An article on the City of Angkor in Cambodia, the largest pre-industrial metropolis in the world: http://www.mercurynews.com/search/ci_6618259.
Interesting in its own right, but this caught my eye especially: "The hydraulic system became "not manageable, no matter how many resources were thrown at it,"".
That got me to thinking. Reliance on technology to brute-force the environment with rapid growth to fit to some vision of human dominance and success? That breaks down eventualy? Hmm, is that much dissimilar to where we may be today? Following the same path, trusting in yet more technology to make our current way somehow work out?
If so, it is pause for thought.
First, watch this: Animator vs Animation
When you've regained the ability to breathe, watch this: Animator vs Animation II
Darned brilliant. Brilliant!
That flight I was talking about in my Potter post? That was for a visit back to Ontario to go on a camping trip put together by my good friend Dave. This would be my first encounter with portaging, long canoe paddling, and wilderness camping. This could only be great.
Killarney Provincial Park is a geological marvel, straddling several types of rock formations and types, formerly housing mountains taller than the Rockies that were ground down during successive ice ages, also straddling the line between the Boreal north and the great lakes lowlands. The lakes within the park are high and clear compared to the boggier ones surrounding it. The rugged white rock, the pine trees jutting up and the clear lakes inspired even several artists from the Group of Seven, one of whom was the driving force behind the foundation of what would become the park. Put succinctly, the above is a long way of saying the landscape is one of beauty. It's different than the jutting mountains of the Wudang region of China, different than the great granite cliffs of Yosemite. The La Cloche mountains may be much shorter (shorter than even the hills around the SF Bay area), but they have a quality and a texture that of strong beauty and of impressiveness that is all their own.
The weather could not have been planned for any better. It rained only twice, and each for only a short time (which we spent under a hung tarp). Otherwise it was pretty much clear all the way, with very little wind. Dave had arranged the trip to land during the full moon, and with the clear skies the moon shone brightly our entire trip. We took several moonlight paddles, silently gliding across the perfectly still water under the lunar light was like paddling across deep glass. Very ethereal, very evocative. We also hiked to the top of one of the hills on the night of the full moon proper, casting our eyes over the gently illuminated valleys and lake. During the day the water reflected the surroundings for beautiful tableau after tableau.
Yes, we took pictures -- how could we not, with this beauty surrounding us? Find them here at this link.
I totally enjoyed the paddling (I sat mostly in the front, not yet being familiar with the J-corrective-stroke of the rear paddler), especially as I played with it, trying to find an 'internal' style of paddling, one that felt tai chi-ish. And the portaging was something else I took to -- apparently I like to start things with a bang -- my first portage was a 1400m hike up some of the steepest sections of trail in the park. I ended up doing the following two other portages as well, at 2000m and 1700m respectively.
We took many a swim, both short and swimming out from shore to shore or island, both during the day and even under the moon's light (sans vestments for that one). We saw turtles, snakes, chipmunks, squirrels, mice, (the big game eluded us). We hiked, canoed and camped out in the wilderness. I did tai chi by the water's edge early in the tranquil morning as the mist rose from the lake. I came away with nearly a beard.
In climbing up the rocky ridge one afternoon, I had a remarkable experience: as soon as I began I brought into being a space of peace and assuredness. It was really amazing: every footfall was perfect and sure, and I nearly floated up the hill, and back down again. It was such an amazing state of being that I ran up and down a rock pile several times once I returned to near-water's edge, with no loss of balance, no rock going astray, just revelling in the calm that was there (with likely a big grin on my face).
As for my prediction that black/horse/deer flies and mosquitoes do not come to get me, well... that is apparently no longer accurate.
It was, it goes without saying, an amazing trip. Thanks Dave for making it happen.
More! There is a day-by-day trip diary posted by Averyl here, and if you have Google Earth, you can download this file and follow our trail (double click on the first name, then go under Tools --> Play tour).
There's a garbage collector strike in a nearby town, and uncollected piles of garbage bags are piling up there in the streets. And I wonder -- will anyone see those piles, notice how quickly they accumulated, and think "Wow, we really DO throw out a lot as a society."? And then take action? On that 4.5 lbs/day average? Thoughts generated about where 'away' is and what's going there (and what space is left)? I wonder...
"I think as designers we realize that design is a signal of intention, but it also has to occur within a world, and we have to understand that world in order to imbue our designs with inherent intelligence. So as we look back at the basic state of affairs in which we design, we in a way need to go to the primordial condition to understand the operating system, and the frame conditions of a planet. I think the exciting part of that is the good news that's there, because the news is the news of abundance and not the news of limits. And I think as our culture tortures itself now with tyrannies and concerns over limits, and fear, we can add this other dimension of abundance that is coherent, driven by the sun, and start to imagine what that would be like to share..." -- William McDonough
If you have not yet read Cradle to Cradle, please, do so now. It is an amazing and beautiful introduction to a shift in context, one that is logical and powerful. McDonough is quite a visionary, and out there, in the world, doing it. He gave a talk at TED, an ideas conference in Santa Cruz in 2005 and the other day I was sent a link to his remarkable talk... which I now share with you. See it here.
One evening an old Cherokee told his grandson about a battle that goes on inside people.
He said, "My son, the battle is between two "wolves" inside us all.
One is Evil. It is anger, envy, jealousy, sorrow, regret, greed, arrogance, self-pity, guilt, esentment, inferiority, lies, false pride, superiority, and ego.
The other is Good. It is joy, peace, love, hope, serenity, humility, kindness, benevolence, empathy, generosity, truth, compassion and faith."
The grandson thought about it for a minute and then asked his grandfather:
"Which wolf wins?"
The old Cherokee simply replied, "The one you feed."
-- Old Cherokee Legend
I really like that, and really love how especially the last line can be expanded beyond the simple organization of good/bad into a greater world of all states of being...
"... He wants to be dragged -- kicking and screaming, if necessary -- back to his own idealism, his commitment to a future that works for everyone, with no one and nothing left out." -- David Gerrold
I have so been recreated.
Current Possibility: 100% Alive
"Those who live deeply never grow old; they may die of old age, but they die young."
These times, they are a rockin'
A good week and weekend of Kung Fu. Sunday was a great self-directed practice day. After doing the Sun style set a couple of times we worked on applications and, moreso, linking and power. One thing I have always enjoyed about Kung Fu (or climbing, for that matter) are those moments of insight or discovery, and of delight when you perform something exquisitely for the first time. Had that many times this Sunday, especially on one particular move where literally the only thing I (and others, a bunch of us really got it this weekend) felt with a partner pushing quite hard was the skin on the arm moving from their push. Without doing anything, without even really feeling their push, they were bounced back. We also did some Xing Yi development and got deeper into the movements and concepts of Metal. Afterwards Evan and I did 5, 6, 7 and 8 in rapid succession, which was great, something we hadn't done in a while. I also started up Iron Palm last week, which felt great.
Alas, Sunday evening I stabbed my left palm with a knife -- it wasn't a deep wound and hardly hurt at the time (and even little blood) but overnight it swelled a little and today it hurt like the dickens whenever I tried to straighten or curl my middle finger. Which means no Iron Palm for me this week, and likely no practice either. Nor even some of my morning excercises. Grump!
No gaming, but gearing up for Jason's game next weekend -- character's ready to go, and I'm excited. Also having the mini painted up by our group's resident fantastico mini painter (who sculpted an amazing set of clothes for the mini while we were playing...
certainly talented).
Time to complete on what I took on three months ago, and in both cases I've had some pretty remarkable breakthroughs. Imagine being at the centre of a new accountability, you're just starting out, you're training others who have just started out, you have to get a bunch of tasks done as you learn them, there are things you're discovering as you go along, everything's in motion. Think of holding six reigns at once with horses going all over the place. Now, imagine being at the centre of that and going with calm, with ease, with grace, and even enjoying it. At one with the world and in adventure: check. And last weekend, after a breakdown or two the week prior, I had a remarkable experience of being one within conversation, with a quiet mind, quiet anxiety, flowing and living, not surviving within it. Heart of trepidation and being with discovery: check. Picture big grin on face.
Had this article directed my way today, and thought it very interesting on a variety of levels: read it here. Also, I reccomend to listen to the audio if you have a chance -- the acoustics are pretty good and it's a unique sound with the background going on.
Seems to me I had more to write about, but they've slipped the mind for the moment. A pitfall of writing so infrequently these past weeks!
Current Possibility: going all out
This is the true joy of life, the being used for a purpose recognized by yourself as a mighty one; the being a force of nature instead of a feverish selfish little clod of ailment and grievance complaining that the world will not devote itself to making you happy. I am of the opinion that my life belongs to the whole community and as long as I live it Is my privilege to do for it what I can. I want to be used up when I die, for the harder I work the more I live, and I rejoice in life for its own sake. Life is no "brief candle" to me. It is a sort of splendid torch which I have got hold of for the moment, and I want to make it burn as brightly as possible before passing it on to future generations. -- George Bernard Shaw
This is who I am. This is what you can count on.
Ah Friday, ah WoW. Ah, not as fruitful as I would've liked... I (and thus Ajathka) had one aim that evening: enter an instance and get a particular rifle that drops. Six hours and three instance runs later, I not only had not gotten the rifle (it did not drop) but I had also won (random rolls) only about 3 of the other items that did drop, netting me little gold or upgrades for the eve. Had me actually frustrated for a short bit (I had totally gotten attached to a particular outcome), but I've now sent out feelers for another run through the instance and we'll see what drops this time.
Saturday was truly a day for inquiry. In the afternoon a group of friends and I gathered to watch What the Bleep Do We Know, a film that gets the contemplation going and was much appreciated by all. Then, in the evening Melissa and I headed to see Blue Man Group's "How to Be a Megastar Tour 2.0" which, while certainly a different style and genre, has through it several currents of thought-provoking reflection on society, the media and on modern life. The show was quite different from their permanent show I saw in Vegas -- this one was much more focused on music and actual song (no vocals at the Vegas show), and less on performance acts. Also, much less mess-creating acts; when it's not your stage, you can't throw paint everywhere! Several of the acts and themes were common between both shows, of course. Happily, the music was very fine, the production was impactful, and the crowd was right there with them the whole way, right from the get go. Given that audience participation is a big thing in a Blue Man production, this was fortuitous -- seeing an entire arena of people waving their LCD-lit cell phones in the air in the dark was quite amazing. All the crazy percussion creations were heavily used, which certainly made me happy. Well worth it.
Just a quick note about the opening act (yep, the show had an opening act). An interesting combination of remixed music, with video, coupled with on-stage scratching that not only a) was ridiculously fast but b) also scratched the video track back and forth, (and sometimes the audio from said video track as well) which made for a pretty unique sound and experience. Also they showed a video of the Eepybird guys doing their geyser work on the Blue Man stage in NYC.
When Sunday evening was joined, it was for the last session of The Mines of Bloodstone, the second module in my campaign. The last few sessions were good solid affairs as the party explored the duregar temple carved into the very rock of the Underdark. Soon after the game started on Sunday, my lovingly crafted map was unfurled (hooray for large-format printers!) and the party ascended into a huge temple of the macabre, a summoning ceremony in progress around a large mercury pool. The battle was joined, there was tension, there was tactics, there was moments of resounding shouts of triumph, there was character anguish and anger, there were dirty tricks by the villains, and in the end, with things in the balance, it came down to the wire, and the PCs were victorious. It was a good end to a good set of sessions to a good run through the module. Hard to believe we began it in October of 2005, but it built well and maintained itself pretty well throughout, delays and small hiatuses notwithstanding. I had a good time running it and am now onto working on the third module.
Jason also announced that eve that he would be taking on the GM mantle, and so doth a new campaign begin! I'm excited, and coming up with several character ideas... woo!
Something amusing happened last night that made me really aware of the way our minds are so stuck on patterns and on the past.
Along with the new kung fu class/setup at the other kwoon space, we have received new school shirts that are, shall we say, quite different from our old ones. Since I began practicing Kung Fu I've worn the black Wing Lam shirt to every class and most practices as well -- these new shirts are instead a quite bright gold in colour. I put the shirt on before class, did my warmups, all that. When class was started I trotted out onto the practice space. My eyes caught a flash of brightness from my chest and I had a moment of panic, and my mind immediatly went "YOU ARE WEARING THE WRONG CLOTHES! YOU FORGOT TO CHANGE!" A couple of more times during the class I was distracted by the shirt and its uncustomary hue, like something wasn't right.
Amusing and telling.
"The most visible creators I know are those artists whose medium is life itself. The ones who express the inexpressible - without brush, hammer, clay or guitar. They neither paint nor sculpt - their medium is being. Whatever their presence touches has increased life. They see and don't have to draw. They are the artists of being alive." -- Jay Scott
It's been quite the fantastic week; there's been a certain composure there that's making its presence known. No doubt about it, this is going to be quite an unfolding over the next three months.
Saturday evening got a surprise call from Lumi who invited me to a local crab cioppino event, happening literally about a mile from my house. No problem, I ran the whole way there, worked up a bit of an appetite, and enjoyed much crab cooked in an aromatic broth. As we spoke between cracking legs and claws we caught up on our lives, shared some philosophical musings and marveled at the humour of the crab feast. Also got to catch up on something else on Sunday, mainly the staff sparring set. Rev and I learned it a good chunk of years ago - he rode over to our new training spot on Sunday (the Sunday Sifu/Tai Chi group found this great spot to train on Sundays) and we worked on the set for a bunch, managing to get the first half back to pretty good form by the time we were done. Between that, Tai Chi and practicing a few Shaolin forms it was a good 'fu weekend.
Gaming was Sunday night, a good game of the Bloodstone campaign. Some work for DP9, some more exploration in Outland in WoW and some cleaning rounded out the weekend.
Found this link today, which is pretty interesting: http://www.theregister.co.uk/2007/01/30/lily_white_and_not_loving_it/. Some food for thought in regards to the composition of online communities, and what that means for what gets created and/or had there. To take what the author says and take it further, it is kind of like, in a way, a giant theme park or fenced community. You have to be this tall to enter this ride... and by that very virtue it sets up a baseline meme that gets reinforced by newcomers who are then influenced by the meme and react according to it and which reinforces it even more. Not quite a direct reflection/representation of FirstLife.
Current Possibility: Being the artist where every situation is a blank canvas
A zen poet said: "A person who is a master in the art of living makes little distinction between their work and their play, their labor and their leasure, their mind and their body, their education and their recreation, their love and their religion. They hardly know which is which and simply persue their vision of excellence and grace, whatever they do, leaving others to decide whether they are working or playing. To them they are always doing both."
It struck me the other day that while I've shared what has gone on or happened (especially on my mind recently with the year-end-review post) I've rarely stated what I'm taking on or engaging in. I'll start by painting with a broad brush the inquiry I'm entering into over the next few months:
One, I intend to get at the source of my trepidation in certain situations and cause a breakthrough in being with people with ease and grace. I also am taking on being "Kung Fu Master", at one with the world, always in adventure, playing in games that have me leap out of bed in the morning and go to bed at night fulfilled and complete.
That's what I'm up to.
Current Possibility: Juicy Life
Another year has flown by, another day where we draw a line in the sand to mark where we take stock of things. And the day when I proclaim my amazement at how quickly the year passed!
From my line in the sand, I look back and see that this year has been truly remarkable and extraordinary.
I received not one, but two raises at work this year, with a fantastic review that not only had me receive much praise but in which I was also able to deliver my feedback in a way that was received with no consternation on their part, and thus be able to contribute to the growth and development of the firm. I took to my Job Captain role and duties well throughout the year, and gained new rapports with many of my co-workers.
Of particular note during the year at my job was two things: first was a six to eight week period of intense activity when three projects were all in crunch mode at the same time, wherein I stood and worked inside that vortex, completing tasks and without crazyness. It's the first time I've had what must be the experience of the kung fu masters of lore, calm no matter what's occurring around them. There was much to do and I did what needed to be done, never feeling much stress, not losing control and without overwhelm or anxiety. A privileged place to be, really, and a great feeling that I'm very chuffed to have been able to get to such a state.
Second would be the ADT implementation at work. I managed the project pretty much by myself, speaking to our consultants, managing their work, and then bringing it all to rest inside our office's use. Most importantly was the training, and this is the notable: there were times where I was writing the material in the morning to be delivered at noon (Just-in-time training indeed). I learned at my review my boss was quite worried when he'd come by and discover that was what was occurring -- yet it went off without a hitch. In fact, he acknowledged me during my review that this was the best training that had ever been delivered there and that he was very impressed. I knew I had done well, but that was awesome to hear and be recognized for.
I also took and passed two more of the Architectural Registration Exams this year, leaving me with four more to go. I had planned on three, but I am still well on track for my target completion date of all exams plus the supplementary for end of 2008.
Kung Fu saw great gains this year, and it was an interesting bag with the new format. I learned a great deal, both in the new styles of Bagua, Hung Gar and now Sun Tai Chi, but I continued apace with my Shaolin training as well. It was fun and fantastic to watch as new understanding from the new disciplines made their way to enhance my Shaolin. I was also much able this year to escape from my head and just be with the kung fu, making for greater excellence when performing the sets. Sun style will continue to be a fantastic learning voyage. The year ended on a downward note with the wrist injury, and later with the loss of the school space to practice. Both are well poised to be resolved and worked out in this new year.
Founding a company -- never thought I'd say that yet I did that this year, along with three business partners. Breathe Deep LLC's aim is to make environmentally conscious a natural part of the conversation for housing in the bay area, as in it wouldn't be a unique or separate or unusual thing, just that is what is gotten when housing is thought of. We spent the year learning, investigating, creating, and it has been great, and a joy to work with my business partners. Perhaps one of the most unique and amazing business environments out there, certainly that I have ever worked in.
GMing and gaming this year continued on a great course, with expanded dimensions and life. I got to take a wonderful visit home in the fall, seeing several friends, exploring both Ottawa and Toronto and seeing the changes there, and also, of course, catching the Frantics in a reunion-like way. In November I took on the game, and won said game, of writing a 50,000-word novel from scratch, with no outline. I had feared I might devolve into wacky antics to fill the pages, but didn't, producing a mostly coherent and cohesive storyline that tracked several development arcs. My productivity went up this year, accomplishing a ridiculous amount of things. I also remain proud that I generate hardly any trash (I would guess at most two green garbage bags full each year) and certain months this year I managed to even lower my energy usage from the year prior.
I dated this year for the first time in many years, something that was really great, wild and moving. This year as a whole has been wonderful in that as it closes I am able to just be with people, and that is truly awesome, to be present and open. And the aliveness that comes with that. I really look forward to watching it grow and to see what develops out of it.
Something that really touches me deeply is that I got to make a true difference in the lives of others this year, including in the lives of friends, co-workers, family members and even strangers. It is really tremendous and humbling to see their greatness unbounded, to witness their aliveness. I wouldn't trade those moments for anything in the world.
What truly has this year be extraordinary, however, is that none of this happened by chance, an alignment of stars or being lucky. It has all been a result of taking myself on. I didn't do it alone -- there were others who made a difference in my life. And I got to see who they see me as, and take that on.
I honestly had no bad days this year, not a one, no days with stress, and the number of days I felt frustrated I could count on one hand, yet never feeling I had to suck anything up or just accept it. I've gotten to stand from the amazing position of a freedom to be, in the face of whatever.
My New Years wishes this year continue to express my desire and commitment to harmony, harmony in the lives of everyone and harmony between all beings. Let loose creativity, beauty, love, enrichment and gusto!
Happy new year everyone !
"There is nothing external about happiness. The pursuit is all internal." -- Will Smith
"There are two ways to spread happiness; either be the light who shines it or be the mirror who reflects it." -- Anon
"Be kind. For everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle." -- Plato
"If you do what you've always done, you'll get what you've always gotten." -- Anonymous
He who controls others may be powerful, but he who has mastered himself is mightier still." -- Lao Tsu
Wild wild days. Much text after the cut!
What has really opened up for me over the past couple of weeks is being calm in the midst of all the plates I'm juggling. Neverminding Lofty, my course and all the other things I've got going on, but just at work I've got three deadline-intense things on my plate. Yet there is no upset, no panic, no franticness, no deer in headlights of what to do next. It's really quite an amazing and new space to be in... and I get to enjoy a rendering project at work, continue to work on the new labs and implement, create and train the ADT deployment. This works for me, I think I'll keep it.
Bagua continues to be a total learning experience. Saturday's workout was a good one, with a not-to-deadly run and stairs, and then a focus on all the short, explosive Shaolin sets (#4, 5, 6, 7, 8, Tong Bei and Emperor Tai) along with the last third of #1. Evan and I have now learned the first four lessons to Six Harmonies Spear (no injury this week!) getting in practice every night. We also did a second workout on Saturday, to practice some two-person Bagua exercises -- quite the full day of exercise.
Then, I indulged in a couple of hours of WoW in the evening and got Khyborr up to 29. Just another 14 levels to go 'till he's back where he was at the end of closed beta!
FoodFu: Picnic! was held on Sunday with the usual gang. It was a good smattering of fare, lots of varied things (fruit, cheeses, breads, meats, hummus, guacamole, southwestern meatless wraps), and I made a Raspberry/Blackberry Gratin (which is an odd name considering it had no cheese, but it was broiled lightly) that met with much praise and appreciation and tastiness. Then, tennis was played by some in the courts nearby. I jumped in, having a good time and not sucking too horribly (I have more fingers on my hand than the number of times I've played), though I had forgotten my sunscreen upon leaving the house and now have quite the red tinge to show for it.
Sunday evening's D&D game was a great conclusion to the sub-story arc as we awoke in the midst of a carnage. Aathome said I wouldn't like the 'hero' who was chosen to wield the sword, and he was right. We faced off against some lizard folk whom we had not seen in two years (their lands being way to the south), we paused, sized up the situation, learned of a language barrier, troops began walking towards two of our party members, actions were taken, combat was joined. We were seriously outclassed (especially given the quite powerful sword). One member fell, but was healed up to 0 (by the mount of the hero, no less), another of our members was attacked repeatedly and fell well beyond our help. A short engagement between myself and the hero led to me backing off, looking/glaring at him as if to reach an understanding. He understood, for he went after Tito, testing him with his smite (and the blunt of his blade) to discover that Tito's aura of evil was just the taint of his fiendish transformation, not of his character.
With that the battle ended. A spell of comprehend languages allowed the hero to speak to us, and with that we learned the carnage around us was caused by an oath/law of their land that for every fallen of their number they extract a price of two upon the offender's race. (I really don't like him!) Further, the mage in our party, who had been slain, radiated enough evil to likely be seen from the high heavens. Quickly I realized it was the wraps he was carrying that he had taken from the fallen Archon. I said this to the hero, who cared not much a whit. What he did care for was that we had killed one of his troops, and a debt had now been incurred. The judgment was to take Tito's life as he was the 'transgressor', unless another would take his place. To which I immediately stepped forward.
And was struck down on the spot. The lizard folk turned and left.
Alexia turned to heal me and was rewarded with an electric shock. Tito was grief-stricken -- he and I were the last of the original band to leave the caulderra (where the campaign began). As Gravax went to check the other bodies, both I and our other dead party member rose into the air on crackles of energy, to be struck by lightning from above. With that, I awoke from the dead for the second time that day. I had taken oath to protect Tito so many moons ago -- the oath fulfilled Aathome brought me back, and once again I was able to commune with the divine (read: my paladin powers are functioning once more).
The rest of the evening was taken by our task to aid the island sisters recover and to destroy the evil magic item (over the protests of the once-again alive mage). The GM had little to do as for an hour+ we self-generated content. All in all, a great evening with some good roleplaying by all.
Great stuff ahead this week, with Wednesday being the current highlight with a special evening led by the most loving, direct and generous person I have ever met. I invite everyone in my life to come Wednesday night to think, to be moved, to see what's possible.
"Like any giant company suddenly "embracing" the green initiative, [the company's] rationale for all of this, of course, has absolutely zero to do with any sort of deep concern for the planet (though it does make for good PR), nothing at all about actual humanitarian beliefs or honest emotion or spiritual reverence, and has absolutely everything to do with the corporation's rabid manifesto: cost-cutting and profit."
Being green can save you gobs of $. Shock. Awe.
(If there's one thing I find somewhat amusing and confusing is the constant vitriol that states better environmental policies = instant economic meltdown. FOX news and the Drudge Report spent a good chunk of time doing just that the other day. Given that there is usually these 10 year periods+ for targets and reductions and removals and all that -- ok, natch, companies often do @#$! for that time then complain 1 year before the deadline that it's too much hardship and they'll drop into a hole in the earth and they will go bankrupt and the country will die and baby Jesus will cry, but ignoring that for a moment -- what ever happened to their capitalist and entrepreneurial spirit? That the market will produce solutions, that it will create wealth, that it will empower and generate? With less disasters to pay for and clean up, less illness and all other good stuff to boot?)
QotW:
Kannik: how the mighty have fallen
Murrgon: They're not mighty, just "super sized" :P
Wow, crazy. Been quite the while! The Lynx update in brief: odd spaces.
It's all after the cut...
Sifu Lam is away this month at the kwoon, so it has been a month of review and practice. I've been leading classes on the tues/thurs class nights, insofar as calling out the basic eight palm routine, then creating with the class what we'll work on for the rest of the night and guiding from there. We've done nights of going slow (and by slow I mean molasses in January slow, it's WAY harder than one would think), doing some two-person drills, some bagwork, and random/quick palm changes. Last class we paused to watch some DVD/VCD/AVIs of other Bagua masters. Sifu had suggested we do so to observe differences in styles, to see what they were doing, and compare to the basic Bagua fundamentals. Just another week before we start onto the next class (application) which will be interesting -- even after five months I feel like I'm only scratching my understanding of Bagua, which is probably an accurate assessment. Easy to learn, difficult to master.
Otherwise, Kung Fu has been somewhat binary (one of those odd spaces) for me, with great nights/weekends followed by nights of low energy and poor performance. I started to run the stairs again, with the first week being not too deadly if not particularly fast, the second weekend being pretty brutal. I also (finally!) got to start up Iron Palm for the year, and in three weeks I'm starting back on the steel without too much problem, which has me happy. Very late start this year, given all the rain.
Amazingly we haven't gamed since the Bloodstone at the start of the month -- various vacations have put a crimp on those plans. I've also only played another smattering of WoW during the time. Did play a game of Settlers of Catan; it was a fine game though I do prefer Carcassonne. The Heavy Gear expansion I did the graphic work for was duly posted to the DP9 website.
I scheduled my latest Architectural Registration Exam (on Contract Documents) and wrote it this past Monday. It was very refreshing, being who I am now, to be calm and composed over it and over my uncertainty about how I fared. A lot to know in that exam about drawings, about law and about contracts and my sense is I could have spent more time reviewing all the material. There were a few questions I hadn't heard material about, a few questions that were in non-related areas but I could've known the answers, and some that were tricky. And some I knew dead-on, of course. I should know in about four weeks if I have a P or X.
There's also been much friend visiting and some visiting friends. Lofty continues albeit somewhat slowly. Did some property scouting both near and afar (well, Vallejo far), had one meeting with a planning official and one coming up with a council member, starting to get some harder numbers on construction, looking into funding.
Really, the last few weeks have been pretty non-stop with my fingers in many pies. I'm amazed how many pies sometimes, and how well they're turning out. Also been a time of some self-discovery and exploration and a lot of observation/noticing, which accounts for much of the odd spaces. I'm definitively getting what I signed up for!
An interesting little (bad pun) read about the tiny island of Tikopia, that has been inhabited for 3000 years. Gorgeous in its own right, but its history and its 'choice' is the more facinating part. Read about Tikopia here.
The truth will set you free.
But first it will really piss you off.
I have come to realize that one thing that I would enjoy is to engage in more conversations and discussions in my everyday life. I have plenty of communication, and great communication at that, what I'm aiming for is more exchange, growth and trade of ideas, exploration, construction. Thus it is that I am creating a space and a pursuit for conversation: here, elsewhere online, and everywhere in life I find myself as I travel throughout the day.
In many ways, it is a day like any other. Arbitrary as it may be, the start of a new year is a time many use to take stock of where they've been, and where they're going.
For me, my tradition is to say: "What the heck happened to (insert year here)? Man it went by fast..."
I don't know if I can make the claim that my life compared to 13 months ago is completely unrecognizable, but good sections of it most certainly are. This year has indeed been truly extraordinary for me. Looking at it is almost ridiculous. I regained my enthusiasm in kung fu, increased my skills, became part-head instructor and increased my teaching abilities. This included a rockin' trip to China. At work, after several years of a morass, I not only regained my excitement and interest in work, I have been promoted and have inspired people around me. My gaming and especially GMing has expanded, taking on new dimensions and new life. I took on LoftyHeights.org and am now in the midst of doing LoftyOne. Not just thinking about it, but doing it, and it isn't a big thing; it's just something I'll do. In my everyday life I have way less stress, less resistance, more enjoyment and am closer to people. I have reconnected with some people I haven't spoken to in several years. There are also a tonne of little things that have popped up here and there that have opened up in new (and better) ways.
What's truly amazing is that I actually created this extraordinary year for myself. None of this happened in a vacuum. None of this occurred without taking many things on. It took some intention and work. It's been fantastic.
If I were to boil down my well wishes for the world this year, it would be that of harmony. Harmony speaks on many different levels, it has a depth and pervasiveness everywhere and to everyone.
On this, the first day of 2006, I wish all my friends a fantastic year, one of harmony and growth.
Last week I read an opinion piece by a local columnist, commenting on the state of consumption today, both in terms of material goods but also in terms of increasing girths. Nothing new here, move it along, yes? Well, in his characteristic broad hyperbole, peppered with verbal playgrounds, he came to a question that I took notice of: "What are we missing?" That was the basic question. What is missing from lives to which the consumption is a reaction, used as a method of mollification or surrogate.
There is no one answer, for that question and answer must live within each of us individually to examine, explore and resolve. It's an interesting inquiry.
At long last, my travel Journal from the 2005 Wing Lam Study Tour is now available!
You may find it here: Shaolin Lynx
... when a marginalized group finds it necessary to disparage another margianlized group.
In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.
We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved, and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders Fields.
Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders Fields.
- John McCrae
Six years ago, when I moved to the Bay area, I gave up ever being able to own a home. It just wasn't going to happen on an architect's salary. Earlier this year, I said "hey wait a minute. Oliver, you're an architect. You have an interest in adaptive reuse. Let's see what's possible."
So, I have begun LoftyHeights.org. What we're about is creating the environment for adaptive reuse and green building practices to be alive and present in the SF Bay area. I invite everyone to come visit the site, share it, and contribute to it! With the content management system in place, it's all set for collaboration. I've even had my first comment posted today by a city official(!).
This project is huge for me. Come see what it's all about.
Very cool to hear about/see -- would've gone had I been nearby and known.
Quote: "Yet the irony, especially in sports, is that all this doping and cheating has probably no net effect on the outcome. If runner A is faster than B when both are clean, she's probably better than B when both are doped. OK, they run faster. But A still wins. Nothing has changed, except: both A and B are worse off because of the negative health consequences of the drugs."
What makes this interesting is not only does this apply in a 'cheating' way, but also in other fields such as the environment and food production.
If Farmer A says "I'll buy this GMO thing, it'll make my crops grow 2x as fast, and I'll make lots more money", and then Farmer B goes and does the same thing, you have double the food in the marketplace, pushing down prices to the point where A/B have not only not made any extra money, but now they've 1) depleted the land 2) introduced a new species and 3) are very well locked into the agrobusiness companies who own the seeds/special fertilizer/etc that they have to buy the next year since the seeds no longer reproduce.
Alternatly, you can look at it this way. If Company A says "If we get enviromental rules changed, we can produce more for cheaper", but Company B also does or has to do the same thing, then the playing field is, again, level.
I get the desire for profit, the desire to succeed, the need in the marketplace to grow (if you are a public company). What I invite them to consider is that the immediate results, while tasty, are short-lived, and this immediate payoff has an impact on the quality their life, and especially for the future of their children.
I don't watch much TV. Actually, I don't really watch any TV -- while I have one in my appartment now thanks to Mike's generosity, I have no cable, no satellite, and no rabbit ears (Lynx ears, yes, but they don't get reception as well, apparently). I do have a VCR hooked up to the TV, but that doesn't really count as watching TV in the normal sense, nor watching TV shows on DVD. Back in Ottawa, where I had aforementioned rabbit ears, I would mostly only watch the news (CBC's the National) anyway, a 'fix' of mine that has been replaced by www.cbc.ca/news and a smattering of other sites I visit, along with the paper we receive at the office every day.
For the most part, however, I know that the TV remains a big fixture in the home for many (the majority of?) households in the USA, and for those households, while the nightly news is declining in overall 'market share' it remains the primary news source. Which is what makes the unfolding story of the alleged prepackaged-advertnews being aired on TV (on the nightly news shows in particular) particularly alarming. Couple it with possible actor-reporters asking questions and writing columns while being on the payroll of those to whom they ask questions, limited access to 'town hall' meetings (you have to be invited to go), limited access to campaign stops (sign here to say you support X), embedded reporters... is this the full-on new-generation attempt at subterfuge propaganda?
What I find facinating is the implications this may mean for a country that works to distance itself from the likes of so-called repressive regime's news control. Government, political, point-of-view et al advertising is nothing new. Certainly materialistic advertising -- selling a product or service -- is also nothing new. In many ways, it can be seen as the same thing, the same goals -- the difference is the latter pretty much has to say 'brought to you by Brand Y (tm)'. Even in newspapers and magazines, those slick-looking sections that have the very appearance of just another column has the word ADVERTISEMENT written at the top or bottom -- or is labelled my favourite verbage of "Special Advertising Section". Feel-good advertising back home had very distinctly the federal logo at the bottom of the screen at the end of the ad, or even solitary, large, in black and white on the screen for the last 3 seconds. If a newspaper investigates something they have a connection with, it will say "BlahBlah is owned by CorpZ". The above-linked items come with no such disclaimers, no such labels of origin, no such information at all. Which is what makes them very curious, and brings caution and concern to mind. Or, in the more extreme reaction, warning bells to go off.
The whole truth behind this all is still being revealed, by the very news organizations who themselves may have a twist to work. But it is worthwhile to note, now, and get a big caveat emptor (or viewer/reader beware, in this case) going, even bigger than what already seemed appropriate in the laxidasical attitude of everyday information overload.
So, it's been five years that I have resided in a state that is the true heart of the car culture. Prone to observation as I am, I've made an interesting discovery over that time about the ubiquitous speedy drivers. One that is a bit counter-intuitive.
Of the drivers who go really fast (tm), the percentage is about as follows:
10% are sports cars -- amazingly, the type of car one might expect to drive like super crazy usually isn't. And in this area of the suddenly-rich (and suddenly-poor, but that's another story) there are a good number of sports cars as well. Maybe it's the easy money aspect that causes this (ie, I got it because I can, not because I want to), but strangely the sports car owners tend not to drive like mad. Most, in fact, seem to drive perfectly reasonable, if not even mundane. That having been said, the 10% that do tend go all out tend to REALLY go all out, being truly crazy insane. And about 50% of those are Mustang drivers. The rest of the crazies are asstards who drive on mountain roads and run down cyclists.
40% are SUVs -- "Grosse Corvette, petite quéquette" personified. Getting into your SUV isn't compensation enough. You have to drive like an idiot and make sure the M1A2 Abrams main battle tank get better gas milage than you. I can't possibly imagine how much these guys are burning, stomping on the accelerator, and squealing about, and driving superfast on the freeways. You can almost see the air pressure building up in front of them, forming a giant vector arrow. And then, they go weaving in and out of traffic, their roll-over-prone selves tipping left and right. Is it the vehicle that makes them drive like that -- is it the person already and they're attracted to the vehicle -- a bit of both?
1% are rice-boys -- No surprise here, as their cars can't really go fast anyway. Especially not with 50% more weight.
49% are generic boxes -- Interestingly, it's the 5-year-old wrong-colour-door-usualmobiles that has the highest number. Granted, they probably populate a higher percentage of cars on the road overall, so maybe this shouldn't be a surprise (just by sheer number). Nonetheless, it still stands that while the sports cars and ricers are the ones most would think drive like idiots, it remains that the 'never notice them in a crowd' type of vehicles seem to be the one that perpetrates the most and often worst offences. So, with regard to the question above of whether vehicles influence their drivers or vice versa, this is one case where it's neither of those, but the driver all on their own.
So what does this all mean? Not sure I really have a point or any conclusions from just a single metric and observation.
Except maybe that the metrics used to determine insurance rates are wrong -- heh.
One thing about getting older they fail to mention in the brochure: voids that accumulate from those who pass away.
Haven't really felt much like posting... but here I am, to simply note the rise of all-around extremism as the defining trend here at the start of the 2Kx years.
Worrysome.
This area ignored hard summer this year, but we're definitively been getting our hard-fall-summer. Nothing like 30 deg in the apartment!
I had an amazing RP experience this past weekend. Interestingly it wasn't in my regular games. It was in WoW.
Computer RPG games are, by their very nature, different animals than the around-the-table in-person type. I can easily recognize this and my mind adjusts as necessary; I don't expect the usual interaction and my RPgination (RP imagination) can fill in many details, nay, flesh out many details into a more full experience.
World of Warcraft is my first MMORPG - a CRPG where you are in a virtual world with thousands of others all running about and ostensibly working on similar tasks. This presents some interesting hindrances to furthering the RP-nature of a CRPG, of which two are prominent. First, a lack of world persistence, or rather, the fact the world IS persistent to itself no matter what you do. If you wipe out a major foe, wait a few minutes, he will return. If you complete a quest to eliminate the trogg invasion, no matter how many you kill, if you go back later they will be there again, diminishing the sense of accomplishment. I guess I could tag onto this category then the nature of some of the quests: if you must go out and kill X of Y, you are broken from your immersion by having to camp the spawning grounds, waiting for the creatures to return.
Interestingly, though, the second major problem is actually the whole raison-d'etre of an MM, and something you'd think could be a boon: the other people. On the base level, people naming their characters SweetMamaCakes or UbErMaXX or JebusWaffle doesn't exactly create an environment of fantasy. On another level, dialogue like "GP plz u kp 4 trogg k?" may seem like an ancient language, but...
Now, this is beta, so it is a more hardcore MM crowd who are mainly involved, and most of those see and play the Game part of the equation, while the RP is not something they have been exposed to nor understand or want to be involved with. Most of whom I have grouped with in the game fall into the range of total Meta-gamer (run here, do this, run there, do that, get XP, get drops, grind to level, etc) to the lightly-immersed. It is harder, but still possible for my mind to take that kind of input and create a suitable fantasy experience out of it. Only on one occasion have I been jolted continually out by total out of character meta constantness of TXT-messaging speak, calls of "Don't you know how to play your class?", meta thinking, and the like.
But back to yesterday, the day that proves that a like-mind can create an amazing environment.
Khyborr was on a quest to investigate a band of assassins that had taken residence at a farm... investigate and eliminate a number of them. This kind of quest is not uncommon. Once there, I came across a fellow dwarf, and asked if he too was investigating the area (not uncommon) and if he would like to team up (definitively not uncommon). Up to this point, it was fairly typical.
What emerged, though, was that the person on the other end was a fellow-RPer, and what followed was an amazing near-two hours as we completed that quest and proceeded onto another. Nearly everything that was exchanged between us was in character. Meta-game events (lag on the server, needing to do a quick phone call, drinking to restore mana) was translated on the way to the keyboard into in-game explanations, lore and speak. Speaking was not limited to "let's go here, there's one, etc," but was full of musings, sayings and dialogue that evoked the world and our characters and race - flavour text if you want to call it that. But it was more than background fluff, it became part of the story, the experience, the characters.
OOC: In short, it rocked.
Before this, I wondered if an MMORPG could ever contain such an experience. Some filtering still needs to be done with regards to the way the 'world' works, but with an RP-specific server (finding someone with similar intent) the experience can come through. Even something as simple as instituting a naming policy and calling it an RP server with a Writ of Suggested Behaviour may be enough to make RPers congregate there (and others not); tweaking XP in favour of quests and away from mob-killing would probably set it well in stone. The world itself need not change much (nor can't in too many ways, for such is the nature of catering to 1000s rather than the 5 at your gaming group), it is just finding like-minded people to keep the illusion propelled.
And that remains true in all RPG environments, even traditional (ie, non computer) RP gaming. Both 'mediums' provide challenges and oddities and OOC interruptions. Both attract different people (Heck, even some of my current gaming groups experience as much if not more meta-gaming and OOC comments as the usual MMORPG day). I don't think there are necessarily more or less obstacles in either type of game.
It is the shared desire and participation of everyone to create the immersive environment. Everything else fades into the background.
One more... also saw a book this weekend titled Potatoes Not Prozac, and while I didn't get a chance to read it through the premise of the author seems to be that the sugar- and processed- and white- diet that pervades north america these days sends the insulin curve to whack, and that in turn can lead to mood swings, depression, the blahs, etc. In some ways, it parallels what was noted in Supersize Me. I can't really comment more, as I haven't read it, but given the supposed increase in ADD/HD kids (and depressed adults) it woudln't surprise me to find a good link there.
While much of what the author does on their site is irreverent, Monkey Sphere is an interesting essay. Fear not, for it is still quite written in a humourous style, and still contains satire, irony and reverse psychology, but the basic premise and the points argued I think hold some weight. Mike pointed us to it on the weekend, now I point it to you (and probably back to him, if he reads this page).
Tiff pointed out two other good sites: The Fool's World Map, and the Terra Nova Blog. The former is an excellent harnessing of the collective internet 'intelligence', the latter contains links to various essays and thoughts on MMORPGs in all directions, including their development, style, impact, etc.
More on the environment, our place in the universe, Art Renewal Centre, The Dwell Home, and a very tasty recepie for a type of pesto:
1 cup dry roasted cashews
1 cup fresh basil
2-4 cloves of garlic
Olive oil
Two heaping spoons of fresh grated parmisan
Food processor, chop nuts. Add garlic. Add basil -- as the material starts to bind, add olive oil as necessary. Add salt/pepper if desired, add cheese as last step, adding more olive oil if necessary.
QotD: "For those of you who don't vote, because you feel it is like voting for the lesser of three evils, I have something to tell you. In politics and the governance of a country, it matters, because if the worse evil wins, that's bad. And if you didn't vote, you voted for evil." -- Rick Mercer (actually an old quote from June 28th, but always relevant)
LotD: http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/features/2004/0407.turner.html. Ted Turner has a certain bias, and one may not agree with all his views (even what's said within the confines of this article) but it is a good look into the potential evils of media consolidation.
On the way home last night, I had a rather interesting thought.
Has the USA, with their recent action in Iraq, essentially discredited and/or disallowed the foundation of their actions in '91?
There's two things interesting about Memorial day in the USA: 1) It's on the wrong date* 2) It is a day for partying and big sales.
The latter is what seems at the least rather unusual, especially given the constant 'support the troops'ism that is constantly blared. For all the flag-waving movies, the patriotic swells, the mission accomplished banners, my experience of this day in the past 5 years living here has been pretty much the same as Victoria Day: the apptly named May Two-Four weekend. Only they have huge sales here (not surprising, given the land of consumerism). The Remembrance aspect seems very downplayed; the only reason it seems more prevalant this year is due to the WW2 memorial opening on the mall.
A start of summer weekend is excellent (c.v. Victoria Day) so it is no surprise that this holiday has taken on those trappings but it is odd and downright unfortunate that the reason behind it has been subsumed, nay, consumed. It is not a sombre day of reflection. Ignoring or not noticing would almost be better.
* - I realize that this day was instituted on the date likely vis-a-vis the 'Civil War' events.
Last Saturday (yeah, it's been a few days) I was talking with WendyW, and amongst the myriad of topics we covered the subject of dreams came up, or more specifically, the notion of 'adventure' dreams. I call them epic dreams since the best of mine (and the ones I usually remember) are indeed epic in their length and usually feel like the events therein are of great import. These dreams tend to be rare, alas, but they are certainly the most amazing and fun of dreams in my book.
It's more than just the action and adventure that make these dreams fantastic (though I'm definitively not discounting either of those as part of the appeal!) but the often-times elaborate setup that forms the core of these dreams and their plot. Sometimes convoluted, sometimes beautifully intricate, and sometimes just so deceptively simple but taken full-bore. Often something completely different enters the picture mid-way through, shifting reality but building upon the same premise, worked in without a hitch (in a way the ultimate in improv). And, of course, sometimes the absurdist notions/events/reality distortions are present, but seem completely normal and are taken equally completely at face value within the dream.
Because they are long and complex (or so my current theory goes), epic dreams often seem to reflect current events or thoughts. I've had parts of fiction enter my dreams, or bits of what I've been obsessing over (art, stories, people, objects), elements of games or gaming, feelings of powerlessness or powerfulness... a rather large gamut. But noticing this sometimes has lead me into some trouble -- "X was happening, what does that signify??"
The worst part for me is that I have epic dreams all to infrequently, if not downright rarely. Given my hectic schedule it maybe isn't a total surprise (I think I have them more often on longer-sleep nights). And while I'm wishing they'd come around more often, I'll also say it'd be nice if lots of the stuff I really want to dream about would also enter into the epic. All is possible in a dream; if I can have a dream where I do the full splits and it feels great, what about piloting a vehicle I'll never actually get a chance to pilot?
For that matter, why can't I have an epic dream to help me with my design projects? I really could have used that during university... Achem. Moving along...
Actually, I think this is pretty much the end of what I wanted to elucidate. The dream part of the Saturday wasn't really a dream part, it was a very amusing story WendyW was relating to me, which then led off onto another topic rather than delving into that territory. But that small foray obviously got me thinking about it (does this mean I'll have an epic dream about epic dreams? That'd be scary). Also reminds me that maybe I should write some of these down, if not right away but over time (including, uh, archives). I remember a few really good epic dreams, but the rest/most are just snippets now.
And they say a dream diary is the first step to lucid dreaming... out-of-reach vehicles, you will be mine!
QotD:
"Pat isn't with God,'' he said. "He's f -- ing dead. He wasn't religious. So thank you for your thoughts, but he's f -- ing dead.''
What? This didn't happen for God, as well as country? A professional athlete turned soldier, and we're supposed to believe that he'd have no use for piety? Robbed of a cliche, where does that leave us? "
http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2004/05/04/SPG5K6FD091.DTL
California needs to change its name.
The full name, as evidenced on the flag, is California Republic. A republic is a state where the supreme power rests in all the citizens entitled to vote for representatives, and this power is then exercised by those representatives. In other words, you vote for your representatives (who should have experience, knowledge and wisdom) and they then make policy in your name.
Right now, every election there is a never-ending stream of so-called Ballot Initiatives: resolutions that are given an up-or-down vote in a direct referendum by the voters. When this many issues are being decided by direct votes, you no longer have a republic. You're bypassing the very idea of a republic. Heck, even the current gropenator is constantly threatening (and already has) to bypass the "legislators in sakramento" and "go to the people of kalifornia."
There's nothing wrong with initiatives, referendums, etc per se -- but it can get out of hand, there can be to many, and bad policy can be created by either poor initiative writing or downright misleading the public as to what the initiative will really do. With so few actually voting, how many are actually taking the time to know the initiatives inside and out, and thus able to make informed decisions?
Whatever the case may be, if this keeps up, it is time for a name change.
One of the downsides to being a senior student is I rarely ever get any "well done" or "nice!" comments while doing line drills/etc (anymore). -grump-
Last night was an exceptionally clear night down here (and kinda crisp to boot, which was nice). I got to see Orion (the constellation) for the first time this season. There's no shortage of light pollution here, but without the airpoop to throttle incoming light, enough stars were visible to make it nice.
Orion has always been my favourite constellation. Not entirely sure why. One could be cynical and say that its only because its so easy to recognize and find, but I think there's something geometrically or pattern-wise that appeals to my sense of aesthetic(s) and artistry. Maybe its the imagery behind the constellation and/or the fact that in two of the major cultures separated by half a globe (or so) it held the same basic archetype.
Whatever the reason, Orion is my constellation to look out for. It marks the beginning of winter, a time of shorter days and (not here, but) snow and cold nights and crisp mornings and colourful leaves to start it all off (again, not here). If it's winter, and it's night, and it's clear, I look for Orion. While at university, when I would walk home from the studio at 03:00 to grab a few hours of sleep*, Orion would be hovering right over our apartment, listening to me as I would talk about the project at hand, or whatever was on my mind. The cold night air, with a stillness not often found in a city, and Orion guarding the way, provided a brief respite from the intensity of studio, provided a bit of unwinding time, and helped set the body ready for a quick nap before it began anew.
* I tried to make it a point not to sleep in studio, even though we were allowed to; I did end up sleeping there a few times of course and I spent many a night there not sleeping at all, but if I could go grab a shower and some sleep away from the studio, I did it. Gotta keep some humanity in an art meant for people.
So I heard an interesting exchange from an interview of Walter Cronkite. The interviewer asked him if he was a liberal, and his response is what is very interesting, and illustrative. He replied, "That depends on how you define a liberal." A liberal, by his assertion of the true meaning of the word, is someone who is "unbeholden to any specific belief or party" and looks at all the information, the reactions, the consequences, the background and the bases behind an issue, and then puts forth their viewpoint (and their policy, if that is within their sphere of influence) based on "facts and the presentation of those facts at the time." To further quote Cronkite: "[I am a] Liberal, but not in the form that a lot of people use liberal -- as a dirty word."
Indeed, it is something that I have always done while living here in the USA that I never really took specific notice of. Anytime I mentioned the Liberal Party (whether Federal or Provincial) I always amended to it that they were a centralist party. Without being fully conscious of it (back of my mind sort of thing) I realized what a dirty word 'liberal' is when it is bandied about in discussions down here. "Liberal Media", "Liberal Pundits", "Liberal Democrats", "Special Interest Groups" -- oops, that last one is a topic for another rant. But 'liberal' down here is often equated, during speeches and sound bites, with 'super-freaking-leftist-commie-pinko-hippies'.
So, yes, I too do my best to be a liberal. In the true sense of the word.
... it is.