ah nostalgia, never as good as it used to be. Maybe it will be again someday.

This boy's a fool

Don't normally comment on this sort of thing, but really, some people have no idea.

"...I would argue that climate disinformation online is a form of cultural and political malware every bit as threatening to our new media freedoms, used not to foster a forum for open politics but to create, in Nancy Fraser’s term, a “multiplicity of fragmented publics” that harms not only our democracy, but our planet."

Climate disinformation? Harms democracy? Might one point out that Democracy requires freedom to speak plainly in measured and cogent dissent. All of which this particular Lecturer in Journalism seems to think is a bad idea. To take his view "You can say what you like, but only if I approve." In the words of the late, great Eric Morecambe; "This boy's a fool".

One might also point out that his is a minority view. So his argument could be that 'If you're not in the majority you should shut up'. Ah.

House hunting and other amusements

Found a link to this web site recently. It contains all the geeky and non-geeky IT humour with some exceptions. Well, it puts a smile on my haggard old features. It is hereby added to the sidebar.

Today is a house hunting day. Today Wife and I will be driving around (Much less painful now gas is down to 109.9 a litre locally) visiting all the "Open houses" (Houses for sale which have been spiffed up for visitors) in a given area. Not that we're going to buy anything yet, we're just shopping for ideas to get an idea of what's available. We have our roles for this exercise; I will alternately dazzle with brilliance and baffle with bullshit, and Wife will switch between making notes, going 'Ooo' at interesting features, and acting as my 'straight man' in our well rehearsed double act.

Aims and objectives are;
1) Finding stuff we like
2) Finding stuff we like but is impractical
3) Seeing how much leeway there is in asking prices
4) Watching the Realtors eyes glaze over as I ask ever more questions they cannot possibly know the answers to (Always a good one to get away from a 'pressure sell')

Wow

Every so often this place hits me right between the eyes with the spectacular. Was walking Dog the other day when I stopped to gossip with a Neighbour, who said. "You can see Mount Baker today." We both admired the view, and having more pressing matters to attend to, like retrieving the post and checking we'd got enough to pay the bills, completely forgot about it.

Later that day I looked to see the top third of said snow capped peak clearly visible from where I stood. The thought idly crossed my mind that the peak in question was across the border, south of the 49th parallel in Washington State. Again, more pressing matters pushed the thought to the sidelines and I totally forgot about it. Until this morning when I was making the tea, and recalled the conversation and the breathtaking view of the peak. Booting Google Earth on the 'pooter, I used the handy little utility that lets you measure a line between two geographic points. Result; Over 93 miles.

Wow. Talk about clear air.

Winners & Losers

With the speculators taking a big hit it might just prove good news for the rest of us mere mortals. If they don't have the funds, they can't use panics to artificially inflate prices. Take for example the local gas prices, now down to 111.9 / litre, and oil price per barrel $60 ish. Elsewhere in Canada, this is dipping below the dollar a litre mark. This is good news because the rises that have been stoking the underlying inflation of food prices will slow down.

For example; nine months ago, a 500g pack of thick sliced bacon was $5, now the same product has been seen around $8.29. I cite an example at the top of the price range (Premium product) but my grocery bills have gone up from $70-80 a week to $120 for roughly the same goods, so it's pretty much happened across the board, although if you're canny, you can keep the bills down to size (Not always possible with Wife in tow). These rises take an unwelcome extra bite out of the finances, I can tell you. Forty bucks here, another forty there. It all adds up.

In addition; immigration to Canada isn't a cheap business; every month brings new expenses. The latest item on the list is around three hundred and fifty bucks for a medical examination (Each). Took us a working day to track down which clinics did what (Loss of working time & pay), and who could fit us in on their list. Wife's new job is going through the full process, and it's like the old Cat Stevens number, 'Matthew and Son'. I think the lyric goes; "The works never done, there's always something new." So it is with immigration. Always something new.

On the other hand, when I negotiate past the false flags of nostalgia for Sunny early mornings on the Fosse Way and other Gloucestershire roads, I realise life for me in the UK wasn't as good as it is here. Less stress, fewer crowds. Just the weather alone is a compensation. Brilliant sunrises over the Islands, little traffic. Sometimes the silence can be deafening. When I walk Dog in the woods this morning, the only sounds will be a Sea Lion snouting and snorkelling as he hunts up and down the Narrows, one of the local Black Tailed Deer running away, Dog crashing through the underbrush and the sound of leaves falling.

Have been doing some work on my Sci-fi MSS "Sky full of stars", which grows by the day. Current word count, despite ditching paragraphs of unnecessary verbiage, is over 135,000 words. A tweak here, a sentence there, a single word change. It all adds up. One of these days it might even get finished.

Sums

Have just been dredging around my computers hard drive and come across my old cost of living figures from two years ago in the UK: Back in the bad old days when we had a mortgage, we had a total monthly outgoing (Without luxuries) of two thousand three hundred and seventy six pounds and thirty eight pence. This was everything; Mortgage, House repairs, clothing, travel costs, council tax, food, etc. After tax was removed from our salaries, we managed to save a grand total of one hundred and thirty two pounds and change every month. Our two girls could take a bite out of our remunerations to the tune of up to five hundred pounds plus. The change from the aforementioned sometimes went on a bar of chocolate for Wife. The rest went on saving for our big leap of faith to BC. Wife and I occasionally had a trip to the movies, or the theatre when we could blag free tickets.

Using a straight two for one conversion rate to the Canadian Dollar, that would be Four thousand seven hundred and fifty two point seven eight Canadian Dollars basic outgoings. Add another thousand for the girls costs, and we were left with two hundred and sixty one Canadian Dollars after savings.

Now we live in British Columbia, Canada, and although we are not making the money that we were in the UK, our outgoings are at present just under two thousand Dollars per calendar month. That includes all costs including cars, rent, tax, everything. We live fairly frugally, but we don't go hungry, and the view from my kitchen window every morning, even on rainy days is spectacular. Of course we do miss some of our friends and neighbours from back in the UK, but we're making more over here every day.

It's at times like these, despite the fact that neither of us are pulling down anything like our UK salaries, I think we are miles better off. Better quality of life; and although the bureaucracy of immigration sometimes trips us up, less stress. All I can say is this; had I known thirty years ago what I know now, I'd already be a Canadian citizen.

God bless Canada.

Amusing myself

While the country of my birth goes to hell in a socio-economic handbasket, I am left to amuse myself. One of these amusements was another Python precursor called "Do not adjust your set" starring three (With one supporting) of the team who were later to be part of the Python team; Eric Idle, Terry Jones, Michael Palin (And Terry Gilliam as contributing animator) with another Comedy treasure, David Jason, supported by Denise Coffey and the Bonzo Dog Doo Dah Band.

Sadly, most of these early shows were wiped, presumably as 'economy measures' by TV Executives, especially David Jason's performance as 'Captain Fantastic'.

Thank goodness for Youtube. Archive footage of the Bonzo's is rare, but I've found this clip from Do not Adjust your set. Hunting Tigers.

Time for a little fishing I think.

Being a Comedy connoisseur

While I'm dredging through the records of Volcanic activity, working and living etc, one of my little joys of life is finding Comedy gems. Stuff which is really funny. For example, I was perusing Youtube and came across an old favourite of mine from "At last, the 1948 show", a lesser known direct ancestor of Monty Python. Starring John Cleese, Marty Feldman, Tim Brooke-Taylor and Graham Chapman.

Now I may be getting old and prejudiced, but there are few shows since which come even close to sending me into paroxysms of screen splattering mirth. Here are a couple of the better sketches:
The classic "Let's Speak English" (Note the quick cameo by Barry Cryer)

And the original "Four Yorkshiremen sketch"

Happy thoughts.

A quick happy trip down Memory lane

Ah, memory lane. Two of my favourite Monty Python sketches together. The Dead Parrot sketch and the Lumberjack song. Yet to be surpassed. An absolute gem.

Frost

Quite a widespread ground frost south of town this morning. Currently bright but chill. I'm sure it wasn't anything like this cool last year. Must check the weather records.

We in Canada have another minority Harper Conservative Government, which I don't think is any bad thing seeing as the other parties appeared to be saying "Vote for us and we'll tax you more". I'm sure there's more to it than that, but Harper is delivering tax cuts, and despite the clamorous few saying 'tax CO2 or you're doomed' the temperatures appear to be going down, not up. Arctic ice is increasing rapidly. Mother Earth seems to have declared 'Business as usual'. As usual.

Back to the paperwork.