Fall renewal series Chapter 1 standing at the gateway of eternity · Friday August 21, 2009 by colin newell
I have an elderly aunt that has been in the hospital for a while – all the normal issues that one would associate with being in ones late 80’s – and it is part of life.
My sister works in the same hospital. She is an ER nurse and ambulance paramedic. And if that isn’t enough she often signs up for a remote Evac team.
That is a group of people that are on pagers 24 hours a day. When the pager goes off, she gets a cab to the airport and jumps on a sleek nearly new Lear Jet – This Lear is outfitted for a couple of stretchers, medical supplies and equipment, a few nurses, a doctor (maybe) and 2 pilots. It is light and fast. She can leave Victoria and be across the Mexican border or to Hawaii in little over 3.5 hours.
But I digress.
My aunt has been in hospital for a month. In those 30 days I have gotten to know people on the ward… lots of people. And the following names have been changed to protect their privacy and identity.
Maxwell is 82, a millionaire and a former jet pilot. He lost his wife of 42 years last Spring, took a fall, had a mild heart attack – he has been in for a month and wants to go home. But he cannot. He is feistier than a junk yard dog but without some of the important things in his life – and being less than complete, he isn’t ready. He might never be ready.
Daisy is 48 years old and suffering from the latter stages of brain cancer. She is brighter than a super-nova and more cheerful than a roomful of Shriner Clowns. She is really good about where she is going. Her 18 year old daughter… not so much.
Her name is Willow. She is a 21 year old personal trainer and kinesiologist. And judging by her level of anger and sadness, there are a lot of folks that are working with her that are getting the crap kicked out of them!
Daisy, on the other hand is oddly circumspect and resolved – her biggest worry is whether or not she will start acting like an asshole as her illness progresses and devours more of her essence… and how her daughter will cope without her guidance.
Daisy muses, “Willow got a nose ring… I hate body piercing… and I threatened to disown her…” she titters with a diamond glint in her eye.
I whisper closer, “You better get on that!”
We both laugh disturbing and amusing her room-mates at the same time.
I feel boastful as I peel the shrink-wrap off of my CD and sign it – and brag about my brief writing stint on CSI Las Vegas… Daisy chirps, “Willow loves CSI Las Vegas! Damn a celebrity in my hospital room!” “Relax, you’re the celebrity…” I head her off.
In my daily two hour plus visits to the hospital, I spend as much time with aunt as possible and then do my rounds. Max and Daisy used to be my Aunt’s room mates but they have been shuffled around some.
Believe it or not, I find that I am quite funny and empathic (and sympathetic) around the sick and dying – and I am not sure why. With Daisy, I crack lines faster than Robin Williams and with Max, I sit quietly and listen to his stories from his glory days in the Air Force. They usually get 15 or 20 minutes of my time each. And they seem OK to have a stranger talk story with them for a few minutes each day.
In this continuing series, I write about a new phase in my life – and my experience with the Autumn of life.
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Spring into taser fun - excited delirium and other mythical disorders · Saturday May 16, 2009 by colin newell
When the only tool in your handbag is a wrench, you keep your eyes out for the nuts…
And to explain nutty behavior and unexpected death in taser use, owners of Taser International do what comes naturally – make up a cause of death that does nothing to implicate the energy weapon itself.
Our own RCMP, Canada’s once beloved law enforcement agency, are now “brainwashed” by the manufacturer to justify “ridiculously inappropriate” use of the electronic weapon; zap first, autopsy later.
The makers of the Taser appear to be instructing police in Canada that when they encounter a person suffering from a “mythical” condition that Taser calls “excited delirium,” police have few options other than jolting the person with the controversial electrical weapon.
I guess that this is the upside to using a more typical explosive discharge weapon like the 9MM Glock… which often results in instant death and unexpected gaping wound syndrome.
Excited delirium is not a recognized medical diagnosis. It is a “dubious disorder” created by Taser International and its training Canadian and American police to legitimize it.
The term is also used by the Institute for the Prevention of In-custody Deaths, surprisingly lead by John Peters, an associate of Taser International of Arizona.
John is the go-to guy if you need a professional witness to defend your cop shop against accidental death by over-joltage charges.
Gives extra meaning to the expression… guilty as charged!
Dunno. If some copper is sitting on my head (or neck) after zipping me 4 times with an energy weapon, I am either going to be dead, nearly dead or suffering from entirely pissed off syndrome.
Anyway. What we do know now is that the reputation of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police is at an all time low… and unless we can bring some of their victims back from the dead… or undo some of their lies, there is little hope that things are going to improve in the short term.
Spring into long weekend gas price gouging on Vancouver Island · Thursday May 14, 2009 by colin newell
Synchronized gas price increases on a Canadian long weekend – As reliable as gravity. They come like sunrise. And Spring showers.
And this weekend is no exception.
Every gas station on Southern Vancouver Island raised their prices within minutes of each other – from about 102.9 to 106.9. Snap. Just like that.
But how does this work?
We asked a master mechanic and long time employee at a local Petro-can station.
“Gas prices in Victoria are set automatically… by a supplier in Vancouver. On a system called Viper. It is an auto-dialer. Electronic. Every gas station gets the exact phone call at the exact same time… regardless of the levels in their tanks. This is the way it has been on South Island as long as he can remember. “
They raise the prices. We get screwed. Rinse and repeat.
Petro-can employee continues…
“Tri-mac is the trucking company that delivers the gas… but it is one supplier in Vancouver… at the terminal… that calls the shot. Price fixing? Sure it is. But there is no one in government (or the media) with big enough stones to tackle the problem.”
Free market system at work I guess. More of a racket as I see it.
Anyway. The upside for me? I drive less. Or maybe a bit slower. And smell the roses… if and when they bloom.
With a little imagination we can give the finger to big oil. Boycott one station or another. Pay in buckets of pennies. Walk more. Take the bike. Car pool. Or give up your car entirely if you can.
I did not actually own my first car until I was 40. And I had my license when I was 19. That was my way of sticking it to the man. Nowadays, I actually need a vehicle – with aging parents and all… and actually wanting to live a little.
So. We live with it. Begrudgingly.
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The World around us - in crisis - Ed Begley Junior · Saturday January 31, 2009 by colin newell
I write and talk about Cafe culture and my life with coffee – it is a niche area that has been good for me and hopefully good for people that actually work in the industry… like the farmers and their families… and even a cafe or two.
But it is not something that is going to net me a huge audience that would fill an auditorium and get me round after round of ovation and accolade.
Because it’s coffee – and although millions drink it and love it… It isn’t Earth shattering.
Ed Begley Jr. talks about the environment and sustainability – the path we are on – the crisis that we are in – and the actual real tangible hope that is before us.
We saw Ed Begley Jr. at the University of Victoria Center auditorium tonight and he made sense. Sure he was preaching to the converted – like Andrea and I… and our dear friend Sheila. But I am sure there were one or two cynics in the crowd. I mean, I sure hope so. Because a converted cynic in hand is worth two converts in the bush…
Whatever the heck that means.
Anyway. I wish Ed would come to coffee one day because I share a table in our cafe with a couple of anti-global warming bobble-heads. That is, they hear an AM talk-show host say that there is no global-warming or environmental crisis… and they believe it without question.
Ed’s message is simple: “Don’t listen to me. Don’t listen to the Sierra Club. Don’t listen to AM radio or the Right Wing media.
No. Pick something you trust… like National Geographic… or someone with a Phd after their name… like a University professor who actually knows what she or he is talking about – and at least listen”
Ed’s the voice of reason. So we listened to him. And although we kind of are already on that sustainable – environmental bandwagon, there is a lot more that we can do for the Planet.
Ed also says… “Do not listen to the message about not being able to afford change or afford the environment…”
The message is: We cannot afford not to listen.
Ed speaks in a compelling way, without being too preachy – giving real World practical examples about how everyone can do their part – however small.
Anyway – do yourself a favor and check this guy out if you can – or visit his website.
Postscript – thanks for the e-mail Ed! Appreciated.
