The Human Brain is Not Wired for Annihilation

Lately I've seen quite a few disturbing numbers. Such as 90% of Iraqi children are experiencing PTSD or a large number of Darfur refugees have suffered complete emotional breakdowns. Those folks who question the validity of PTSD or anxiety symptoms during or after war and other violent acts, are simply lucky. In my opinion, most sane individuals who have seriously grieved or seen unspeakable acts of violence understand how profoundly that changes an individual.
Scientifically speaking, the human brain reacts chemically to such a stressor and tries to prepare you for the next attack- by providing anxiety- to increase your alert system.
But this primal alert system was never built to process violence with semi-automatic weapons, bombs and other unnatural acts.
In my opinion, the brain just can't keep up with modern violence.
I know people have been killing each other since the dawn of time. Yet, their tools- such as fists, swords, clubs, fire or boulders just weren't capable of providing the gruesome displays seen in today's acts of genocide or war.
When will people understand that violence begets more violence, and our minds aren't really up for it?

Homesteaders Can Save the World

First of all, for this title to make any sense I need to elaborate what may possibly destroy the world. Which, in my opinion, is conspicuous consumption. Basically, the thinking goes- if every inhabitant on earth (peasant, nomad, refugee, what have you) aspired to live like any American (multiple cars, 17 outfits from Wal-Mart, super sized hamburgers) there wouldn't be any earth left.
I don't care what your politics, or environmental feelings are, just do the math. We just can't and don't have the room to grow trees, mix concrete, pave roads, build houses, etc.....for every citizen on earth to live "comfortably". People need to step up and stop consuming like mad. I know some folks think that kind of thinking is socialist zeal, but what language you speak or where you live doesn't make you less human (or does it?)
Many of my neighbors here in Alaska are true "homesteaders". Their sole occupation is repairing their homes, raising animals, growing veggies, collecting junk to use later and fixing the car.
To many suburbanites, their lifestyle seems preposterous. Yards full of containers, car parts, fencing, etc. all collected for free and to use at a later time.
I'll admit, to a city girl, their properties are quite the eyesore. I've often wanted to scurry over and start sorting their stuff. Yet, when I look past my prejudices, I see true environmental stewards.
Homesteaders are frugal and live through recycling. They don't ever buy 16 pairs of shoes, don't build giant McMansions or jet around the world. The term "carbon footprint" isn't even in their vocabulary, nor should it be, because it is so minimal.
So who is the true environmentalist? Someone like John Edwards talking about carbon emissions and living in a 29,000 square foot house? Or the unknown fellow tinkering in his poultry yard ?

Why You Pay Less

Oh my, I really don't mean to be picking on China again. It's just impossible not to when it seems their entire economy is based on the absent minded American consumer.
I'm not really sure if anyone is paying attention to the recent reports that the melamine contamination in their pet food was no accident. It turns out the melamine additive is a cheap coal byproduct, which happens to be easy to disguise & add to feed. Then all one needs to do is sell it on to big food companies (with a wink) and pretend the protein got their naturally.
Can you really blame the Chinese for this little trick?? Their whole super fast development is largely unregulated and a success mainly because Americans don't care to know how or where their products are made- as long as they are cheap, cheap, cheap!!
I mean heck-- if we really wanted quality standards, workers rights and environmental responsibility- would we have driven all the manufacturing companies right out of the US and Europe?? No, we didn't care why things cost more to make, we just wanted them made cheaper.
And it's not because Americans are poor and can't afford a loaf of bread, it's because we like to have closets stuffed full of payless shoes, homes filled with plastic toddler furniture and gigantic lawn chair sets--and did I mention, we want them cheap?

Slaughter or Slapstick ?

A recent article in Time magazine reported that today's television and movie audiences expect to see more blood, violence and torture than ever before. I can understand that folks become jaded and need to see the envelope pushed. However, I am perplexed as to why the human psyche can possibly find enjoyment by seeing their fellow humans maimed.
Ok, obviously there is some sort of adrenaline rush from the suspense, but if scenes of torture are considered entertainment, what does that really say about us as human beings?
We often say that we are beyond public hangings or throwing someone to the lions-but how is it different to watch "actors" experience the same misery?
What the heck is the evolutionary purpose of this kind of morbid curiosity??? Are you just glad it's not happening to you??
My plan would be to take over the major movie theaters and instead of the expected flick, show images of Iraq, Darfur, or any other war torn place on earth. Plenty of violence, torture, and mutilation there. But oh no, then everyone would lament that I was "bringing them down" with my reality images. So bring on the "actors" and torture them instead--now that's entertainment........

The Secret Lives of Airline Blankets

I had heard speculative musings that airline blankets do not get washed, only repackaged. However, I always disregarded this tidbit as myth or fluff.
Nevertheless, I recently happened to have an airline blanket in my possession. It was actually given to me by an airline carrier, as padding for my dog in her crate.
As I would never simply toss a perfectly good blanket away, I proceeded to throw it in the wash like I would any other acrylic blanket.
This is when the ugly truth revealed itself. This was no ordinary blanket, but an impostor. Although it looked and felt snugly soft before washing, the aforementioned item proceeded to fall apart in my gentle cycle. Not only did weird blue blobs of cloth & lint fill the rinse cycle, but when I took the former "blanket" out of the machine it looked like some sort of nasty oil rag. The formerly soft surface had now become a rough, lint ball covered, raggedy mess.
Now, unless the airlines are actually dry cleaning these things, I can certainly vouch that those dark blue blankets can not survive an ordinary washing. Which leaves one to wonder how many lovely folks are we sharing them with???

If I am Running Am I Being Chased?

I recently spoke to my dubious relative Ratboy. He informed me that by leaving the East Coast I had left behind the impression that I had "run away".
Run away from what I asked? Ratboy thought for a moment and stated, "all this, the East Coast". What exactly does that mean? I am not one of those Alaskans that came to Alaska in order to evade the law. As far as I know, no crime was committed.
Yet, the other East Coast inhabitants are perplexed--how could she not like traffic congestion, pollution and playing 'Keep up with the Joneses'?
As far as I am concerned, they are just trapped. Trapped in a world where you are drowning in debt to impress your neighbors. Where kids mock each others outfits at school. And everyone needs to believe this is good--otherwise why would they be putting up with all the stress??
I am the space alien who got on the space ship and left mars, because I finally realized that it was just a dusty, dry planet after all.....

When the Omega Wolf Bites

I am quite fascinated by wolf behavior. One of the more well-known characteristics of a wolf pack is that they fight for status. The top of the pack are the "Alpha" male & female, and at the bottom is the "Omega".
It's actually very sad that the other wolves pick on and ostracize the omega wolf--often for no particular reason, except to prove "at least I'm not him". By keeping one at the bottom, it establishes that the others are still on top.
I actually find it quite maddening that human beings don't recognize this wild characteristic amongst their own kind. It's as if humans feel they have "evolved" beyond a need for such cruel pack behavior. Yeah right, ever been to high school??
Schools today have all these "anti-bullying" curriculums and so forth. But I honestly don't know if it can keep kids from truly being cruel to one another.
Now in the wild, the Omega wolf really has no way besides snarling and snapping to fight back the rest of the pack. Often they just give up. But what if the Omega wolf got really angry? What if he had access to mind-numbing violent video games & TV? And then what if he decided to walk into his local, lenient gun shop and buy a gun?? What if is plan was to hunt down the pack? Is there some way to check that the friendly wolf is not really a pissed off Omega?? (the proverbial wolf in sheeps clothing)
Just a thought--if we can't keep people from acting like wolves, can we at least keep the guns away from them???