The 'Nature' of Responsibility

South Carolina Evening. Watercolor by VeryTerry.
I live in an area of South Carolina generally referred to as "the lowcountry". If you know anything about the state's geography it's easy to understand why this portion of South Carolina is so named. We're right along the coast, at sea level. Here in the Charleston area hard rain means flash flooding. We're not underwater, like New Orleans, but you won't find any mountains here like you will in the Western portion of the state. The lowcountry is flat and swampy.
The lowcountry of South Carolina is full of history, natural beauty, and nowdays, lots of growth.I don't often deal in statistics so I won't be tossing any at you now. However, like many areas, the growth is quite noteworthy. There has been alot of conflict very recently about development in the area where I reside, that's the Charleston, Berkeley, and Dorchester counties area. New homes, and indeed, entire huge subdivisions can't be built quickly enough. The problem is everyone wants growth. Growth signals new jobs, a stronger tax base, and better economic realities for the area. On the other hand, no one seems to want these new developments in their area. Suburban sprawl creates a loss of scenic beauty, a loss of historic sites, and yet even more traffic. It's a problematic issue to be sure. If you live in a fast growing part of the country yourself you may find your communities facing similar issues. One problem that is particular to this lowcountry area is that we can't grow to the east. Unless we create artifical islands out into the Atlantic Ocean, growth to our east is not possible. Further compounding the development problem is that we have no real vision how how our area should grow. There is no real legislation defining what we in the area would consider desirable.
Essentially how the area will grow is up to a handful of powerful real estate speculators and developers. These good business folk are buying up land. The bottom line appears to be maximum development for maximum profit. Now, I don't want to get sued here. This is only my general understanding of the issues, based on what I have seen and heard. I will further add there are many excellent planned communities in the area that strike a very nice balance between development and the rich heritage of natural beauty and history. Hey, I like to think I live in such an area. Through the area we have parks, bike paths, walking trails, and the area roads generally handle the traffic well. The area is harmonious. The question is how much new growth is enough? After all, it's a free country. Some argue land owners sould be able to do whatever they want with their property. Of course, what happens when the plans for developing a particular piece of property impact the larger area? The conflict of development in this area so continues. Little by little, the developers seem to be winning.
Do we really need another BP station? Another Wendy's? Do we really need yet another strip mall?
I complain about all this, yet I am eternally grateful for all the convenience these businesses provide. My purpose here is simply to raise the question. How much development in an area is enough? Or perhaps even more importantly, Can we fairly create a vision of growth for the area that can actually stand legislative and judical rigor? Again, my intention is to provide an arena of though. The local news outlets, most often pitch these issues in a kind of "us" against "them" context. Who can be suprised? They are out to sell news and conflict is more intresting, I suppose, than compromise.
I came upon a site for an interesting organization just recently.The organization is called the "Center for Humans and Nature". The organization defines it's orientation as non-profit and non-partisan. There concern is responsible development and stewardship. If development is an issue that concerns you, check out the website. I really know nothing more about the group than that myself. After you have looked at their site, give me some feedback as to what you think. If you know of similar organizations, or have expertise on this issue then please comment. I like the idea of responsible, planned growth that serves the best needs of all in the community. Click on the article title to go to the "Center for Humans and Nature" website, or follow this link Center for Humans and Nature.

Non-Conforming Conformists

Oh the bitter, rediculous, yet strangly sweet irony of it all. The Non-Conforming Conformist. I've been visiting alot of websites lately. Not big sites like e-bay.
The little sites. Everyone has a site on the web these days. Even I have one. Your looking at it. Now I have seen some really fantastic personal web pages. I love it. The free space is there. People should take advantage. I am.
One thing that really freaks me out when I visit all these blogs and personal web pages is seeing that so, so, I mean sooooo many individuals describe themselves as "unique".Every one wants to feel as though they are special. To some degree, all human beings are unique. Each of us has been moulded and stamped by our life experiences. So, given this obvious realization, why do 4 out of 5 people in cyberspace have to go out of their way, with excruciating effort to convince everyone that they are different? And since when did proudly proclaiming, "I don't conform to Society" become such a badge of honor? Let's get real.
You don't conform to society? Really? Well then, I figure you must be Amish then, or mabye Ted Kaczynsky (aka the Unibomber). Now, there are some folk who Don't Conform to Society. You live in a tree? You graze for your substanance? You wear a loincloth and spend your days living in the deep tropical jungles? What do you mean you don't Conform to Society? What does that mean?
You're in college, or you went to school. You speak the language. You're on the computer. You get your food from the grocer. You buy your clothes at the store. You go to all the local Raves, and hang out at the local clubs. Get Real. Admit It. You Conform To Society. What's the big deal? It's not so dirty.
Oh you miss the point. I am so non-conformist.You just don't get it, you poor, stupid bumpkin. I am a wiccan.
I'm into NeoPaganism. I am niether a "blue" or "red" state political creature. I'm vegan. I hate the war machine. I listen to obscure bands. I wear black. I'm goth.
I am sooo into body-modification. Ecstasy is my drug of choice. I am counter-culture man. I am open. I am tolerant... And on and on. Well, that may be. Nonetheless, you are so not non-conformist. The preceeding diatribe describes just about everyone these days. Logically, if so many folk are into these very things then you are Conforming. So suck it up, get used to it. You are a conformist. There, I popped your warm and fuzzy bubble.
Ever consider what you may really be saying is, "Hey, look at me, I am so totally self-absorbed."Look, I don't want to get down on anybody. Thank God, It's a free country. Still, for now at least. Oh man, you said God. That's right, it's not a dirty word. The non-conformist types, who insist on making a point of letting all know how open they are, Are they really so open? You can handle gay-lesbian, illegial immagrints, and stop war. Can you handle the fact that there are millions of people in this country who don't live in your world. They have jobs. They are proud to conform. They might even be Christians. Oh no, he said Christian. Attack! You see, you want everyone to accept you. Can you except the rest of us?
Think about it...

Anutkin Squirelwalker goes to the Dark Side

I haven't seen the offically sactioned George Lucas production yet. But I did stumble on Sugarbush Squirel. You have to admit, Sugarbush looks great in the Vader outfit. The realistic special effects are incredible... note the lightsaber in Sugarbush's tiny paw, and the faithful droid R2D2. We may or may not ever get around to the cinema, but we'll always have Sugarbush. Click on the title link and see more of Sugarbush.

"Jump Around" Corporate America

As I sit down to work this morning, I fire up some old school "House of Pain". The song, Jump Around of course. I have just signed in to my music server you see. Pirating, and the free-wheeling Napster days are as gone as vinyl records. So like a good corporate citizen, I get my music legally. I pay for it. I don't mind. In fact, it makes me proud. I'm a bit of an artistic type myself. I understand that, yes, even the humble artist needs to put food on the table. I don't mind paying my fair due to even the wealthiest artists. So what if Nelly wants to go buy a new piece of bling. This is America.
The trouble I have is with my music provider.
For twenty-five bucks per quarter, I have unlimited access to their collection of music. It is a vast collection. No problem. You can search by genre, artist, song, etc. They provide endless radio stations, based on genere, or you can create your own. You create playlists, create your own library, and transfer or rip tunes. It's awesome really. In TQM terms, you could say it's completely "win/win". I use the service, the artists get their royality, and the company makes a buck or two.
It's a beautiful relationship I have with my music server.Until things went wrong. I had a small technical difficulty. I won't go into painful details. We all know working out bugs is part of the price you pay for such marvellous technologies. So, I call the help line. A confident sounding recorded voice assures me, my needs are the company's greatest concern. My call will be answered within TWO minutes. Of course, two hours later, a human voice, finally. Just one more problem, It seems my music server, which I figured was an American company, they are affiliated with a major cable/communications corporation, is outsourcing it's help service to India. Well, I don't know that much about India. I do know that if your customer service representatives are going to be assisting English speaking customers, the reps should speak English. At least well enough so they can understand you and you can understand them. Bottom line, after we wrangle around a bit on the phone in conversation it appears she (the Indian customer service rep) is on top of my technical problems and will waste no time setting things straight.
I hang up. I should feel, happy, releived. My service will be flawlessly restored.
Won't it? Suddenly doubt jumps in front of me and strikes me visciously across the head. I didn't really understand what she was saying. I think. Did she then, understand me? Mabye all the reps are trained to artfully give poor unsuspecting customers a false sense of assurance an then hang up on them? Onto the next call. Time is money. The company was efficent. Within twenty-four hours. My service was worse then ever. Further, my account had been totally changed around.
Time to jump back into the pool. Like the grandest general plotting stratedgy, I change tact. I go the e-mail route. One, two, e-mail correspondence. My service improves. My subscription, rightfully restored. Wherever those e-mails wound up, it seems the written English word is rather more exacting. Now, the final push. I go for the end-zone. Smashing through the defensive line. A third e-mail. My opus, I threaten to take my dollars elsewhere, and I will get everyone I know who uses their service to do the same. It's a bit of bluff on my part, but they are snookered. At long last, the Empire is saved. My service is fully back in operation, fully, completely, and the way it always should have been.
So, full circle now. I have signed into my server. House of Pain doing Jump Around, and myself with a new, fantastic realization. I always thought these guys were singing about dancing or such. Now I know the truth. They are warriors. They came to fight. I see myself in this tough stance. I "jumped around" with corporate America. Maybe, I didn't win. It's just nice to know I still have a bit of fight left in me.

Struggling to Juggle Technology

Let's get this out in the open on my very first blog post. I confess, I know absolutely nothing about computers. Without revealing my exact age, I share with you an anecdote. When I was in school we had no computers in the classroom. The "pc" did not exists yet. Computers did, but they were large and you had to know what to do with a punch card. Here is the thing, I remember our teachers telling to get ready. One day, they prophesied, EVERYONE will be using computers. People will use them at work! We students, in our innocence and ignorance, stared back slack jawed at our sage elders. Well, turns out they were right. Even they could not have imagined how right they were.
I know a young man. He's in undergrad school. He, and his generation, were weaned on computers. This kid is amazing. I have seen him work. First time I met him, we were talking computers, I asked him what brand he had? He looked at me as though he didn't understand the question. He just cobbles the things together from parts he buys on e-bay. Glad he's on my side.
As we welcomed in 2005 way back in January, I honestly didn't even know what a "blog" was. Trouble is, I still don't. I am determined to learn though. Is the younger generation so much smarter than we baby-boomers? I don't know the answer. However, when it comes to computers, the younger kids have shown me that the best way to figure it all out is just to "jump on and start peddling. Here I am, so watch me go. Please don't be too critical. Hopefully, as the near future unfolds, my acquired computer skill will be reflected in a blog that is as professional and as exciting to experience as any.
One thing I've alread learned, the on-line community is filled with folk who are all too happy to help a fellow out. The American spirit of innovation is so alive in cyberWorld. It has amazed me to learn that not only are the younger generation of computer users innovative, they love to share. It's a brave new world and I'm glad to have finally gotten off the starting line.
Thanks to my young friend, Sean (techoboy), and all my new friends in the StumbleUpon community for your continuing support and assistance.