Career @ MindSay

I see this world change in a whirlwind and heaven flies down from the skies;
I see rising up from my wreckage cities and mansions so bright
I see my friends eyes and their faces lit up with a bright shining light...

And what shall we do when we do not know what to do? How shall we fill the hours and minutes of our day when we are not sure how to do so?

Today I have an overwhelming urge to do something though I do not know what that something is. I suppose that I will once again enter the workforce as a labourer though it will be as a skilled labourer. I dread the thought of once again going to work where I have quotas guiding my daily activity, where I must produce to the requirements of others. I am currently hoping that someone, anyone, calls me to work at a position that requires the services of my cognitive abilities, any position at any pay rate...

Funny it is that money is of really no importance to. Yes, I do need money, but I can adjust to any amount paid to me for the services that I provide. And a few extra bucks in my pocket would be most helpful in overcoming this urge to do something at the moment for I would have some funds to go for a ride in the mountains or visit any of the local museums or sit in a coffee house and just enjoy the aroma, the taste, the people who pass by. Last year at this time I had a much different prospective on this than I do now - times change, situations change, the world marches on with or without me. And I know that I have to go back to work though from the looks of it, I will return to machining for these positions are the only ones that feel the need for my skills. I could volunteer for political campaigns, but this too would require me to have some disposable income to make it through the effort. And therein lies the Truth and the Truth shall set me free - I require some financial backing to accomplish all that I need to do...

It is too bad that I do not believe that socialism is the solution to my problems for I could become a ward of the state and have ours effort support me. I will not accept a hand-out nor will accept charity for there are those in this country who actually need it, and being able-bodied, I do not fall into this category...

And whilst I am on the subject of socialism, I am hoping that the next election does not turn this land into a socialist state for what good is the effort of one man when the state provides everything that he needs. Socialism is a killer of free will, it is a killer of drive and determination, it is a killer personal initiative, it is a killer of self-worth, it is a killer of mankind, and it will be a killer of this country...

And so I have had my say on this subject, take it for what it's worth...

This is the Word of the AntiCrust...

Praise is ye who Read the Word for ye are blessed amongst humans...

Why all this time have I been fumbling over what I want to do with my life when the answer was right in front of my face?  Or at least part of it, anyway.

All my life I've searched for mysteries to solve.  Most of them were little mysteries, like what happened to the box for the Indiana Jones movie, or why Sara didn't come to school today.  But I've always liked watching mystery shows, I've always been on high alert for questions that need answering, I've always thrived on "figuring things out". 

All this being the case, why have I never, and I mean NEVER once considered being some kind of detective? 

Actually I can probably answer that question.  It's because I've never wanted to be a cop.  Not that I have anything against cops; quite the contrary, I have tons of respect for them.  I'm just not cut out for that kind of job.  I've always equated investigating with police work, and apparently for good reason, since my mother just informed me that in order to be a detective, you have to be a cop first.  Big surprise.

Regardless, I really think I'm on to something here.  I should look into this.  It's becoming painfully obvious that I'm meant to figure things out and find answers to questions of varying levels of importance.  That makes it all the more ironic that it took me so long to realize this.  ^_^;;

~G~

Okay, so I've been absent. A long time. I know.

Ever since I broke my shoulder, there has been significant change occurring. When the shoulder didn't progress in healing, the series of unfortunate incidents continued as my ability to work and function normally were impacted. Shortly after New Year 2007 I found myself a proud recipient of social assistance, dealing with a system of ineptitude and callousness acidic enough to clean the rust off the Titanic. Getting through these gatekeepers was the toughest ordeal.

Once through, I found more support and encouragement than I'd hoped for. Due to the injury and mental state, I was told I had a "Free Pass" till the fall before I had to worry about finding work. Right... who can afford to live on $600/month? I declined and said I needed to start taking immediate steps to begin the healing process. I knew this was integral to my mental and emotional well-being. And there had to be limits and safeguards in place. It was.

Engaging in pursuits down various avenues after reaching that space of not-caring, and not-desiring anymore, I decided to embark upon each day without any preconceived notion of what opportunity might look like. I began saying Yes to a few things that showed up, and No to some others that looked too much like the dumb-ass traps I fell into before. Toughed it out, found myself employed full-time - much to my chagrin. I had only wanted a max of 30-hours per week in order to keep my own business going. This might still be the case, at even 50+ hours per week, I'm discovering.

I think I've shown you some of the stuff I've done recently. I'll offer up a little menu of variety here:

So What? Turn around and go this way

How?

Life | A Steep Climb

Trust: Whose Got My Back? | Teams & Leaders | Empower Requires Safety

Watch What I Say? Watch What You Hear!

Valerie Arntzen, Assemblage Artist

Civic Commentary Pieces

Mount Pleasant and City of Vancouver Community Events

The Mount Pleasant stuff is rather interesting. There exist a variety of initiatives launched by the City of Vancouver and little grass-roots organization in Vancouver's highly transient community. These initiatives are trying to change all that.

Here's what I was gifted with to further the cause for the Mount Pleasant community: The Mount Pleasant Heritage. The pages aren't properly organized yet, as there are significant changes occurring with the software managing the site. Here's a bit more to gawk at: Historic Mount Pleasant

And of course, there are a lot of other things happening related to the sites and businesses responsible for their creation that keep me even more busy. Including developing a fantastic software application that is ... well... that'll take too much to explain right now.

My social calendar has picked up significantly as well these past few months. I'm grateful for the changes, long overdue. Now I'm working more on routine, structure, and healthier habits. Even more overdue.

Catch you all later. :)

Nebraskans Prepared For Agroterrorism Attack

“Foreign intelligence shows American ag[ricultural] land is vulnerable to a terrorist attack. The FBI has pinpointed [f]oot and [m]outh disease as a prime method for targeting the food supply and the economy. That's why Saturday, 12 Northeast Nebraska counties participated in a disaster drill to deal with just that. ‘This region of the state has taken a very active approach in preparing for this,’ explains Nikki Weber, of the Nebraska Emergency Management Agency. The [f]ederal [g]overnment calls it a weapon of mass destruction: [f]oot and [m]outh [d]isease. An outbreak of the disease, which spreads quickly and causes large sores and weakness in hoofed animals, rendering them useless to producers, could shut down highways, and put thousands of family farmers in quarantine.” (KTIV.com, 16Feb08)

http://www.ktiv.com/News/index.php?ID=22594

 

Study looks at food terrorism risks

“Following the September 11 attacks, there has been a heightened awareness that the nation’s food supply could be at risk for possible attacks. With that awareness, there has been increased focus on the need to implement food security measures – especially at the borders – to protect the food supply. Arizona State University [ASU] Associate Professor William Nganje, along with four other ASU faculty members, recently received a grant for about $263,000 to study the economic impact of what could happen in the event of an agro terrorism attack. The study focuses on the transportation of imported produce coming through the border between Arizona and Nogales, Mexico, which is one of the busiest ports at the Southwest border.” (Land Line Magazine, 11Feb08) http://www.landlinemag.com/todays_news/Daily/2008/Feb08/021108/021108-05.htm

 

Salazars, Udall [members of Colorado’s Congressional delegation] don't want hydrolysate leaving Pueblo

“Three members of Colorado’s Congressional delegation want to make sure the wastes from the destruction of chemical weapons here don’t leave the Pueblo Chemical Depot. Democrats Sen. Ken Salazar and Reps. John Salazar and Mark Udall introduced a bill Friday that would prohibit the secretary of defense from shipping hydrolysate at the Pueblo Chemical Depot off-site for treatment. Mustard agent hydrolysate is the diluted waste from the water neutralization process that will break down the 2,611 tons of the poison stored at the local base. Defense Department officials have indicated a preference for shipping it off-site for treatment, claiming it will save $150 million. However, a Colorado citizens advisory panel supports treating it at Pueblo Chemical Depot, claiming that the Pentagon is not considering other costs. […] The citizens advisory commission favors building a small sewer plant that would use bacteria to break down the caustic waste and then recycle the water back through the neutralization facility.” (The Pueblo Chieftain, 16Feb08, John Norton)

http://www.chieftain.com/metro/1203152639/5

 

Credit-card-sized platform for volatile compound analysis CAREER [Faculty Early Career Development Program] project goal

 “Developing a credit-card-sized gas chromatography platform that can analyze volatile compounds within seconds is the next step for Virginia Tech College of Engineering researcher Masoud Agah, who has received a National Science Foundation (NSF) Faculty Early Career Development Program (CAREER) Award to support his research. Agah, an assistant professor in the Bradley Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering and an affiliate member of the Department of Mechanical Engineering faculty, recently secured a five-year CAREER grant worth $400,000. This is the NSF’s most prestigious award for creative junior faculty who are considered to be future leaders in their academic fields. Gas chromatography is the primary technique used in a number of scientific, medical, and industrial settings to separate and analyze volatile compounds in gases, liquids, and solids.” (PhysOrg.com, 18Feb08, Virginia Tech)

http://www.physorg.com/news122559889.html

 

Mock drills at [Delhi] Metro stations expose chinks in security

“A car and motorcycle exploded, some men opened fire and tossed grenades and a 'chemical attack' took place - these were part of mock drills carried out at four stations of Delhi Metro Thursday morning to check preparedness of the agencies involved in security. The drills were carried out simultaneously at the Rajiv Chowk, Chawri Bazar, Rithala and Shastri Park stations around 6.15 a.m. under the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) to evaluate the performance of the agencies deployed there. […] At the Chawri Bazar underground Metro station, which is one of the deepest in the city, a mock 'chemical attack' with poisonous gases was carried out to check the efficiency with which passengers were escorted out of the building.” (Yahoo! News India, 14Feb08, IANS) http://in.news.yahoo.com/indiaabroad/20080214/r_t_ians_nl_general/tnl-mock-drills-at-metro-stations-expose-b9e311f.html

 

Soldiers sue over nerve gas guinea pigs

“A group of former Israeli army recruits are suing the government for compensation after it allegedly made them unwitting guinea pigs by testing them for nerve gas antidotes, a newspaper reported. The army claims the testing was carried out by volunteers. ‘We were laboratory rats for the army,’ Avi Yogev, 55, referring to a case dating back to 1971, told Yediot Aharonot newspaper. ‘We were guinea pigs for Tsahal (the army) and today we are paying the price. They told us we were participating in a secret project,’ Mr Yogev said, explaining that the soldiers were told during training that they had to participate or would not be allowed to serve in a combat unit. ‘They had us swallow pills. We suffered from vomiting and diarrhoea. It was not until years later that we discovered that they had given us medicine against nerve gas after having tested it on animals.’”

(The Daily Telegraph, 18Feb08, AAP)

http://www.news.com.au/dailytelegraph/story/0,22049,23237341-5001028,00.html

 

Europe takes box scanning fight to US Congress

“Brussels will present a breakdown of costs the European Union will have to shoulder if the US implements its 100% container scanning law to the US Congress next month. The European commission is preparing what is expected to be a ‘massive’ estimate of the burden European companies will have to bear if the US insists all inbound boxes be scanned for radiation by 2012, as legislation foresees.” (Lloyd’s List, 18Feb08, Justin Stares)

http://lloydslist.com/ll/news/viewArticle.htm?articleId=20017506167

 

US/UK fight against nuclear threats

“Energy minister Malcolm Wicks has announced a new collaboration between the UK and the US that will address nuclear and radiological security threats. As part of the programme, an initial £2m will be invested in initiatives designed to secure high-risk nuclear and other radioactive materials and combat their illegal trafficking. ‘Our first joint initiative will be a new project to enhance long-term security of highly active spent radioactive sources in Ukraine and we are already in discussion with Ukrainian and the US about how best to move this forward,’ said Wicks.” (The Engineer Online, 18Feb08) http://www.theengineer.co.uk/Articles/304647/USUK+fight+against+nuclear+threats.htm

 

Scientists expanding ways to trace lost or stolen nuclear materials

“Like CSI [Crime Scene Investigation] detectives, scientists around the world are combining their skills in a new field of ‘nuclear forensic’ to combat the threat of atomic terrorism. ‘Nuclear terrorism is a global threat, not local or regional,’ said Anita Nilsson, director of the office of nuclear safety at the International Atomic Energy Agency in Vienna, Austria. […] Today, some 30 countries participate in the Nuclear Smuggling International Technical Working Group, which designs scientific techniques and processes for tracking down and tracing radioactive materials, said David Smith of the global security directorate at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory. The threat has changed from past years, Smith explained. Gross retaliation may not work with terrorists, so attention must turn to the supply of materials and keeping it in control.” (San Diego Union Tribune; 16Feb08; Randolph E. Schmid, AP) http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/nation/20080216-1348-nuclearsleuths.html

 

Study: Reactors pose terror risk; But others sharply disagree with conclusions of the Government Accounting [sic] Office

“A new report by the U.S. Government Accountability Office warns that on-campus nuclear research reactors — such as one at Oregon State University [OSU] — may be the target of sophisticated terrorists. The weaknesses of the facilities and consequences of an attack have been underestimated, the report says. […] The Nuclear Regulatory Commission, which governs 33 of America’s 37 research reactors, bristled at the report. And OSU officials insist that the university’s reactor […] is equipped with security safeguards that far exceed federal requirements. […] Eliot Brenner, director of public affairs for the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, blasted the Government Accountability Office report. ‘This is a poor effort, and they ought to be embarrassed. It is unbalanced, misrepresents and excludes facts, and fails to acknowledge experts who disagree,’ he said.” (Corvallis Gazette-Times, 16Feb08, Kyle Odegard) http://www.dhonline.com/articles/2008/02/17/news/local/1aaa04_reax.txt

 

Bush Policies Undermine Science, Group Says

“The Bush administration’s persistent interference in the work of federal scientists has cut experts out of top-level discussions of bio terrorism and served to punish researchers who questioned one White House nuclear weapon initiative, a science watchdog organization said yesterday. During the first day of a major science conference here, the Union of Concerned Scientists issued a report accusing the executive branch of committing a host of abuses over the last seven years. Included among 17 distinct charges are allegations that federal officials misrepresented or simply fabricated scientific data, suppressed certain findings, and pressured scientists to change reports in favor of administration positions. ‘This interference in science threatens our nation’s ability to respond to complex challenges to public health, the environment and national security,’ states the report, Federal Science and the Public Good.”  (Global Security Newswire, 15Feb08, Chris Schneidmiller) http://www.nti.org/d_newswire/issues/2008_2_15.html#091DB6EC

An introduction to the Union of Concerned Scientists report is available at http://www.ucsusa.org/scientific_integrity/restoring/federal-science.html

 

Chinese military steps up counter-terrorism preparations for Olympics

“Chinese troops are to step up anti-terrorism training to ensure the security of Beijing's Olympic Games in August, a senior military officer has said. ‘This year poses a challenging test. We have scheduled massive training programs before the Olympics to better prepare against any possible threat,’ an officer from the General Staff Headquarters of the People's Liberation Army (PLA) was quoted as saying. The officer, who refused to be identified, said the troops participating in Olympics security were focusing on biochemical and nuclear threats, as well as emergency rescue operations.” (China View, 18Feb08, Xinhua) http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2008-02/18/content_7622174.htm

 

UK government forced to publish Iraq dossier draft

“An early version of a British dossier of prewar intelligence on Iraq did not include a key claim about weapons of mass destruction that became vital to Tony Blair's case for war, the newly published document showed Monday. The 2002 document insisted Saddam Hussein's regime had acquired uranium and had equipment necessary for chemical weapons, but does not contain a claim that Iraq could launch weapons of mass destruction within 45 minutes -- an allegation crucial to Blair's push to back the 2004 U.S.-led invasion that later was discredited. Campaigners allege that the 45-minute claim was inserted into later drafts of the document on the orders of Blair's press advisers, who were seeking to strengthen the case for invasion -- a claim the government has strongly denied.” (CNN International, 18Feb08, AP) http://edition.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/europe/02/18/iraq.dossier.ap/

 

CNS ChemBio-WMD Terrorism News is prepared by the Chemical and Biological Weapons Nonproliferation Program of the James Martin Center for Nonproliferation Studies at the Monterey Institute of International Studies in order to bring timely and focused information to researchers and policymakers interested in the fields of chemical, biological, and radiological weapons nonproliferation and WMD terrorism.

When I began my teaching career I had so much energy and enthusiasm, but not much knowledge.  Kids were eager to learn and explore my world of art.  Then as the years flew by, I still had enthusiasm, but not much energy.  The kids started to loose their energy and enthusiasm.  They wanted me to do everything for them.  They did not want to think or put in the work to do anything.  They became unrully and unkind.  Parents liked to blame the teachers instead of having the kids take on their own responsibilities.  By the end of my career I had so much knowledge but very few cared to recieve any of it.  By the end of each day I was exhausted, tired, overworked, and underpaid.  I just do not see how some people can teach so much longer than I did.  Maybe they knew something that I did not.  I do not believe, that if I started teaching today, I could have lasted as long as I did, thirty-one years.  I tried to keep things fresh, new, interesting, fun, mind-opening.  I knew that not everyone likes to do the same things. Some like to paint, others draw, other cut and paste, others to build things.   That is why I tried so many different things through the years.  Teaching elementary art was very challenging.  I had no text books.  My student teaching experience was a joke.  I taught in a lab school on campas.  In the summer.  With four other student teachers.  I taught exactly two classes.  One was in second grade doing a collage project.  The other one was a high school clay project.  Throwing on the wheel and hand-building.  That was it.  No classes or help on how to manage a class.  No help on making and carrying out lesson plans.  No help with budgets and planning a class room, buying supplies, etc. I could go on and on.  Everything, and I do mean everything I taught, I taught on my own.  I thought on my own, came up with lessons on my own.  How I ever made it through those 31 years, amazes me.  In spite of me the kids learned, and created.  However, towards the last few years, I changed, the kids changed, the school changed, everything changed.  I am so glad that I am out of education now.  So many young teachers are quitting one, two, three years after that start.  So sad.

Sorry, I am rambling so much.  Believe it or not, I did enjoy teaching art.  When they did work on their projects and I could see the joy in their faces after they completed something.  It was wonderful.  But times changed. Most of the time if was such an effort to get them to do anything except talk and play around, and not  being disrespectful to me to others and to themselves.  Good luck teachers of today and tomorrow.  I hope that you are up to the challenge.  And have lots and lots of energy and enthusiasm! God Bless