Flow

I watched the documentary Flow this weekend with the boy.  We first saw this movie at the Broadway Theatre last summer, but we/he wanted to watch it again.

The film looks at the political and environmental issues of the water supply.  It brings up national issues including the contamination of the water supply from pesticides, herbicides and other chemicals as well as international issues relating to access to clean water and the privatization of water services.

Here are some of the things I've learnt:

• Atrazine is used as a herbicide that is widely used in the agricultural sector.  It is banned in the EU but not in the US. It is an endocrine disruptor (inhibits production and functions of hormones).  This can be seen in amphibians: demasculanizing frogs and feminizing them.  Studies have linked atrazine to breast, ovarian, and prostate cancer. 

• There are three major private multinational water companies: Thames Water, Suez and Vivendi.  While water is considered a free good (such as air), these companies are profiting from the privatization of water services.  These water services provide regular access to clean drinking water for a "minimal" charge.

• Loans from the World Bank often have conditions attached, such as the privatization of water services.  These loans profit the world bank, the construction industry, and the multinational companies and their shareholders.

• In order to operate, the World Bank needs to lend 20 billion dollars a year.  This is easily done with large scale projects such as building dams.  In terms of water services this often means the construction of a central distribution point that is then piped out to outlying areas.  However, much of the worlds population live in isolated rural villages making central distribution unviable.  

This film also shows the close relationship between the private multinational water companies and members of the International Monetary Fund.  I'm not to surprised at this conflict of interest because it gives both parties the opportunity to gain economic control by controlling the worlds water supply and services.  This will payoff in the long run as the demand for clean drinking water increases.

After watching this film I'd say a good bet would be to invest in water, because you'll make a ton of money.  Or invent a device that attaches to our taps and shower heads and filters out the chemicals and hormones in our water supply.

Either way you can make a ton of money.  Isn't that what it's all about?

~b~

3 Words and a Picture

Portmanteau

1 - a large suitcase
2 - a word or morpheme of words whose form and meaning are derived from a blending of two or more distinct forms (smog from smoke and fog)

"To carry from"

Having never seen this word before I came across the word portmanteau twice within a week.  Weird.

Rubric

1a - an authoritative rule, esp. a rule for the conduct of liturigical service.
1b - something under which a thing is classed
1c - an explanatory or introductory commentary

I've been listening to Mars Hill Podcasts and kept hearing Pastor Mark Driscoll say the word rubric.  It made me picture a rubix cube.  You can listen to Mars Hill Podcasts HERE.

Omage

1a - a made up word
1b - my own portmanteau, by combining the english word homage with it's French counterpart hommage.
1c - rhymes with frommage

I was thinking of planning a blog post especially for my coworker because her last day at work is Tuesday.  I wanted to pay homage to her, but all I could think of was paying Omage instead.

~b~

One Sixty Baby!

It's been just over a year since I started my blog and this is my 160th post (woot, woot!).  In my first post I wrote:  I imagine this blog will be an amalgamation of my thoughts and ideas, presented in a random and sporadic sort of way.  I think I've been pretty much on par.

I thought I'd run out of things to write about a long time ago.  Good thing my brain works in strange and mysterious ways and I always seem to find something that I want to share.

After the maroon 3/4 length coat photos at the Co-op, I've tried to not take pictures of random strangers with my iPhone.

But after seeing this grandmother and granddaughter at the food court the other day, I just couldn't resist.

While I enjoyed seeing the retro hair style, what I really liked was how the grandmother and granddaughter had the same hairstyle.  I sat there wondering whether it was the similar glasses or the same hairstyle that made these two look so very similar.

Here's a closer look:

Do you think the grandmother took her grandmother to the mall to have a special day together?  Lunch at the food court, haircuts at the salon?  And what will her mother think when she returns home looking exactly like her grandmother?  

Update:

I saw this on the bus shortly after I posted this and couldn't agree more:

~b~

Looks Like You'll Never Be a Concert Flautist

I went with a friend on Monday to help her pick out some flowers.  So while she perused the selection trying to pick out a nice arrangement.  I took pictures with my iPhone.  I'm very helpful that way.

I also had the song Inner City Pressure (Flight of the Conchords) running through my head.  Mainly because when I hear the lyrics:  Looks like you'll never be a concert flautist, I think of concert florist.

These were two of my favorites.  I have no idea what kind of flowers they are, but I like em.  They are a little odd, but yet they have that je ne sai quois that I find so appealing.  Kinda like me - odd and yet appealing.

~b~

Pay It Forward

Last evening I was waiting in line at Starbucks.  The couple in front of me was chatting up the barista and taking their sweet time deciding what to order.  I tried waiting patiently (I HATE waiting), but I was antsy to get my coffee and get to the hockey game I was late for.

 I have no idea what was taking the two so long, and I thought they were digging for change to pay.  I was debating whether I should just offer to pay for their bevies, when the girl turned to me, apologized for taking so long and offered to pay for my drink.

Sweet.  I took them up on their offer and settled into trying to wait patiently for the barista to make my drink.  When the barista called out my order, I already had the coffee lid in hand, ready to make a quick exit, but as I grabbed the cup, I remembered that a friend mentioned the coffee art that the baristas sometimes make at the Broadway location.  So I quickly glanced down at my cup, before putting on the lid - and sure enough, the barista had made me a flower!

The free cup of artfully arranged caffeinated goodness made my day.  And I hope that I can buy a stranger a cup of coffee this weekend and pay it forward.

I am also open to any blog readers buying me a coffee this weekend - I'm partial to Grande Three Pump Caramel Americano Misto's right now.

I'll be around all weekend.

;)

~b~

this post as no name

I opened my email this week at work with the subject line:  Highway Fatality.

As I read the the contents of the email my stomach lurched as I read that a co-worker's husband was killed on his way into the city that morning.  The RCMP had arrived at work to inform her.  My mind was scattered.  I thought about when I got the phone call one morning at work telling me my father had passed away.  I remember hearing the news in disbelief, even though I knew his death would occur.  And then I realized that she would have to go home and tell her children what had happened.  And then, besides grieving, there would be phone calls to relatives, a the trip to the funeral home, and the all the arrangements to be made.  I remember dreading going back to work after my fathers death and facing my co-workers.  I am so private about my emotions, especially when it is sadness and grieving, so I hope when I see my coworker, despite my awkwardness and the inadequacy of my words, I would like to tell her that I am sorry.

All I want to do this week is spend time with my son and tell him I love him.  Because I love him so much I can't really express my love with any words.  Basically I want to squeeze him till it hurts.  I love him that much.

~b~

What I've Been Up To

Its been a while since my last post.   Here's what I've been up to:

I had an espresso shot.  Two, in fact.  The barista made me do it, but I'm glad I listened-these shots really perked me up for the day.  Should I ever win the lottery I shall hire said Barista to make my daily cups of java and all will be well in my world.  

Annual haircuts.  The boy got an inch and a half taken off, if you can believe that.  I just got a trim.  I cannot wait to have long long hair.  I dream of the day when I can don aviator shades and roam the dirty streets of Saskatoon on a nice loud Harley, with my long hair streaming behind me.

I checked out the Park Cafe.  I also downloaded a photoshop app-like the effect?

I tried a new recipe out.  I should have guessed by the 9 cups of flour and the 4 cups of milk that I would be making a lot of cinnamon buns.

I used my roller that I used as a little girl.  Its mini and light and cute, which makes it tres difficile in rolling out massive amounts of dough.  I have to admit, my arms were not used to making such a large quanity of cinnamon buns at one time - they ached!

By my estimation this recipe made just over 50 cinnamon buns.  I'm glad to have friends with large families.

By the way, the "topping" contained one whole bag of icing sugar, maple flavoring and brewed coffee.  Any commotion in the house on Sunday morning was probably entirely due to ingesting one or two of these babies.

And finally, I went to an auction.  I wanted to take a picture, but I was worried I would accidently make a bid on something.  I was also worried that once I started bidding I wouldn't be able to stop myself.  So I tucked my number into my jacket and kept my hands in my pockets.  Some guy named Orville bought a lot of bikes.  And by a lot, I mean every fourth or fifth bike out of 165.  He would buy them for $5 or $10, or even $7.50, which in auction language is pronounced: 7 and a half.  His bidders number was 133.  Oh, and one of the guys with the auctioneer kept yelling HEEYAW real loud (whenever someone made a bid) and it made me want to ride a horse.  Just thought you'd like to know that last tid bit.

~b~