School Slave Days in Schools etc.

School Slave Days and Racism

 I am on very shaky ground here but: Is ignorance of Racism always culpable? 

Often humans act out the reprehensible. We COULD see the following situation in this light: If we were to ask any student or staff at the time of 'School Slave Days' (During the 70's and late 80's) what they thought about 'Slavery' as a concept, I think I know the answer. Yet they acted it out. We see many examples of this. 

'Racism' is a weird word with shades of meaning. 'Prejudice' is not. It is very specific and implies a consciousness of consequence. Nobody can be prejudiced without being conscious of it. But anybody can perceive a person as being Racist even when the perpetrator might have no motivation to be, or consciousness of it. 

Sometimes we can condemn the 'act' but shouldn't always condemn the 'actor'. Like: "Forgive them for they know not what they do". But once they do know what they do, they should not do it again! And so, there are no more School Slave Days in BC Schools.

It is still, apparently, OK to perform in plays and movies which depict atrocities and rank 'Racism'... Othello, Merchant of Venice, Deep purple, War movies depicting the Holocaust and American Westerns. Humanity is still able to pick and chose what it sees fit; right or wrong, good or evil. Protests can be conjured up to suit whatever taste. Today we are destroying Historical Monuments and Statues.

Abraham Lincoln was a slave owner...should we tear his statue down?

Winston Churchill's statue was not erected because in his youth he projected prejudice and Racism but for many other reasons...So why should it be defaced?

The English, Spanish, American, Portuguese and the Dutch are all guilty of their part in Slavery and the wealth achieved from it. So?



Give the kids a break, they were just having fun at the expense of nobody. They were unaware of all the significance of what they were doing. Most kids have a pretty high moral sense.

They did not dress up as negro slaves or anything like that. They just had a friend to carry their books for the day. And if they were not friends they would not have even been bought.  This is why this is so ridiculous to call this "Racism"! 
I remain appalled at the 'Preciousness' of certain sections of society today. We need to address reality!

Monuments to Slavery etc.

I agree that symbols of slavery should not be celebrated but they and monuments to it are part of History; and History should never be forgotten. The worst of it should never "be swept under the carpet" or destroyed. They should be preserved in a museum setting of some kind. Even the major Nazi Concentration Camps; monuments to Evil, are kept to remember.

Otherwise most of the Stately Homes of the UK (Most now under the Umbrella of 'The National Trust') which were built from the 'Slave, Sugar and Cotton Triangle' should be torn down...Try that and see who cries "Foul"!

BTW, nobody has suggested that Caligula's obelisk should be removed from St. Peter's square in Rome....The most obvious centre piece in front of the Vatican....Look up his History!

Now, should we go to every statue and monument in the land and prepare a tally sheet of good and evil acts before we decide whether or not to destroy them? Let's start with Oliver Cromwell outside the UK Houses of Parliament...he was controversial enough right? How about all the pictures of Henry V111; or even Queen Victoria? She was inspiration to a lot of debatable acts throughout the world. William the Conqueror?...Tear down the Tower of London? Endless! "The evil that men do lives after them, the good is oft interred in their bones" (J.C...W.S.). But statues and monuments remind us of both..."So, let it be..."!
What is even more astounding is that many of these protesters cannot even get their history right in the first place; Baden Powell was NOT a supporter of Hitler's totalitarian policies in any way, in fact he publicly rejected them...he only had a wish to collaborate on outdoor education for the youth (before the war) and even then rather perfunctorily...Read!!!

The slave trader’s figure loomed over Bristol for 125 years. Now a multiracial protest has achieved what past campaigns couldn’t, says historian and broadcaster David Olusoga

THEGUARDIAN.COM

The toppling of Edward Colston's statue is not an attack on history. It is history | David Olusoga

The slave trader’s figure loomed over Bristol for 125 years. Now a multiracial protest has achieved what past campaigns couldn’t, says historian and broadcaster David Olusoga

On Artificial Garden Soils

Be careful. Many soil mixes we have available locally have composted material which maybe not thoroughly 'heat' composted at all times. The ingredient's origin is either unknown and may even be suspicious. In short you take your chances.
Consider what you need the bought soil for. Is it for your shrubs, hedges or lawn; or is it for your vegetable garden? Is it for your flowers? The use is very significant. And it becomes even more important in a confined, sweaty greenhouse environment where disease can be an expensive issue.
I say, make your own compost for what you eat, from your own known ingredients...only use it for that. Use the other bulk stuff for what is less likely to kick back at you in either expense, or future frustration. Remember that artificial soil vendors want a quick turnover and profit. "Caveat emptor"

But the product may not actually be made locally or part of it may not. I have used several products here but I really try to find out as much of the details of manufacture as possible. 'Coast Aggregates' have changed hands recently, managements change and processes are also changed in time. Our local Waste Disposal firm has also changed hands, involving the same issues. Soil science is fascinatingly complex. You may also buy bagged soil mixes like 'Sea soil" of 'Miracle Grow'; these are pretty safe and their manufacture is often time proven...BUT expensive.

COVID 19 On wearing a DIY Mask

Wearing a mask (face covering in public/shopping) slows the projection of particles outwards when coughing, sneezing and even talking (Supported by Health Advisors). I sanitize the OUTER SURFACE ONLY before and after donning/wearing. In so doing there IS some, albeit small, tangible protection from others as well, regardless of the type of DIY mask. "False sense of security"? BS, not if you do this!...better than nothing. Do it! All you need to do is dampen the exposed surface with a fresh sanitizing cloth. Of course, if you disagree...your choice!
Most do it with their gloves, so why not with the OUTER part of the mask? I also wear some kind of glasses. And, follow the S.D. rules.
I am not related in any way to D.T.😁

COVID 19 Update (May 23rd 2020)

I asked a US health care professional (Long term ICU Nurse) for her thoughts on the measures we are taking, or can take, regarding the COVID19 Virus. This was her response:

"The State I work in has done a fantastic job (so far) of social distancing and wearing masks. This had greatly decreased what we were expecting. I think the fabric masks are as good as the regular masks. The purpose of the mask is not to protect me but you. There is no way you are going to get sick or die from CO2. I think that theory is put forward by people who think this is a hoax and anti vaxer type people. I only wear safety glasses/goggles for known COVID positive patients or rule outs. I don't think it hurts to wear glasses though. I am still wearing my contacts. I know some doctors are not. They are wearing glasses at least at work. I am 100% for the social distancing. I don't think that means staying home necessarily but I for one will not be attending or going to any kind of place with a large number of people until I am vaccinated or this does the same thing as the SARs virus did a few years back and disappeared. I think things should open back up and I wish everyone would be careful when things open up but you know some won't. When things do open up I will be very careful about where I choose to go. I will still wear a mask.

Cloth masks vs regular masks are equal in regards to non medical usage. I feel at this point I have a pretty good feel for COVID. I work in the COVID unit almost everyday I work."

A COVID 19 Update (May 2020)

Much as Dr. Bonnie Henry is loved by us all in British Columbia, Canada; it is of no surprise to hear from her that a 2nd. wave is the normal for Pandemics. Of course it is, because we Humans are the ones who orchestrate such a phenomenon. And she knows this!

Every Country in the world is now 'relaxing' because the people are being told "The peak is passed" or "The curve has flattened". This is just what the virus needs to start up again. We just will never learn! We cannot stand the boredom of it all.

So people..."Suck it up", you are in for another ride! And, you know what?...the elderly and the marginal will be the disposable next time round!

And Bonnie; you have done a great job here! It is those in many other Countries I fear for. You are a 'beacon' for them all!

British Columbia's provincial health officer says that a second wave of COVID-19 caused by the novel coronavirus is inevitable in Canada, but that the lessons learned over the past few months will help inform future responses.

CBC.CA

B.C.'s top doctor Bonnie Henry says 2nd wave of COVID-19 inevitable, but current lessons will guide response | CBC Radio

British Columbia's provincial health officer says that a second wave of COVID-19 caused by the novel coronavirus is inevitable in Canada, but that the lessons learned over the past few months will help inform future responses.

On Composting in Bear Territory

You can do it; just follow this:

 Never use any meat, bones, fish or really sweet fruity material. Always layer alternately with greens, browns and some spent soil from your pots. Make sure that the latest top layers are always, browns and or soil. Aerate by using a pole/ broom handle etc. 

If you turn your compost over, do it after it has fermented for a couple of weeks. If you do have bears around in your neighbourhood, then sprinkle vinegar and/or ammonia around and on top of your bins...Bears hate both.. I have never had trouble. I have 4 bins which I rotate.

 Good stuff: onion skins, vegetable peelings, coffee grounds, green garden waste (not cedar), wood shavings, flower dead headings and tissue or paper toweling (surprisingly, the latter two are very good, rot down and provide worm havens). Add some high nitrogen fertilizer once in a while too. 

We have an under sink container for use as a pre-fermenter; and only add the content to our c.bins when full and hot...always covering it well at the top.

 We eat lots of vegetables.

On the COVID -19 Pandemic

Here is a 'Modest Proposal' (apologies to Jonathan Swift):

Take an area (size is choice) in the Country. Seal it off temporarily and test everyone in it; quarantine ALL those who test positive then release everyone in that area to carry on their lives completely free but only in that sealed off area. No one must be allowed INTO that area unless they test negative. People MAY MOVE OUT if they so wish. Then move to the adjacent area and repeat the process. Keep expanding in this way and you will get a huge area....whole County....whole Country. Otherwise you will not win without grief. 

This will require military style co-ordination. And it must be done piece by piece in the time frame it takes to do the testing in each area with results. Small towns could do this easily but they have to have the testing tools! 

I think this could be achieved before the vaccine is available but we had better hurry! I live in a valley town of say 20,000 where there are only a handful of infected people running around but we have to find them!

"If I ruled the World"! 

 PS: 
When this started in China (we think) the virus started to spread. People all over the world panicked and instituted measures to protect their citizens. Statistics were followed and Politicians responded. 
Now we have a "Pandemic". They now say we have a 'peak' so now we can start to relax. The trouble is the virus has nothing in its genome about relaxation! Its mandate is to keep spreading. It will. 
Governments have instituted controls without informing their people actually why. The "why" is to alleviate the pressure on the health services to cope. 
This virus will keep infecting people in future waves until it burns itself out, or we get a vaccine and therapeutic chemicals to curtail its effect. So take care, protect yourselves. The outcome will be the same, whatever, unfortunately.

On-line Classes

Online classes:
This is merely a discussion, or rather pre-discussion, hopefully, of this concept. I went to University 'back in the day' with all it entailed; and it certainly did not include 'On line learning'. What we have now in the present context is an opportunity.
With all the technology that is at our disposal, dynamic, multi-media lectures can be delivered right into the homes of the students.

This could include videos and a multiplicity of special effects, related to the individual course.
Sadly, the thing that is missing is the social interaction which I found most valuable when I was a student back in the 1960's.
For science (pure and applied) and practical arts subjects the 'Campus' is needed but all can be welded together after the crisis that we are experiencing abates; hopefully soon. Perhaps more practical facilities could actually replace lecture halls. Many are so large that large video screens and blue tooth devices are needed anyway. So these all could be done 'On-line'.
http://www.leerbeleving.nl/wbts/nieuw_basics/addis.pdf

On the 'First Nations' Protest against the Northern Oil/Gas Pipeline

What bothers me is the false perception that ALL indigenous people care for the land, our planet... and oppose this kind of thing. There are so many of them who have been paid off by the big corporations that dig up oil by the dirtiest means and strive to ship it to those Countries who unscrupulously burn the product to produce even more greenhouse gases. Indigenous people are NOT one Nation, no more than 'white colonists' are! Greed is universal!

I am in full support of the protesters but I wish the others would support them and, then, maybe, this nonsense can be stopped! Integrity is becoming rarer and rarer! Our Government is grossly hypocritical in fostering this.🤬 

"Racism" is irrelevant here for these reasons. There are people who want the pipeline and there are those who do not. 

The Government wants it because it supports their voting base and so they continue to thumb their noses at the need to, properly address Climate Change.

Regarding the recent expansion of this protest to include "Climate Change": 
In my lifetime, I have been in many protests; and in many effective ones. But none 'blanket targeted' aggressively ALL members of the public in their path. There were marches, chanting, sit ins, in strategic places but they did not jeopardize or damage the livelihood's of potentially sympathetic citizens deliberately. Any collateral harm was accidental. I believe this is how it should be. And ALL participants should be properly briefed regarding the elements of the 'cause'. The outcomes of many world revolutions have had very unpredictable and undesirable conclusions due to often inherent 'blind' actions.
We have an interesting world right now.
I respect the need for nurturing the world environment but I have ignorant people now passing almost 'racially' flavoured comments toward me because they know I actually care!
"Oh you are an 'Environmentalist', aren't you?...Don't you care about the Economy ?" Etc. I am so sick of this!
Some of such people care little except the state of their Stock-Market portfolios. Comments please! My local sports clubs are rife with this. I have stated my views on recent protests which are flaunting the law and are sometimes violent but that does not mean that I will ignore the plight we are all in regarding 'Climate Change' and the proven resultant 'Global Warming' which humanity is causing.🤬 

This being said, I do not doubt the underlying positive motives of many of the protesters.  

Icing problem on roofs in winter:

A phenomenon where when accumulated roof snow begins to melt when temperatures are just near freezing and remain so. The ice on the roof above the living areas starts to melt, but not above the overhangs. 

The water runs down to the over-hang area and then freezes building up ice . This dams up the water flowing down and then it creeps up below the shingles or tiles and causing a leak to your living area.
Under these conditions clear the snow from your over-hang areas. Or you can install deicing electrical heating systems...such a pain to do!

Fortunately here in Squamish this year, so far, we have not had these undesirable conditions for this to happen. But I have experienced it in the past. Fortunately the temperatures quickly rose way above freezing very quickly. Rain helps, don't knock it!