Mid course correction for free return

TESTING

2011-10-02T19:51:00.001-07:00

Testing...

Charlie Sheen

2011-03-07T19:28:00.000-08:00

As a layperson, I can't help wondering
how traumatic heavy drug use is to
the brain...as complex and delicate as
it is.
____________________________

I'll bet that even after one's system is
"clean"...the brain still requires time
[weeks, months maybe years] to
restore, repair and rejuvenate.

Lovely Green Eyes

2011-03-02T19:32:00.000-08:00

A novel by Arnost Lustig...
[translated from the Czech by
Ewald Osers]
_______________________________

Learned of this author from an article
about him in the Obituaries section of
The Chronicle Herald.
________

"I fell in love with Hanka Kaudersova's smile,
with the wrinkles of a now 16-year-old,
with the effect her face had on me.
[p. 4]
_________________________________

Oscars 2011

2011-02-27T19:46:00.000-08:00

Ann Hathaway and James Franco...very creative
casting. Whoever thought of them should get a
raise.

Libya

2011-02-25T19:47:00.000-08:00

Bullying is thought to be something most
often encountered in childhood, and
occasionally later...
______________________________

But, I think, it manifests itself in the adult
world everyday. On a massive, monstrous
scale...

I'm Still...

2010-09-25T18:51:00.000-07:00

Here.

Behind Those Animal Eyes...

2010-02-25T17:29:00.000-08:00

Since my last post, there has been another
tragic encounter between human and ani-
mal. A trainer, a very skilled one, has been
fatally injured by a killer whale. The killer
whale that she had worked with and cared
for.
________________________________

My last post was driven by expert opinion.
Today, I will merely speculate. But specu-
late carefully. In at least one interview,
on CNN, one animal expert was quite quick
to imply that the killer whale was not at
fault. That somehow, human error was at
the root of this death. I'm not so sure. If
these animals are as intelligent as experts
claim, is it possible that they occasionally
do things (even evil things) deliberately?
______________

We tend to think that animal motives are
somehow more pure than ours... that if
they become violent towards us, it means
that we (in our ignorance) somehow set
the animal off. And they were merely
reacting instinctively.
_____________

Also on CNN last night, a rather startling
video of a killer whale attack in a pool
(1970's) was aired several times. One of
the trainers attempts to help the young
lady by extending a pole. Just as she tries
to tighten her grip, the animal knocks her
with enough force so that she becomes
separated from the pole.
____________

In my opinion, humans and animals
(whether they be killer whales, coyotes
or whatever) have far more in common
then we currently suspect. Some are
good, and some are S.O.B.'s...

Simon Gadbois, PhD

2010-01-26T17:45:00.000-08:00

Late in 2009, a promising young singer had a fatal
encounter with two coyotes, in Nova Scotia.
_____________________________________

Dr. Gadbois was interviewed by, among others,
Steve Murphy of CTV News. Gadbois [ Department
of Psychology and Neuroscience Institute, Dal-
housie University] said that he had hoped that
the coyote reports had been a mistake. This, to
me, illustrates that, in addition to studying
coyotes, he also has an admiration for these
normally low profile animals.
________________

I e-mailed the following question to him. He was
gracious enough to answer.

Are humans the only animals who have a
sense of right and wrong?

"Apparently not...There is a strong debate on
this issue with chimps and canines (mostly
dogs). The jury is still out."

______________________________

To be continued...

Casino Royale

2009-12-03T18:18:00.000-08:00

It should be possible to evaluate a feature film
by careful examination of one shot (or even
one frame). The contributions of many in the
credits (from director to accountants) can be
seen in each frame.

Like taking a blood sample.
____________________________________

One of the most striking images in this film is
of the actress Ivana Milicevic, just after her
character has poisoned Bond's drink at the
bar. As she turns to look over her left shoul-
der we cannot help but notice how beautifully
this shot has been planned. The lighting, the
hair and makeup. The actress herself who
manages to communicate menace without
a single word. The casting director who hired
her. The set builders and decorators. All
made their contributions.

There's nothing quite like a blond in blue
light...

2009-09-02T16:20:00.000-07:00

Erratum: In the previous post, I believe
that I incorrectly spelled Ro-
bert's last name. The correct
form is Dziekanski...
________________________

[Continuation of previous post]

If Robert Dziekanski had been a 19th
century man travelling from Poland
to Canada, he probably would've ar-
rived in Vancouver by rail. And if he
caused a scene he probably would've
been restrained by an officer and per-
haps some bystanders. The only elec-
tric current involved would have been
in the contracting muscles of those
who were holding him down. And
maybe decades later, Robert's grand-
children would marvel at the story of
Grandpa's meltdown when he first
came to Canada.

It would've been better if an ambulance
was sent to the Vancouver Airport. One
with someone from the local mental hos-
pital... someone familiar with emotional
distress in all of its manifestations.
Someone who's seen it all before, and
won't be spooked (or all that impressed)
by flying furniture. Or at the very
least, paramedics should do a rotation
or two in a mental institution. Emotion-
al distress is like art. You can learn to
understand it.

And you know it when you see it.
_______________________

2009-08-11T16:24:00.000-07:00

It's possible to cut a piece of lumber in
two with a hammer. But you'll find
that when you're done, the wood is
very heavily damaged. In other words,
the wrong tool for the wrong job.

This analogy came to mind after viewing
the Vancouver Airport video. I'm sure
that the officers are highly skilled in
many situations, but encounters with
the emotionally distressed is just not
their forte.

Both sides acted inappropriately. Even
Mr. Dziekansky. But of course, he did
not deserve what happened to him. But
it was very curious behaviour. I know
that he did not speak English, he was
exhausted, he could not locate his pa-
rent... but still.

And of course, we've become a 911 cul-
ture. As soon as we become a bit alarmed,
we call the police. If we see a wild ani-
mal in our neighborhood, the law is
brought in. Unless the bear or cougar
has committed a felony, I don't under-
stand why this is. Better to call in animal
experts from the zoo, or perhaps animal
wranglers from the local film industry.

__________________

Continued next posting...

2009-07-14T16:03:00.000-07:00

To you, the reader. The title for this blog
is actually a phrase spoken by the mission
director for an Apollo mission. This blog,
however, is not one devoted to space
flight. (But I will write occasionally on this
topic, I'm sure.)
I just liked the sound of these words...
thought it would make an interesting, and
eccentric blog name.