Have you voted yet?

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Good Morning Friends,

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today is Sunday February 28, 2010

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Well, welcome to the end of the month friends. And, a short one and a good one it was. This is the last day of the Olympics here in Vancouver as well. And, it looks like we did pretty good after all. So, Canada should be very proud of what they accomplished here - all of Canada. Now, I must admit that I did not watch anything on television since I do not like to watch the mainstream media. Nope, not even hockey. Not interested. I have just gotten used to the idea of not wasting my time watching television and being indoctrinated about political and cultural things, especially as it relates to war and such things coming out of the U.S. So, I suppose the Olympics is a victim of collateral damage so to speak on my part. You have to take the good with the bad and that kind of thing. But, well done Canada and it sure was a big thrill to drive downtown and view all of the happy people down there. So, I hope everyone visiting Vancouver had a good time too. It was sure a proud moment for all of us let me tell you.

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On the main part of my blog I have a poll going. Only one person has responded so far and that was probably a personal friend of mine. I am not even going to read that one poll result since I know how that person likes to display humor from time to time if you know what I mean. That person knows the real me so they are allowed to say whatever they want to say and I will think nothing of it whatsoever. And, that is because they are a REAL friend of mine. This person knows the real me, not like some other friends and acquaintances of mine - not mentioning any names of course. Actually, most of my friends know the real me and that is why they are my friends. I will take that as a given of course. Anyway, here is a link to the post in question:Would you let your daughter marry this person? The post is mostly humorous and anyone that knows me will pick up on that right away. But, to the perfect stranger, well, I might come across as a bit of an oddity. That remains to be seen as you can certainly appreciate. So, hopefully someone else from the ' outside ' will stumble on the site and express some kind of an opinion. I am not expecting much of a response to this poll if you want the truth of the matter and I would be surprised if anybody but my one friend even bothers with the poll. That is the real me speaking friends just so you know what I am really like. I am not a weirdo or even a ' psycho ' so I hope everybody is glad to know that.

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Once again I did not make any money at the track last night and my losses are starting to pile up a bit. I met a gentleman who showed me how he conducts himself at the racetrack and at the Meadowlands. He pointed something out to me which kind of got my attention. He was looking at fractional times and it was really rather interesting. I look and use fractional times myself, but in a different manner. Now, in one race in particular with his methods he picked out five horses. Now, my system picked out the SAME five horses, but with a lot more work. Needless to say I did not win this race because I only bet 14 dollars per race. But, this fellow decided to bet 60 dollars on that race and he boxed all five of them. He won the triactor and I did not. And, it was a decent payoff as well. After subtracting his 60 dollar investment he made a profit of about 120 dollars. So, he doubled his money. That is OK, but I cannot see betting 60 dollars every race and spending 600 dollars for being entertained for ten races. That doesn't make sense to me at all. But, what does make sense to me is the simple method that he uses. Now, I can see using his methods as a control device for my system, sort of like watching for horses that I am missing with my system. So, I going to somehow use his methods in my system; I am going to utilize it as a control device like I said. Talk to you all later.

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Getting ready for the weekend action....

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Good Morning Friends,

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today is Saturday February 27, 2010

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Well, my hectic three day work week is over friends and now it is time to relax and recuperate once again. The Olympics is still going and will wind down on Sunday. That is sure a big event for this City let me tell you. Everyone was really into it and there was a great deal of excitement all over the Lower Mainland and especially downtown where all of the action was - and is. The whole place just seemed like a sea of Canadian flags sometimes; everybody had them attached to their cars - you know those window flags that everybody sports during hockey season. I guess the Olympics coming to town is a one in life time event and I suppose everyone knew that.

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The big news today of course is that this is another racing day. My favourite track is in New Jersey of course at the Meadowlands. I don't know what the track conditions will be like at all since they had that big storm during the last couple of days. And, it is still cold enough to snow there as well. So, who knows. You can check out the weather forecast for the area by looking over to the right at the side bar there if you are interested. Anyhow, I am not taking any chances and I bought a backup program for Woodbine in Toronto just in case things do not look so good in New Jersey. I managed to grab a couple of forms while I was in Cloverdale yesterday morning. They did cancel Thursday and Fridays racing so that is how bad things were there back East. But, I have seen this track spring back quite quickly actually and one day is certainly different from the rest. I don't know how they do it, but the track can be " Fast " again in no time at all. We shall see what the future will bring of course. So, if you are a friend or acquaintance of mine don't be afraid to contact me if you are popping into town and want to go. Or, if you are making it on your own post time out here on the West (Wet ) Coast is 1600 hrs. Woodbine is 1630 if we have to go there. Talk to you all later.

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A nice mellow oldies station for you

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Wrapping up the week, in deed and thought....

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Good Morning Friends,

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today is Friday February 26, 2010

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Woodbine Entertainment

Meadowlands Racetrack - Home

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Well, today is Friday and tomorrow is Saturday. That means that tomorrow is a racing day if nothing else. It is hard to get seriously excited though because it looks like snow in New York. If you are holding an Olympics bash like here in Vancouver then snow is fine, but if you are counting on some good racing conditions then snow is not such a good thing. I was just reading over at Bloomberg that the snow might last til Saturday morning. When I finish this post I am going to go back to Bloomberg and watch the video talking about this snow. Here is the hourly update for the New Jersey snow conditions. This is where the racetrack is if you do not know what I am talking about. New Jersey weather, by the hour So, I certainly do not know what tomorrow will bring. This morning I have a delivery right by the racetrack where I do my simulcast betting so I can pick up a racing form for New Jersey while I am there. I suppose I should also buy one for Woodbine too just in case New Jersey gets too much snow for a decent track. Remember, in harness racing the fast track is the best track for me.

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Things were a little better at work yesterday and I am expecting a decent day today as well. It is the end of the month after all and there is always that month end cleanup going on with our customers. The lawyers, for example, always seem to be a little busier at the end of the month. We are not getting much of the April tax season anymore as things have become quite a bit more electronic if you know what I mean. So, the most that you can expect from this part of the business is the transactions that occur between our customers and their accountants before the actual filing date occurs. I am talking about picking up boxes with important papers in them and that kind of thing.

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Well, the Olympics is winding down and I suspect that it was a pretty successful event overall. It felt a little nippier weather wise yesterday and maybe the mountains got a little bit more snow. I am sure Whistler has enough anyway. So, this event is quickly coming to a close and I hope everybody enjoyed themselves. For me, all I got out of it was a bit of excitement when I drove downtown into the core and witnessed all of the happy participants.

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The stock market keeps chugging along, going up and down actually, and there is more talk of recession and a jobless recovery. And, then we have the debt problems in Greece and elsewhere too. So, what else is new? This was/is a really serious financial crisis you know and I think everyone is coming to realize that. The bankers do not really want to give up their lucrative derivative positions and you will see the struggle continue on in this area. Sure, Obama will bash the banks in public, but don't forget these are the people who contributed to his campaign as well. Not only that, he has some financial people right inside of his cabinet so the people had better be on their toes and pay attention to the details if they want to try and secure their futures. They are still having these Senate hearings and Bernanke is giving testimony, but the devil will be in the details. I just do not hold much hope for the people and the country. If I was a U.S. citizen I would be angry as hell. There is too much debt and senseless war and there is too much special interest - of all kinds. The little guy is really in a bad place. I don't know what is going to happen and I do not know how the system can succeed under present conditions. The country is going to hell in a hand basket if you want my opinion on the matter. No wonder there are so many conspiracy theorists out there. You know, guys like me who are frustrated and are looking for alternatives. Alternatives that you are never going to get from the system the way it is currently set up and operated upon. Thems the brute facts folks. See you at the track tomorrow if you are coming. Or, if you are popping into town from out of town then just phone me . This message for my friends and acquaintances only of course. See you all later.

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How a lefty thinks and operates....

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Good Morning Friends,

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today is Thursday February 25, 2010

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You know, it feels a bit like Friday friends, except I know it is not. I guess I just feel like it is Friday because I am in a better frame of mind, physically and mentally I mean. I think that says a lot for days like Friday though when you think about it.

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Anyway, I just did a scan of most of the sites that I go to for my daily intake of information. Most of these are the so-called ' Progressive ' sites, but they are not all like that. I do take a peak at the National Post, for example, to see how the conservative and ' Right ' leaning minds are thinking as well. I still rely on my hard core leftist leaning sites though like Information Clearing House for my basic thoughts and information. I guess it kind of like the Dialectic in me that leads me back to sites like that - and then back to the National Post again. Information Clearing House is the best for an alternative view of society. It is really hard core. Global Reseach is good too though and is headed by a Canadian university professor. Alternet is very good and has great content and well researched stories. The Raw Story is not that bad either for some dissenting views. The Truth Seeker and Jeff Rense are not really my cup of tea, but you get some really good conspiracy stuff here. I find the Huffington Post a little too mainstream for my liking. Mainstream in its presentation and enormous amount of content, that is. It does have a huge following, but I am personally overwhelmed by all of the information on that site. Also, I don't like the censoring on their discussion boards. TruthDig is not bad, but you have to wait for your comments to be published, which is a drag. When I participate on discussion boards I want full reign and no censorship or I am not interested - that is the big negative with The Huffington Post and even with The Globe and Mail too. At least the hard core right wing National Post allows everybody to take the gloves off. Now, that is my kind of action let me tell you. But, I think they do that for a reason but that is another story of course. And, they are way too biased in favour of Israel and in their support of Stephen Harper. This makes them an unreliable source of objective news. But, then they don't hide their sympathies either.

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I guess I am hard-core left-wing when you get right down to things. I am quite proud of my appellation actually and it has taken me years of hard training to get where I am. So, hard work does pay off as you can see. My attitudes are top notch in the left-wing department and at this point in my life they are virtually unshakeable. I got my lean-leaning credentials at university back in the sixties actually. That is when the Vietnam War was raging on and that was first introduction to such things. I learned back then that the system is all powerful and they will do whatever it takes to maintain their power. I also learned how the media plays an important role as well. And, another thing I learned is about the importance of religion. Actually, I acquried my anti-religious attitudes as a young teenager. I didn't know how brainwashed society was until I discovered this religious element in society. It seems like their only function is to keep the sheep in line and believing in whatever it is that comes out of the centers of power. That is kind of my view of society for what it is worth to you.

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And, with the advent of Ronald Reagan and everything that he stood for, why, my views just became even more hard core. I remember even writing to Ronald personally when they were messing around in Lebanon in 1982 and 1983. Don't forget, 1983 was a very big year for me in the personal department. So, I guess everything was starting to come together for me - in the understanding department, that is. I remember, something struck me as being wrong about being present in the Middle East region at that time. I really did not understand the totality of events at that time and I had no real understanding of Israel and its practices or even how the Palestinians were being treated. But, later on with the help of the internet it would all come to life for me. A much greater understanding of the politics and war of this area would be achieved.

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I guess I can thank 9/11 and George Bush for putting the final touches on everything for me. Who did 9/11? Well, you can rest assured dear friends that that is where my mind is right now. Anyhow, look at what happened after Bush got elected. We have the War on Terror, the diminishing of personal freedoms, and the two illegal invasions into Afghanistan and Iraq. Iraq was destroyed and the invasion and occupation of Afghanistan continues. Do you see why it is so easy to be a cynic and a lefty when you start to connect the dots? There is no reason to be in the Middle East fighting wars on terrorism when no such thing really exists - on any large scale, that is. It is all just fabrication and nonsense and reason for war spending and world dominion by the Empire. It is nothing other than a land grab and a foreign policy than involves control of resources and an encirclement of enemies, namely Russia and China. It is just plain old politics and economics just like it always is. So, I hope you appreciate these little insights of mine and why I hold the opinions that I do. It is just common sense and decency from my standpoint. If you are not agreeing with me then you must have a different background and education that is all. It is really that simple friends. It all boils down to attitude and that has been a key interest of mind for a long time. Where do they come from - eh?

Planning is important....

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Good Morning Friends,

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today is Wednesday February 24, 2010

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Just thought I would make a few comments this morning on the importance of planning ahead. I was thinking particularly about what the weather conditions are going to be in New Jersey come this Saturday. I was reading where more snow is expected in the Northeastern U.S. and you can bet your bottom dollar that I was getting worried. If there is too much snow on the ground that means my weekend is ruined. So, you are probably already beginning to understand how important it is to know what the future is expected to bring. And, that is why I have a link up to the right showing what the weather conditions are in New Jersey. It looks like a 20% chance of precipitation right now and that is actually not too bad all things considered. You know, I have worried about this track in the past and my worrying has come to naught. They do seem to get lucky or get things right there in New Jersey when it comes to track conditions. Most of the time it is a fast track and that is the kind of track I need to have a winning day, if I am going to win that is. Anyhow, I hope you can all see how important it is to plan ahead. Planning is a very key ingredient for success, just ask anyone is planning anything big whatsoever. And, you know what I am talking about friends. Or, if you don't then start sniffing around my blog to see what my real interests are - and I am not talking about social issues here at all. Thanks for reading and have a nice day.

On the importance of perfection....

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Good Morning Friends,

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today is Tuesday February 23, 2010

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I want to repeat what I said yesterday friends: nobody reads this blog. That means that I am basically free to say what I want to say, and in the process, practice my writing skills as well. If that is what freedom means in Canada then I might as well take advantage of that opportunity. I trust everyone agrees with my assessment of things and realizes in the process of course, that this is what we do as humans anyway, namely take advantage of things. And, some of us of course are more adept at this skill than others as I am sure you all have discovered by now.

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I just finished watching, for I don't how many times now, a debate between McGrath and Dawkins. I am fascinated by this debate because it just shows the total inadequacy of the Christian faith. McGrath, the former atheist, now turned Christian, simply proves to us how desperate this religion has become. He has answers for none of the questions that Dawkins throws at him and just keeps falling on his crutch of faith for support. It is a truly pathetic performance. Now, normally one would feel sorry for an underdog and side with him. I think that is a pretty basic human characteristic actually, that we can sympathize with those who are in trouble, for example. But, that sentiment is not to be found here, well certainly, you will not find it in me at any rate. McGrath to me is the philosophical enemy and he deserves all of the verbal punishment that is meted out by the more than capable Dawkins. All Dawkins has to do is use common sense and rely on the scientific method and rational discourse to pound the weak McGrath into the ground. I repeat, I felt no mercy for the stumbling and fumbling McGrath. If he is the representative of religion and Christianity then I can easily see how secularism has triumphed in this world. There is no other way than truth and understanding in order to build character in a man. Secularism proves its metal beyond a shadow of a doubt. You can watch the video below:

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MORE AT ATHEISTNATION.NET

In a round about way friends I am trying to lead you into my true thoughts this morning. And, those thoughts are about " perfection. " Perfection for me is something that our culture truly values. Even the leaders of religion benefit from this value when you think about. The religionists in spite of their poor philosophy do have a following. I would call them sheep and the disillusioned ones of course, but that matters not. The masters of the sheep are the ones who profess knowledge and perfection; perfection in knowing and understanding. I am not saying that the religious leaders are right, I am only saying that they are capitalizing on our need and desire for perfection. So, more power to them if they can keep on convincing the large body of people who still believe in God and the like. My point is of course, that we all appreciate someone who professes knowledge, knowledge about - anything - that most of us do not know something about as a matter of course, either because we are ignorant or not smart enough to acquire the knowledge that the perfectionists themselves inform us that they have acquired. We like experts and they do in fact become our heroes.

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So, why does this happen in our society anyway? Well, I suppose the simple answer is the inherent weakness found in man. Oh, I don't mean physical weakness, but perhaps an intellectual weakness if you will. We are lacking in knowledge until we discover it, or until someone discovers it for us. That is why our great scientists are held with such high esteem, or a great philosopher, or even and - dare I say - a great religious leader. So, there it is friends. We simply appreciate people who are in the know, or who are " seemingly " in the know at any rate. And, I think it all boils down to our value for perfection. Perfection represents something that we would all like to attain and that is why we glorify those who we think have attained some kind of perfection in their lives. But, the real on the ground message for us friends is to know that is important to try to be good at something - anything. You may all have heard of the expresssion a " Jack of all trades and a master at none. " Well, I think that is where this expression comes from. We all appreciate something or someone who professes unique knowledge or who is capable of performing a skill that is useful or that we cannot perform ourselves, but that we would like to be able to perform or understand. And, that is the common sense aspect of what I am trying to depart to you today as well. Be good at what you do no matter what it is. Not only will you derive a personal satisfaction via the endeavour, but you might even become so good at your skill that you will be sought after. You will be worth more. Now, what could be better than that if you are a human being looking for recognition? Well, I say nothing at all so just be the best that you can be and I believe that you will be rewarded handsomely in one way or another. Don't forget: people can identify quality when they see it and they seek it out. People, being the selfish creatures that they are know that allying themselves with perfection understand that they will derive some kind of benefit from that process or situation or thing. You can take that the bank. And, that is what the religionists in our society have certainly accomplished. They purport to have a knowledge and a relationship with a Supreme Being and they capitalize on that idea. I trust, that in my own way, I have imparted to you the idea that it is a good thing to be perfect and to surround yourself with things that relay the idea of perfection. Perfection yields results in many ways and you can count on that.

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Finally, it was another gorgeous day yesterday friends and I got out and about with unit. You know, I am starting to lose track of the number of days that I have had the top down on the car this year. I think it was number five yesterday, but whose counting when you are having fun eh? Talk to you all later and have a nice day. Remember, it is only you and me reading these things so we can say whatever we want. Right?

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Standing up for your rights....

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Good Morning Friends,

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today is Monday February 22, 2010

.Nobody reads this blog you know. It is only me and you. So, why do I even bother anyway? Well, I suppose the big consolation prize here is the idea that practice makes perfect. I must say that after doing daily entries and all kinds of other posts that the writing has become easier for me now. The words simply flow more freely. Surely, that is a benefit if no other can be found. Do you agree? Well, even if you don't it does not matter anyway. What I do I do for myself even if no one else is interested. I think that is a key feature of life anyway.

.Think about it friends. We are born into this world and we have no idea why we are here or where we are going. The whole thing is just one big mess with no apparent rationale or direction coming from anyone. Oh, sure there are the parents and the religious leaders to offer some guidance, but what do they really know anyway? They know nothing for sure you can bet on that; they are only speculating and hoping like everyone else. Every body's guess is as good as the next person's and that is just the way things are.

.And, that leads me right back to my argument. Friends, we are alone in this world. So, my philosophy at this point in my life would be to make the best of a situation as I have come to understand it. Looking on the bright side of things it just might a good thing to operate independently in this world. It just might be the best kind of training that you will ever have. I mean, just think about it. The whole world is just one big interconnected affair, composed of a whole variety of economic and social interdependencies. You and I are just clogs in a wheel; we are interconnected to the rest of the world in one way or another. But, are you benefiting from such an arrangement? Are you doing the best that you can do and is society doing what it can to provide you with all of your needs and treating you fairly? Well, if the answer is no fear not. You can always fall back on your personal independence, that thing that you were born with. This is your greatest tool for survival. You need to know that you can survive - and thrive - independently of all of the other opinions and circumstances around you. You don't have to be a sheep and you don't have to be a crowd follower if it is not benefiting you in any substantial way. Be yourself and express yourself with all of the individuality that you can muster up. The benefits of such an approach will amaze you. You might not become rich and famous, but you will most definitely feel better about yourself and your station in life.

.Just know that you were born alone and uncertainty was thrust upon you. There are no fixed rules to the game of life and nobody has all of the answers. So, take that idea to the bank and let everyone know that your ideas are just as good as anyone else's. You don't have to be a follower and you don't have to let people call you a loser or any other name that comes your way. You don't have to play the game if it is rigged or if you are coming up short for whatever reason. You don't have to play by the rules if they are not fair and if you cannot win. Rules were made to be broken so don't be afraid to break them if they are unfair or illegal - unfair or illegal by your understanding of things. Your opinion counts so don't forget that. You are as human and worthy as the next guy so don't let them tell you any different. Your individuality is your freedom, so use it. Thanks for reading and have a nice day.

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Pretty is nice, but is not forever...

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Good Morning Friends,

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today is Sunday February 21, 2010

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It was another stellar, sunny day friends and I certainly took advantage of it let me tell you. Being Saturday, yesterday meant I made my way to the racetrack in Cloverdale. You know, racing is almost a secondary event when you are dealing with beautiful spring-like weather that we are having. The picture above is my car taken in 2008. It was the very first warm day of that new year, and the first time I even ventured to lower the top in public. I was actually quite shy and self conscious about doing that you know - in the beginning I mean. But, not any more let me tell you. Why, even the hint of a sunny day and a bit of warmth and down she comes. That is why I bought the unit anyway, to lower the top down and enjoy nature as it was meant to be enjoyed. That is what life is all about if you want my opinion on the matter.

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But, you know what I was thinking about this morning? Well, I was thinking about when relationships come to an end. That's right, any kind of a relationship, human or physical. Think about it. I am having a relationship with my car. Oh, it is not two way or anything like that, but it is a relationship of sorts. I am enjoying the ownership of my car and what it means. I am using it and I am enjoying it. However, I know through experience that this relationship is going to end one day. I wonder what will bring it about? Perhaps, just the simple matter of time will do the trick. You know, I will just get tired of looking at my pretty car and decide that it is time to move on to another vehicle, you know, something else to love. I guess these car relationships are pretty much like human ones when you think about it. We get tired of our cars just like we get tired of our real emotional attachments or human objects of love. I don't think they are quite the same thing though and if you dig way back into one of my posts on these very pages you will see that I touched on this topic before and in the same manner. People are different than cars and you can really be emotionally attached to a human and it can be a long lasting and fruitful relationship. That is because there are inherent differences between humans and cars. But, there are some similarities of course, when you are dealing in a one-sided self-serving relationship that is. And, a man and his car is most definitely a one-sided, selfish relationship. Who cares what the car thinks anyway? The car is like a love slave actually. It was built to serve and to enjoy and that is its only function in life. But, you know, if you think about things a little bit I bet you will find that a lot of people treat other people as objects as well. And, that is why they discard them when they have outlived their due date and people simply get tired of their possessions - their human possessions. Like my car for example. How long do you think I will keep on being in love with it if it starts racking up all kinds of mileage and then starts to show its age? Or what about if it starts to accumulate all kinds of dents and gets maybe a little too dirty inside or has some visible scratches that irritate me? Don't you think I am going to start taking a second look at my vehicle and wonder if I should continue on with the relationship? Maybe I could even start to look at a younger and more pretty vehicle. I know then even when I buy a new car it doesn't take me long to start looking at other vehicles on the road, you know pretty and attractive ones just like mine. Why I even start thinking about another future vehicles that I would like to own. Well, you can imagine of course that my car has no idea what I am thinking about because it is not human and it has no emotions. It is simply a tool for me to use. Think about it friends. This is the basis of many of our human relationships as well. We marry pretty girls that are able to serve us and supply our needs. That is why relationships end though you know. So, don't kid yourself. Why do you think girls wear make up and act sweet and innocent and even flirt? Because they are trying to act attractive and they want you to be involved in their lives, even if for only a short amount of time. Girls understand these things that I am talking about. They know that guys like their cars and that is why girls try to be like cars. They want to be that car. But, the pretty ones and especially the smarter ones know that all relationships come to an end for whatever reason. If it is not old age or just lack of interest that will end a relationship it just might be an accident that does the trick. But, rest assured dear friends that all relationships will come to a close for any number of reasons. Pretty is nice, but is not forever.

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Vancouver Olympics 2010: Thrill of a lifetime....

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Good Morning Friends,

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today is Saturday February 20, 2010

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Above is a picture that I took on July 26, 2006. The polar bear was meant to be a reminder of the Winter Olympics in 2010. Friends, I have never felt such excitement in my life as with this current Olympics thing. It was my first trip downtown yesterday since the start of the whole affair. And, what an experience let me tell you. The downtown core is pure excitement - all action - EVERYWHERE. I don't know where the thrill is coming from, but you can literally feel it. Throngs of happy people on the streets, just walking everywhere. Happy faces and if you are a Canadian and a Vancouverite, well you are as proud as hell. The taller buildings have these massive photo banners draped on their sides displaying Olympics pictures and captions like " Welcome World. " Just Awesome! I suspect that the brilliant sunshine and majestic North Shore Mountains and their snowy peaks in the background are doing their bit as well. I was cruising up Hornby Street heading north on the way to make a delivery and I saw a younger woman wearing an Olympics jacket. It was a red jacket and it read " Russia ". So, that was kind of neat to see the foreign athletes cruising the streets as well. There is action everywhere friends. I even saw a news truck from Alaska parked right on Georgia Street capturing all of the action for the folks up in Anchorage Alaska as well. It was a huge blue truck with satellite rigging on it. I wonder how they got that truck here. I thought of my dream girl of course and wondered if she was picking up on the action in her part of the world. That was the climax of my day of course as you can well imagine. And, you just know that I wanted to take a snap of that truck but I did not have a chance to do it. ...Friends, I don't care where you are in the world this is one huge event. You would do well to just jump on a plane and get on up here and experience a once in a life-time thing. That is what the local newscasts are reporting too with their on the scene reports. It is truly a once in a life-time event. So, don't miss it. Join the action and experience it for yourselves. Here is a little video that my friend sent me yesterday in my mailbox. It is a bunch of happy people down on Robson Street during the opening of the Olympics. Check this out:

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Robson Street Video

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In other news. If I dare of course. Today is a racing day. A reminder to my friends and acquaintances: if you are popping into town you know where I will be. Post time in New Jersey is 1600 hrs and if you need a ride just contact me. So, if the Olympics excitement is too much for you there is always harness racing to kind of mellow things out a bit for you. Talk to you all later and have a nice day.

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A relic and a reminder of the past....

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Good Morning Friends,

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today is Friday February 19, 2010

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Finally it is Friday. Well, it doesn't get any better than that my friends. It is sunny, there is the Olympics, and tomorrow is a racing day for me. So, what else could a guy ask for? Well, if you know my history just one thing. But, we don't want to dwell on that topic now especially under these perfect conditions that we are experiencing. Above is a picture of a gill netter. This relic is located on the corner of 240th Street and Lougheed Highway in Maple Ridge, B. C. I took this photo while on the job yesterday. Just down the street from this location used to be the old Albion Ferry. This is the ferry that ran from this location to Fort Langley on the other side of the Fraser River. It is now no more and it ended serving us last summer when the brand new Golden Ears Bridge was constructed to replace it. Now, the real reason I took this picture was to highlight a post I did on the main part of my blog. It is a post about my teenage years when I took a trip up the northern B.C. coast during the summer of 1964. You can read about this post and the effect it had on my life right here: My Teenage Years: 1964

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Just one further reminder how beautiful the weather is here right now. It is fantastic actually. I don't know how they are running this Olympics so successfully with what seems like hardly any snow at all. I guess they have tons of the stuff up at Whistler because nobody is talking about that. Here on the local mountains the situation must be quite problematic for the organizers. Anyway, this feature of the Olympics matters not to the locals. Everybody around here is really into these Games let me tell you. You'd think we were having a war or something. Seems like everybody has Canadian flags hoisted up on their vehicles and they are certainly displaying them proudly let me tell you. Why, I was in Vancouver yesterday in the early afternoon and heading north on Oak Street. Wow, you could feel the excitement and the pride of the drivers. It was just in the air. The sky was brilliant, the mountains to the north were just pure majesty and every Vancouverite was a proud Canadian. I could certainly feel the magic. It was awesome.

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Just one final note. Tomorrow is a racing day at the Meadowlands in New Jersey once again. I sure hope all of the snow problems are over and that the track is fast. If this is not the case then conditions will not be perfect. You can link up to my webcams and check out the hourly weather conditions in New Jersey if you like. So, we will certainly be praying to the racing gods for some favourable conditions. You can count on that. Don't forget friends and acquaintances: See you there if you are coming and if you need a ride just contact me. Talk to you all later and have a nice day.

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Thank the gods....

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Good Morning Friends,

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today is Thursday February 18, 2010

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You know I almost wrote " Good Morning Comrades " instead of " Friends ". Silly me eh? Well, that is kind of the way I feel with the new appearance of my blog and its logos and the like. It is a warm and friendly greeting don't you think? But, I digress of course. It was warm and friendly yesterday on the job though. It was a stellar day actually. Weather wise, I mean. Brilliant and sunny. I hope the thousand of visitors to the Olympics here in Vancouver appreciate what the gods have bestowed upon them and all the rest of us natives here.

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Speaking of gods, I think we should all take a couple of minutes and pay respect to these various entities that live among us. I mean, just think about all of the things that they do for us. They allow us to breathe and to appreciate life in all of its forms. Now, that is quite a task don't you think? I know that if I was a god I would expect a little recognition for my work once in a while. Take a look at how the Christians themselves handle this important detail. Why it seems like they spend their whole lives thanking God and paying respect to the Man. So, why can't we do the same for our gods as well? I think it is just good common sense that is all. Now, you don't have to feel any guilt or any obligation necessarily, but maybe you could take a moment out and just REFLECT a bit. I am sure the gods would appreciate that. Who knows, maybe they even have a human characteristic or two. And, if they did don't you think that you should be treating them with the respect that they deserve? I know that is what I am going to do. Respect is the key friends. Think about it. Just stop what you are doing and plain think about it. Without these gods doing their serious work in the background none of what you experience would be happening. There would be no love, no enjoyment, just plain nothing. So, just plain stop and think what causes all. I think you might be amazed at the answer. So, thank you gods, one and all for making it all happen for me. Now, that was easy wasn't it?

Sheephood is not for me....

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Good Morning Friends,

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today is Wednesday February 17, 2010

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Back to the grindstone friends after a bunch of days off. That's right, more than the usual number of days off. Who's counting when you are having fun eh? Well, certainly not me that is for sure. Anyway, it looks like a bit of sunshine and the Olympics are in full force now. And, that is the way things should be - perfect. I mean, after all, we do live in God's country here, even if there is no God, that is.

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Have you ever said to yourself " I wish I could have done that or I wish I could be like him. " or similar sounding words? Well, a little confession from me will reveal that I most definitely have had those kinds of thoughts. Why, just this morning I was thinking how great it would have been to be a journalist. You know, I never even gave the idea a second thought when I was going to university. Maybe that is because there was no such thing as a journalism department at our school. Or, if there was I never discovered it. It is something that never even came close to entering my mind. A journalism career was not something that occupied my thoughts - at all. But, it sure does now let me tell you. However, that is not my point. You are never going to get anywhere in life by dwelling on the past and the countless ' could have beens ' that dominate the history of mostly all of us. There is no profit in that kind of thinking whatsoever. You and I have made our decisions and now we must live with them. Dreaming about the could have beens is kind of like thinking like a religionist or a Christian even. There is no God, so get over it. And, similarly, we cannot dig up the past and give it a makeover. Just don't go there. It ain't going to happen, nor should it. Friends, what I am trying to say is: quit making excuses. I mean, I have progressed and so should you. You are what you are and your past is the past. That is why they call it the past and that is because it is no more. You cannot magically change the past. Knowing about this detail of life should allow you to be more successful with life once you know and accept this fact.

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However, I want to say something just slightly positive about thinking about things that could have been. There is a bit of a positive aspect to thinking about the could have beens and here it is: OK, so you had a dream about being something or thinking about something that you could have done differently. Well, that is fine. But, you have to be able to do something positive with your, basically, negative thought. You have to think about how you can make your dream or past thought into something positive for - today. Like right now I am thinking about a great article that I just read. It is entirely the kind of thing that I would have written because it contains the very same ideas that swirl about in my mind. But, it is written by what I would call a professional. Here is the article right here:The Economic Elite Have Engineered an Extraordinary Coup,
Threatening the Very Existence of the Middle Class

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The point that I am trying to drive home friends is that it is OK to go back in time just a little bit and dream about the could have beens, with a proviso of course. And, that would be to not change the past, but think about changing the future because that is the only thing left that you might be able to control or at least have an influence upon. Like, think about writing a better article with some unique perspective that nobody has ever thought about before. I am thinking of originality of course. And, that is the stuff that success is made out of friends. And, that is why I keep stressing my individuality wherever and whenever I can on these blog pages of mine. I do that because I have learned that it pays to be different. That's right, it pays to be yourself. You and I are just about as different as anyone is going to get from the other guy so that is the thing that we must all capitalize upon. Individuality and originality. Maybe this is one of the reasons why I am so against religion and what it represents. Sheephood. Who the hell wants to be a sheep anyway? I mean. Look at all the trouble that these characters get themselves into by following the other guy. Thanks for checking in and have a nice day.

A Fresh Face for You...

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Good Morning Friends,

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today is Tuesday February 16, 2010

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Once again friends I would like to draw your attention to the fact that I have made some changes to the main part of my blog: Carl Baydala Wants You To Know.... Up until recently I had six parts to my blog and now I have only two, one being this part Dear Courier Diary. You can expect me to make a comment everyday right here. I incorporated the other four parts into the main part by " importing " their entire contents. This is Blogger terminology of course and the process is easy to do and none of the content matter is harmed in any way. The only work that needs to be done is to make some adjustments of the individual posts as they were constructed for a different format or type of blog configuration. I am referring to coloring details and the like.

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You will notice once you visit the main part of the blog that I have featured my philosophy and religious interests. On the right side bar, for example, you will observer two new features. Now placed on the sidebar will be " The Bachelor Philosopher Series " and " The Existence of God is Under Review Series ". These posts will be handier to access now and hopefully the reader will find them interesting as well. For example, I find these religious debates concerning the existence of God fascinating. I am biased of course towards the atheist viewpoint, but I always like to know how the believers feel and how they express themselves. For me it is kind of like watching a movie and knowing who the good and the bad guys are. That is just my personality and personal philosophy at work of course. You will also notice that I have introduced a new logo at the top of the blog page as well: " Swimming against the flow of mainstream thinking. " The reason I chose this expression of course is to identify a key feature of my personality for you: I am fighting the system; I always have and I most likely always will. If you examine the entire contents of my blog you should be able to determine where I acquired my attitudes and the like. So, hopefully, my readers will be able to appreciate this " Fresh Face " that I am trying to put on my blog.

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I am paying attention to the stock market as you may appreciate. I notice that it is climbing again today and that the price of gold is rising as well. I don't hold much hope for the market right now as you have most likely gathered from my recent comments on this aspect of my interests. I don't trust the bankers actually and these are the people who are at the root of all of our current problems. Not only did they cause the financial crisis itself, but they as a group are not going to reform and become " mainstream " as it were. By that I mean to say that they are not going to change their behavior in the sense that what they do will not be a benefit to all of us. I just finished reading an article on Bloomberg that states the banks have accumulated over 1.6 trillion in cash. That is idle cash that is not being re-distributed into the economy. And, that is the job of a real bank is it not? To lend money to people so that they can do what they have to do. Well, these " too big to fail " banks have other interests in mind and that is a real problem for the regular folk as you can well imagine. Remember, these are largely the huge investment banks that we are talking about here, the casino guys, the financial wizards people. You are most likely aware that I am a bit of a conspiracy guy as it relates to these financial matters. I, like many others, have read all of the literature on the Federal Reserve and I understand the nature of the private banking system - as best I can that is. The central bank of the United States is private and its job is to serve the other private banks. That is the blunt fact of the matter. It is not a public institution and that is why the billions were so free and easy for the large casino banks to get when they were failing. They did in fact get trillions of dollars and that is on the back of the taxpayer. And, their accomplice was none other than the Federal Reserve itself and the bought off politicians, which included presidents and the bribed Senators and Congressmen. The system is sick, corrupt, and tyrannical, and I fear that it is not going to change. Think about what happened during the Great Depression that everybody talks about now. The problem was a contraction in the money supply. The banks didn't lend just like they are not lending now. The economy needs fuel to run and that fuel is credit. So, when I see the banks hoarding trillions of dollars just after they were on the verge of collapse ( or were they? ) then that is when I start to sit up and take notice. Remember also that we are now in a period of something called globalization. So, things are even more dangerous now than they were in the Dirty Thirties. I mean, the economy stagnated back then for a decade. They did in fact call it the lost decade. And, it was only the Second War that revived the economy and got people back to work. Now, however, the chances of people recovering employment are not as likely. Too many jobs have been transferred overseas and the middle classes are left struggling with relatively lower paying jobs and their ability to attain credit is diminished. They, like the country are too much in debt. So, now we find that the bankers have all of the power even though they appeared weak not too long ago. Is it a conspiracy? Are they trying to bring the middle classes to their knees with their tactics? That is, holding back on credit and buying up on the cheap again? Who knows for sure. The only thing I know is that the banks continue to have too much relative power and they are not playing ball with the rest of the population. I don't think the society can survive in the current form that it is operating under. Remember also that we already have the wars that would have aided the population and propelled them into some kind of recovery. But, there is too much debt for the system to handle. There is debt ( trillions upon trillions of dollars that are never even mentioned in the press ) and associated deficits ( now in the trillions itself ) must be financed by foreigner. And, these foreigners, although reluctant to assume more debt have no choice. If they do not keep the dying Empire alive then they will be victims also; nobody will buy their goods. So, that is the state of world affairs and that is where we have landed on this day, Tuesday February 16, 2010.

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Got out and about with the car yesterday, but it was not a top down kind of day. There was just not enough sun around for me to make the move and lower her down. I did a short cruise and that was all I accomplished yesterday which is not saying much I guess. You know, we could probably start thinking about the weekend again and harness racing. Now, that is something to look forward to now isn't it? Thanks for checking in and have a nice day.

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House cleaning and other things....

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Good Morning Friends,

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today is Monday February 15, 2010

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Well, welcome to mid-month friends and day four I think of the Winter Olympics here in Vancouver. I think it was a pretty and sunny day here yesterday, but I am not sure since I did not deal with nature in any form whatsoever. I am doing a bit of construction on my site here if you manage to start digging around a bit. I have deleted quite a few posts and incorporated some of the blogs into the main part. So, now I have only three blogs left. I mean, having six parts to my system did not make much sense for the general reader trying to make sense of things, although it might have been easier for me to study some of the issues that I am interested in. But, for the general reader who is interested in my thoughts and my interests you will be able to understand what I am doing just by reading through the main part of my blog and, if interested, you can read my daily thoughts right here. This is where most of the action in my life is occurring anyway. Hopefully I will get a few more looky loos once I have made all of the changes.

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I am still generally depressed about world events and the stock market. And, there is a connection between the two as you can well imagine. I mean, the financial crash of 07 and 08 is still having world-wide repercussions as you can readily see. How far can a stock market climb when everyone is interesting in maintaining their station in life and just paying their bills? Well, I think you know what I mean. People are tightening up and they just do not know what the future holds. The wars continue and the debt keeps climbing. The status quo is being maintained friends and the face of the status quo is the uncertainty that all of us must endure. So, thanks for reading and have a nice day.

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My Heart Goes out to You!

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Good Morning Friends,

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today is Sunday February 14, 2010

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Happy Valentines Day to all of my friends and acquaintances. Hope you all get through the day in one piece because that is my wish for today. Talk to you all later and have a nice day.

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Winter Games and Racing Things....

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Good Morning Friends,

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today is Saturday February 13, 2010

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Today is a racing day friends so I am all pumped up for that of course. It is also Day Two of the Olympics and that is also something to look forward to as well. So, there is all kinds of excitement for everyone, meaning you do not have to venture out very far at all to get your jollies today. I am sure you are all aware by now that tragedy struck the Games on opening day. A Georgian athlete was killed up at Whistler during training so that certainly put a negative tone on the Games. But, I am sure that the Games will continue in spite of this unfortunate event. Undoubtedly, the participants themselves will most likely want to continue on, if not just out of respect for one of their fallen comrades, so to speak. These Games are certainly being put to the test that is for sure. Lack of snow and this recent accident has definitely put us all on notice and made us aware of just how uncertain things can be, whether in the business of life or in the conduct of world wide games such as these. But, with everyone pulling together I am sure the Games will survive and be a success.

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I got out and about yesterday and did a little drive around. Luckily, the rains were in a re-positioning format so to speak and my journeys were rain free during the whole period. From where I was positioned it looked like the local mountains were getting some snow. So, maybe they can hang on to their good fortunes and this added snow will aid the events that are taking place locally. For myself, today's excitement will be focused back East where they have lots of snow. New Jersey in particular is where my mind will be. The Meadowlands Racetrack cranks up at 1600 hrs local time friends so I hope to see you all out at the track if you are coming. This message for my friends and relatives of course. There is lots of snow back East like I said, but it looks like the track will be home free and snow free today and fast. Just like we would want it to be. I hope that I can file a positive racing report for you later on. So, thanks for checking in and have a nice day.

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Go Canada Go!

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Good Morning Friends,

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today is Friday February 12, 2010

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Do you know what today is friends? I bet some of you said it was the Friday after my birthday. Well, you would have been right of course, but no cigar. Today is the first day of the 2010 Winter Olympics here in Vancouver and surrounding areas - places like Whistler if you know what I mean. The picture above is me in my car cruising in Delta. Note the Canada guy on the baseball cap.

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Now, there are some real challenges for the organizers as I suppose everyone has heard by now. I made note of these problems quite a while ago on these very pages when I was warning about the warming trend in the weather. Well, my predictions and suspicions did indeed come to pass. But, the Winter Olympics organizers being the kind of people they are most assuredly dealt with this threat. They did whatever they could to get some snow on the ground, by hook or by crook. So kudos to them for all of their herculean efforts. I am doing what I can on this end of course by praying to the snow gods. And, that is exactly what I am going to do once I finish my entry for today. Now, I know that I might have laughed in the face of the gods by driving around in my sports car with the top down last week ( four days actually ), but maybe they will overlook this slight detail and let it pass. Gods do have compassion you know in spite of their focuses, I mean. All gods are like that. You just have to appreciate them and know what kind of business they are in and then just let them go about their business - uninterrupted. And, that is precisely what I am going to do. So, let's all sit back and enjoy the games as they begin this very day.

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Go Canada Go!

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P.S. don't forget that tomorrow is a racing day at the Meadowlands in New Jersey. See you out there if you are coming. Post time is 1600 hrs local time.

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The good and bad of being dead

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Good Morning Friends,

.today is Thursday February 11, 2010

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.Well, just one more day before the Olympics so that is the good news I suppose. I got out and about yesterday in the unit in spite of the rain. It felt quite a bit cooler so maybe they will get some more snow for the events. The weather guy says it is supposed to be warm again for a couple of days and then cool down again. So, maybe things will turn out after all.

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And, just how to I handle a topic like death anyway? I mean, why even bother with such a gruesome topic? I think death deserves our attention friends because it is such a huge part of our lives. Actually, it is our life long companion when you think about it. And, when we die we lose that relationship. Weird eh? When we die we lose that relationship. Now, that is a beauty isn't it?

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There are good and bad aspects to this business of death. First, the bad parts if you will. The outstanding negative feature of death is that it takes you away from life. We all love life and we want it to continue forever, but death will not allow that to happen. In this sense then, death is our enemy because disallows us to enjoy the things that we have come to know and love. But, death does not really act alone either you know. I mean, death cannot do its job without life; it simply needs something to extinguish; there is no death without life. I mean, the whole idea and understanding of life is the simple, brute fact that it comes to an end. And, that is what makes life so fascinating and wonderful; it is a limited event; it doesn't last forever. And, since man has learned to love life he necessarily views its alternative, namely death, with a high degree of negativity. And, that is why death has become the darker feature of man's life. It is black, it is devilish and Satanic and the like; it is the opposite of the sun and it is dark. Furthermore, since man has never experienced death he is naturally suspicious and fearful of it; he is afraid of the whole idea of death; of its finality and its opposition to everything that he has come to know and love. Adding to the misery of course are the events leading up to death. Mortality, in whatever form, is usually, but not always, going to involve some kind of physical pain. And, since man does not like pain and goes out of his way to avoid it whenever he can he is naturally fearful of the onslaught of death. So, death for man is something that is really not a pleasant thing to contemplate. It takes him away from his humanity and all of the things that he has to enjoy. Death is a real hindrance to continuation of life. Death is the enemy and opposite of life.

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Some people, however, are able to see good in death. Some religions, for example, stress the idea that when you die you go to Heaven and live with God for an eternity. Surely, that is something to look forward to if you are of a religious nature. The only catch though is that you have to believe in God and you must have a clean record to get into Heaven and to be with God and live forever. And, not all of us are going to qualify of course. So, those of us who do not qualify might come to think of death as still something undesirable. But, other people view death positively for other reasons as well. A person who has not had a fulfilling life for whatever reason may think of death as an escape from life, a kind of liberating feature if you will. I mean, what better way to end the ' pain ' of life than by simply ending it? I suppose that is an honest approach if you think life has been unkind to you. From this idea of course we get the idea and practice of euthanasia, which is simply a method of relieving an individual of his pain and allowing him to move into the realm of death. Many people believe in the morality of this idea and see nothing wrong with it. For, if life could not deliver the benefits that others enjoy then why not go for the alternative and remove the pain from your life? Who cares what the condition of death offers or what it is really like to be dead - surely anything is better than the pain of life. And, that is the brute argument friends for what it is worth. I suppose that the ultimate positive thing about death is that it is the opposite of life. Remember, death is the other side of the coin; life an death are inseparable things. They do in fact need each other for their very ' existence '. So, it really does not matter which of the two you prefer as an option. The whole idea and purpose of life and death is that you get to experience both of them, eventually, and for whatever reason. I think that would be the ultimate positive feature of death. It doesn't matter how or why you experience death, the whole point is just experience it. A problem arises, however, with our argument. And, that is that you cannot really ' experience ' death, you can only think and speculate about it. So, to move beyond the consciousness of man and really know death might be the final benefit of being dead. The religionists think that this is possible, i.e., when you go to live with God. So, living with God is actually being dead with God. Perhaps this is the very opposite of consciousness itself. Being dead without even knowing it. Perhaps that is the destiny of all of us and that is why something or someone took it upon themselves to create or allow to happen, this business of life. Death does really have a purpose and that seems to be allowing one to appreciate the other side of life. So, death cannot be all that bad when viewed in this light. Thanks for reading and have a nice day.

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P.S. don't forget racing at the Meadowlands in New Jersey on Saturday. Post time is 1600 hrs, West Coast time. Let us hope that the snow gods have done their thing and moved on eh?

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We do it for the women....

Good Morning Friends,

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today is Wednesday February 10, 2010

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It was another pretty, sunny day friends and I struck out with the unit once again - top down of course. I ended up at my friends house in Burnaby after all was said and done. We certainly cannot complain about this current bout of great weather that we are having that is for sure. Oh, I suppose you could complain a bit if you were an Olympic organizer but that would be about the extent of it.

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What do you think of my car friends? Well, I am glad I bought the car that is for sure. It is a pleasure to own and to drive. I get many compliments you know on how pretty it is - and all of the time too. So, as you can see I am very glad I bought it and it provides me with a great deal of pleasure. But, you know, it is also a sexual thing too when you think about it. I mean, let's get real. You have read my writing and you should know my thoughts on these matters by now. None of us does anything that will not benefit us in one way or another. We are all interested in the opposite sex as far as I know and many of us are interested in attracting our opposites, for whatever reason. It is just something that we do as human beings and it is perfectly normal behavior. We all like to be noticed and we all like to interact with the opposite sex. I know that I enjoy and engage in harmless flirting and that kind of thing all the time. I am sure that most of you do too.

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But, you know what? There is a dark side to our culture as well, if you are a male who is ending up with the short end of the stick that is. I am sure many of the males have experienced this thing that I am talking about. No, I don't mean all males, but maybe a good portion of them. I read an article yesterday by Henry Makow, Phd. He is on my Media Smorgasbord list on the main part of my bog Carl Baydala Wants You To Know.... if you are interested in him and his work. He is a Canadian and he has interests that are similar to mine. He talks about religions, Zionism, the Illuminati and all manner of things that would excite just about any mind. And, he writes some decent stuff on women too and how they treat men. His past articles talk about how women take guys to the cleaners, either in the marriage relationship or after, like gaining from divorce proceeding and the like. Women have a lot of power in our culture and that is something that I have known for a long time. And, that is fine, because they are women and they are blessed with physical attributes. But, let us not diminish our Western women in one fell swoop for that would not be a totally fair thing to do. However, in his latest article he writes things which I found fascinating, and maybe even true. Some men who are frustrated by their relationships - or non relationships have found a cure to their problems. They left the country and found women from other cultures, and these are women who act like women and treat a guy with respect and who seemingly love them for what they are. Maybe this is the answer for all of those Western men who are having a bad time of things. While you read this article and the little stories by men contained within it think about the reasons why this is happening. That is what I did let me assure you. Our culture produces these conditions and nothing else does. We do not live in a vacuum. So, take a look at this article and think about what is going on here:

Readers Who Escaped From Amerika

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Post Birthday Blues...

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Good Morning Friends,

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today is Tuesday February 9, 2010

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It is actually kind of a bummer you know, living the week after my birthday week, that is. It is like the climax has come and gone. I understand that we cannot have a birthday everyday, but surely there must be something to replace that excitement that we all enjoy on our birthdays. What do you think anyway? I know what I think and I am going to tell you right now what my thoughts are on the issue. It is like living the post birthday blues that is what it is like. The big day has come and gone. Sure, I got my Happy Birthday greetings and all that. But, now what? It is like the hangover to the whole thing. It is just plain dull that is all. Even the sunshine did not help much yesterday either. I got out and about with the unit and was able to enjoy a bit of sunshine as I am reporting to you now. It was quite cool though so I did not lower the top like the previous three days. Not much snow in the mountains either as far as I could tell - only in the higher parts of the mountains. Don't forget the Olympics is moving really close now, Friday is the big day. Now, that is excitement isn't it? I mean, shouldn't I be all pumped up and getting in the action? You would think so now wouldn't you? Well, I am not a big Olympics fan actually. Sure, I like the thrill of the whole thing especially when I am in downtown Vancouver and on the job. But, even that will now be restricted anyway, so where is the excitement even if you wanted to participate? The point dear friends is that man is a rather finicky beast. He is never satisfied. He is always wanting things and seeks happiness and well being. That seems to be his main task in life. He gets something and he wants more and that is just the kind of animal he is. Read the philosopher Arthur Schopenhauer and he will tell you about this condition of man. I know first hand how this human creature works so I do not really need Mr. Schopenhauer telling me something that I already know.

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Anyway, I am just giving one example for you about this feature of man by talking about my post birthday blues. I built myself up for the big event and now it is over. So, what now? Remember when you were a kid and waiting for Christmas and then it came and went? Remember the first day at school and the excitement and then the inevitable loss of interest due to routine and boredom? Remember getting excited about a girl and then she lets you down? I mean what do I do now to provide happiness and meaning in my life? Do I have to work a little harder to find that satisfaction in my life? Why should I even bother and is it worth it? Worth it I mean in the sense of achieving whatever it is that I want to achieve and then landing in the same place all over again after the event has come and gone. See what I mean? Maybe Schopenhauer was right. There is just no pleasing man and his insatiable desires; they are never ending. I think that is why man invented philosophy though, for times like this I mean. With philosophy you get to talk and think about things and examine them in as much or as little detail as you want. Philosophy may not provide any real answers for you, but at least it awakens you to the very essence of your humanity. And, then, once you become an expert in humanity and have a firm grasp on the whole thing, then what? What do you do for an encore?