2004/05/20
What do I hear?
"We always hear the thing we listen for, and our character determines what we listen for. When Jesus Christ alters our character, he gives us the power to hear as he hears."
Oswald Chambers
2004/05/18
Priueeese can i have one?
In my excitement following my last post, I would like to dedicate this post to the most awesome car on the road. It's Toyota's new Prius. This vehicle is a spectacular machine with unmatched styling and a great interior setup. Oh yah, it's also a hybrid that gets 80mpg. The electric engine recharges on the normally-wasted electricity generated by braking (the car doesn't get plugged in). And it doesn't cost that much to buy. What's not to like?
2004/05/17
Gas prices
At some point in the near future I'm going to review why I am unable to vote for any of the parties running in the Canadian federal election next month. For now, I would like to site Harper's terrible proposal today as symptomatic of the short-sitedness that prevents me from supporting the Conservative Party.
The tax break would only save me a cent a litre: an amount that the oil companies could easily eat up for themselves with a quick price increase - I'd rather have that money going to repairing the roads that I'm going to use the fuel on.
If the government was serious about keeping prices low, it would re-invest in Petro-Canada; a company it created to regulate the industry through competition. Better than that, it could stop the flow of oil out of Canada. Most people do not realize that Canada is actually blessed with an oil surplus - like Iraq and Saudi Arabia. Why, then, do our prices fluctuate with the USA? Because our oil is taken from Canada, refined by American corporations, and then resold to Canadians.
Some people have the idea that government should not interfere with business - that capitalism is a wonderful thing that will regulate itself given enough freedom. However, this view is blatently contradictory to obvious evidence. Furthermore, since there is already no competition between companies - there's no capitalism to preserve (some would argue that what we are seeing is true capitalism).
I should end this rant by clarifying that I'm not altogether opposed to gas price increases. There are far too many needless vans, pickups, and of course SUVs (all SUVs are needless) on the road today; purchased because consumers were spoiled with gas prices that are often half the amount that the average European pays for fuel. 90 cents per litre hurts me a little at the pump, but if it has an impact on the purchasing and driving habits of consumers on a wide scale, then I'm ok with it.
The tax break would only save me a cent a litre: an amount that the oil companies could easily eat up for themselves with a quick price increase - I'd rather have that money going to repairing the roads that I'm going to use the fuel on.
If the government was serious about keeping prices low, it would re-invest in Petro-Canada; a company it created to regulate the industry through competition. Better than that, it could stop the flow of oil out of Canada. Most people do not realize that Canada is actually blessed with an oil surplus - like Iraq and Saudi Arabia. Why, then, do our prices fluctuate with the USA? Because our oil is taken from Canada, refined by American corporations, and then resold to Canadians.
Some people have the idea that government should not interfere with business - that capitalism is a wonderful thing that will regulate itself given enough freedom. However, this view is blatently contradictory to obvious evidence. Furthermore, since there is already no competition between companies - there's no capitalism to preserve (some would argue that what we are seeing is true capitalism).
I should end this rant by clarifying that I'm not altogether opposed to gas price increases. There are far too many needless vans, pickups, and of course SUVs (all SUVs are needless) on the road today; purchased because consumers were spoiled with gas prices that are often half the amount that the average European pays for fuel. 90 cents per litre hurts me a little at the pump, but if it has an impact on the purchasing and driving habits of consumers on a wide scale, then I'm ok with it.
2004/05/13
Newskim 05/13
Bets on whether these rich fat-cats will actually receive 60 years?
Liberal party continues to use it's dictator-level power (Canadians did not vote Paul Martin into office) to distort justice.
Looks like there'll be an election next month. If only I had someone to vote for.
If you try real hard, you might actually be able to fake some concern. But then again, maybe not. You are North American, after all.
Liberal party continues to use it's dictator-level power (Canadians did not vote Paul Martin into office) to distort justice.
Looks like there'll be an election next month. If only I had someone to vote for.
If you try real hard, you might actually be able to fake some concern. But then again, maybe not. You are North American, after all.
Mr. Prime Minister, if we are to move beyond commemorating genocides, pogroms, the Holocaust and other human atrocities, Canada must work together with its international partners to resolve this latest crisis in Africa.
2004/05/09
On hints
Here's a post that I deemed interesting enough to plagerize (with the author's permission). You can find the original post, titled "On hints" (2004/05/06, 12:47AM), here.
I'm not talking about hints as in "jen's blog sounds sorta odd, maybe there's 15 Caedmon's Call references hidden in it"... i'm talking about a lifestyle in which people always have to read between the lines to know what you're saying. Where what's NOT being said is more important than what IS. AND takes more listening for. I would just like to say... ABSURD! IT'S ALL ABSURD!
Ahem.
What are the advantages of a lifestyle of pointedly not saying exactly what you mean?
1. You don't have to be vulnerable. At all. You make people guess what you're feeling and thinking. And then THEY get hurt if they get it wrong, NOT you. And if they use their guesses against you... you just pretend they guessed wrong. Perfect security.
2. You have a built-in hierarchy, with you at the top. You force others to serve you if they want any sort of friendship or relationship.
3. There's a built-in level of disdain. Because OBVIOUSLY if they can't read you, they don't know you very well at all. Except that you never let them know you in the first place...
4. You can assume that everyone lives by the same rules that you do. Which makes everything easier. Except that they don't... i mean, just because i know that anyone who's anyone plays with the napkin dispensers at Tim Hortons...
Ok, so basically, a lifestyle of veiled authenticity isn't really authenticity at all. It's just selfish, and it's going to hurt and confuse people. So stop it, all of you. And when i do it, stop me, too.
Granted, with some people you're going to have to be more pointed than others. With people that you know well enough, an off-hand reference to a situation might be all you need to do in order to completely communicate everything you need to. With others, you could spell it out for them, and it might still be an enigma. But that's not the point. The point is, are you willing to let someone know if there's something wrong? Communicate in a way that they understand, not simply a way that you're comfortable with? Are you willing to be upfront with who you are? Are you willing to stick your neck out once in a while, for their sake?
2004/05/08
Non-post
This is less of a post and more of a public service announcement.
1. I've finally added comments. Please feel free to comment on any past or present posts. I expect a comment for every post from Thainamu, who's been at me about getting these installed. ;)
2. I would like to send a shout out to the international crowd reading this blog. Who knew? Ok, it's probably just Thain, but that still gives me the right to claim this prestigous honor (misspelling in commemoration of non-Canadian visitors).
3. Just a quick comment on the atrocities that are being revealed in Iraq. This is exactly what I have been saying all along, folks. W is not a Christian, he is Osama Bin Laden. The two men are one in the same, they just have a different cause. W is Saddam; they both use the same tactics to control the Iraqi people. Take three minutes and read this: http://slate.msn.com/id/2100014/
1. I've finally added comments. Please feel free to comment on any past or present posts. I expect a comment for every post from Thainamu, who's been at me about getting these installed. ;)
2. I would like to send a shout out to the international crowd reading this blog. Who knew? Ok, it's probably just Thain, but that still gives me the right to claim this prestigous honor (misspelling in commemoration of non-Canadian visitors).
3. Just a quick comment on the atrocities that are being revealed in Iraq. This is exactly what I have been saying all along, folks. W is not a Christian, he is Osama Bin Laden. The two men are one in the same, they just have a different cause. W is Saddam; they both use the same tactics to control the Iraqi people. Take three minutes and read this: http://slate.msn.com/id/2100014/
# posted by Justin @ 01:01
2004/05/06
Seven Months
Well, I got the car's brakes fixed today (Andymac, Ana, Jen, Dan, and all you other whiners can stop yer complainin') :) It cost a pretty penny, too. 2 rear wheel cylinders, metric steel lines, front disc pads, front rotors, rear shoes, brake fluid, and labour came to $671.31. The decimal is in the right spot, I triple checked.
It's worth it, though. My car feels SO good, and now Andymac's car is so inferior that I fear it may just spontaneously combust.
The rule for old (er, classic) cars like mine is that it has to give you a month's service in exchange for every $100 in repairs that you spend. This means that my car has to be around for at least another seven months....the world can rest a little easier tonight.
It's the Friends series finale, and they're playing it like the planet is going to stop revolving tomorrow....I will spend the remainder of the evening avoiding the television.
It's worth it, though. My car feels SO good, and now Andymac's car is so inferior that I fear it may just spontaneously combust.
The rule for old (er, classic) cars like mine is that it has to give you a month's service in exchange for every $100 in repairs that you spend. This means that my car has to be around for at least another seven months....the world can rest a little easier tonight.
It's the Friends series finale, and they're playing it like the planet is going to stop revolving tomorrow....I will spend the remainder of the evening avoiding the television.
2004/05/05
many plans....
How do you understand the world when God is so clearly working in your life, and you don't like it?
How do you move from being totally secure in your own plans to being tossed in the waves with no anchor but the Lord?
Why does God require such faith in His provision? Why can't He and I reach an agreement where we settle for my best plans?
Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the LORD that will stand.
Proverbs 19:21
How do you move from being totally secure in your own plans to being tossed in the waves with no anchor but the Lord?
Why does God require such faith in His provision? Why can't He and I reach an agreement where we settle for my best plans?
Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the LORD that will stand.
Proverbs 19:21
