All for Neo-Paganism, say aye

I just recently saw the film Avatar; on first impression, the visual graphics are spectacular, and the film is worth seeing for that reason alone. The 3D aspect certainly enhanced the overall sensory experience, and getting to don those goofy 3D glasses added an otherwise missing element of hilarity to our viewing pleasure. Apparently my head is too small, as my glasses kept slipping throughout the film. I believe everyone is familiar with the premise of this film, and so I will not bore you with a detailed summary. What I will comment on, is the fact that this film carries a very strong environmental message; a plea rather, to anyone who is willing to listen. The film stresses that nature is not to be toyed with, and that every living thing on the planet is connected to one another; intrinsically bound to one another by our communal dependency on nature. That nature, is something to be revered. The vatican is publicly showing their disdain for the overall sentiment of the film, as they refer to this reverence for the environment as an advocacy for Neo-Paganism/Animism. Being a devout atheist; perhaps I find this latest vatican outcry to be more absurd than most people? And perhaps it is because I believe that a reciprocal relationship between nature and animals must be forged for life to continue harmoniously(or at all), that I found the overall sentiment/message of the film to hold many applicable truths. Obviously, I am not ignorant of the constant stream of Americana bullshit/patriotism that was spewed across the entire length of the film...really, of all the possible species/race to be 'chosen' to fly that flaming orange bird, you believe that an American would be the most likely candidate? But I digress. I clearly am not advocating Neo-Paganism, or any of its affiliated religions; but if I were to appreciate a religion, I could most certainly respect certain aspects of Paganism, specifically of the Wiccan variety. The fervent devotion to nature, and respect for animals is a feature I can certainly relate to. The celebration of femininity, and acceptance of lesbian and homosexual relations is also something I can respect and admire. Whereas, there is nothing I find remotely admirable/respectable about the Catholic religion, and its misguided preachings(which have done more harm than good). But I could devote an entire blog(or two) on this subject matter alone, and it is 9:26pm, and I want to go make a cup of tea. To wrap things up: If the only way to get people to respect nature and animals is via taking up a religion, then let them all become Wiccans and that way they can still believe in a deity(deities), and can simultaneously devote themselves to treating their earth and fellow animals in a respectful and humane manner. It truly is a win win situation for everyone involved. Especially for the planet, which clearly is the most important of the two. If I had my say, we would get our priorities straight, and focus on rebuilding/renourishing our earth, so that our feet would tread daily upon a healthy planet, not a dying one. Then let the worshiping recommence if need be.

Cupeth running over?

Some would say that I am a pessimist, but I have always preferred to think of myself as a realist. I embrace both the negative and positive in life; could never appreciate life otherwise. With the holidays rapidly approaching, I am reflecting on what makes the holidays memorable and meaningful for me. Coming from a highly dysfunctional family, the memorable aspects come quite naturally, and most usually in abundance. But what makes the holidays meaningful? For me, it is spending some quiet, stress free, time with the people that I love. This year, I am fortunate enough to have Vivien home for the holidays. We have never spent Christmas/NYE together, and I am elated beyond belief that we'll get to spend some down time together this holiday season. With working full time, and Vivien finishing his thesis, we haven't really had the chance to spend much quality time together. We have decided to spend Christmas in Ottawa this year, and with Vivien here, I do not need anything more. We'll bake cookies, watch cheesy Christmas themed movies, and take long walks along the snowy banks of the canal. We'll witness the glee(more like mischief) in Keats eyes as he plays soccer with his miniature soccer ball. Home is wherever I'm with you.

All I want for Christmas...

is this bicycle. The specs look pretty decent, and I yearn for a bicycle that is fairly compact, aesthetically pleasing, and fully functional...check it out at www.gocycle.com

Go organic...

If you are prone to indulging in any of these tasty fruits, please be advised that these 12 in particular have made the top of the list(www.foodnews.org) in regards to the amount of pesticides that are used on them...peaches scoring the highest: with a whopping combination of 53 different pesticides! With their relatively thin skin, you can only assume that most of the pesticides have seeped into the interior of the fruit...apples came in second; ridden with 50 different varieties...so unless you're eating organic apples, the old adage of 'an apple a day keeps the doctor away', no longer applies. Strawberries have no skin to act as a shield against the 38 pesticides used on them; so definately shop organic when making your fabulous strawberry and spinach salad. Also, make sure to check out the EWG's Foodnews site, as it contains a shopper's guide to pesticides.

Just another reason why I adore Isabella Rossellini...

Very informative...for instance, I never realized snails were hermaphrodites, producing both spermatozoa and ova! check it out...
http://www.sundancechannel.com/greenporno/

In the clearing...

It was never a question of morals; as there would never be refuge for a restless mind like his. An unwavering dedication to details; he had logged his last thirty eight hours. Each minute detail underlined and highlighted; a tenderness permeating from the tea stained page. Each distinct word spoke loudly of his foreshadowed fate. It is in times like these, that I find myself running back to the year 1995. Reminded of the peculiar way in which we lived our lives, and how we were only then beginning to understand ourselves by way of one another. How easily we were moved to tarnish and feather others for misdeeds that were pale in comparison to our own, and this knowledge of our own abhorrent nature; we became too consumed by one another. The very structure of our lives was no longer enough to suit our moods, and so our hearts grew weary, and we began to withdraw from one another. In the end, he had convinced himself that only by way of his death could he make up for all of his sins. He could have written the handbook on the topic of self sacrifice, his own heart feasting on itself each and every night. There are only stolen moments now that exist for us; these fervent kisses that barely brush the surface of my life. There had been this crevice of solitude that we were both so diligently chipping away at; the firm belief that eventually this gulf between us would one day recede and our lives would meld back into one uniform mass. A precious landscape that only our feet would ever tread upon; a new language would be born. This dialogue will never be rejoiced in; for it now falls upon deaf ears, but within my dreaming imagery he is still very much alive and he is all mine. Some may refer to this as a burden of hearts, but by tucking him ever so deeply in the heart of me I am keeping that precious part of us safe, the part that only we ourselves knew of, the part that now resides in my memory alone. Because when I die, we will meet again, and in the clearing I know he'll be wearing his young again smile.

when in doubt...crochet?

The other night whilst working, I came across this article in the National Post...the article was based on survivors accounts of the L'Aquila earthquake in Italy. This old lady(98 years of age)...she had been buried beneath the rubble for 30 hours, and when finally rescued she admitted to reporters that she had whiled away the hours by crocheting! Other than a few scrapes/bruises, she was perfectly fine...and apparently had made great head way on her latest knitting project. Simply amazing.