These Birds Would Get a Speeding Ticket on City Routes

Puffins Take Flight: Iceland: The Puffin Explorers Series Book I

Author and Photographer: Ra Anderson

Publisher: My Favorite Books Publishing Company, Kingston, GA, 2019

My wife and I recently came back from a fantastic two-week plus trip to Alaska – inland first plus down the coast with our own lovely verandah cabin. One of her favorite sights was all the Puffins we saw, albeit the Pacific variety. She was thrilled with their antics and could watch them for hours. So, it was a no brainer when I was offered this book to review. And given the fact that we still had two young grandchildren (age two and five), I set aside my rule of almost always preferring non-fiction to fiction and agreed to read this wonderful book.

(A picture I took recently in Alaska.)

Ra Anderson, a professional photographer agreed to help work on her son’s destination wedding – to Iceland of all places.  On the ‘advance’ trip to finalize all the arrangements she fell in love with Iceland’s puffins and her camera went into full operation. Add to that her love for nature, her love of children (she has three), and her desire “to intrigue and engage children on multiple levels and topics, with books that will leave them wanting more and challenge them to look further, dig deeper, for more information in the future”, and this first book of a series was the result.

The book is beautifully attractively illustrated, bright colors, a great ‘story’ of two pufflins (young ones, aka chicks), coupled with a slew of fun ‘facts’. It’s a great combination that keeps the reader intrigued, wanting to continue the story but also wanting to understand why the story is the way it is (based on actual knowledge about puffins) at each step of the way. For example, I learned that puffins can fly at speeds up to 55 mph and could win Olympic diving medals if they were allowed to compete. And there are other facts about their life, love, and responsibilities.

The author tells a story and teaches at the same time in a most acceptable way. She, like most writers today, makes one or two references to the damage that climate change is causing, although she does it gingerly and not enough to offend those that may not agree with her.

Anderson has me hooked and I’m prepared to set my ‘reading only non-fiction’ rules aside when Book II comes out.

There’s also a great glossary section at the back of the book which helps both child and adult learn. As a very minimum, Anderson will entice you to visit the great land of Iceland, which I found out was originally named Snow Land.  That name brought too many tourists and the name was changed to what it is today to scare some of them off.  Of course, now tourism in Iceland exceeds the estimated population and is most welcomed. The book contains many more facts about puffins and Iceland.

Highly recommended for young children who can’t yet read but love to have adults read to them, or for older ones who can read.

Ken B. Godevenos, President, Accord Resolutions Services Inc., Toronto, Ontario, December 30, 2019, www.accordconsulting.com

It would be great if you would share your thoughts or questions on this blog in the comments section below or on social media.

When It Comes To Medical Research, How Dare You?

Feeling Smarter and Smarter:
Discovering the Inner-Ear Origins and Treatment for
Dyslexia/LD, ADD/ADHD, and Phobias/Anxiety

Author: Harold N. Levinson, MD

Publisher: Springer Nature Switzerland, Cham, Switzerland, 2019

I agreed to review this book both because someone in my family had had troubles with balance issues and someone had been diagnosed with ADHD, as well as because of the significant occurrence of dyslexia, phobias and anxiety among today’s youth.

In initially scanning through the book, I realized it would be quite technical in part, but figured I would gain much from reading it.  I did.

First the reader learns about the traditional theories on the subject illnesses – how they came about and how they don’t really help.  In essence, and contrary to popular belief, Levinson shows how the traditional idea of “dyslexia = alexia” is not accurate. Dyslexia is different. And its symptoms are “an astonishing variety” and combined in nature.

Readers are introduced to Levinson’s CVS (cerebellar-vestibular system) theory, how he arrived at it, how and why it works, and testimonials from those he has helped. I cannot emphasize how important this may be to parents of children suffering from Dyslexia, ADHD, phobias, etc.  Levinson’s treatments, once a child is properly diagnosed through tested questions and answers, make an immediate positive improvement on how a child feels and how he/she sees the world. The author shows us how only the CVS theory of dyslexia can explain the various symptoms and (reading) mechanisms of patients with dyslexia.

But more importantly, for those of us, who do not have to live with these illnesses, Levinson’s account of battling forces in the medical research field is fascinating. He gives us a great insider’s look at how research is done as well as how it should be done in order not to miss the goal. And how the accounts of patients are a very intricate part in all that. Bottom line is that researchers (and practitioners) don’t listen enough to the very people they are trying to help. He points out the intentional and unintentional bias that is ever present in research and explains what the root of that may well be. In the words of the New York Times 2019 ‘person’ of the year, “How dare you?”

Dr. Levinson is a world-renowned psychiatrist and neurologist who has studied dyslexics for over half a century. He began his dyslexia research years ago within the New York City Board of Education. Formerly clinical associate professor of psychiatry at New York University Medical Center, he is now director of the Medical Dyslexic Treatment Center (also called the Levinson Medical Center for Learning Disabilities) in Great Neck, New York.

He writes with a very open style, often guessing the questions that we might have as we read and takes the trouble to answer them for us.  

The book is full of pictures of individuals treated, personal accounts (often on behalf of their young children), examples of children’s writing before and after treatment, and diagrams of the inner-ear mechanisms and how they work.

It includes chapters on many helpful therapies, the four key steps of certain diagnosis, and on smart drugs. It touches on the implications of his findings for those with Autism (ASD) as well as Autistic Trait Disorder or Pseudo-autism.

Highly recommended if you want to learn about these illnesses and what can actually be done today as well as have hope for the future treatment of such symptoms. For me the value of the book came in understanding how persistence and the ‘go it alone’ attitude of one scientist made such a difference to thousands – only to have the rest of the scientific world acknowledge it slowly and reluctantly many years later. After all, as Levinson points out, neither Freud nor Einstein received Nobel prizes for what they are primarily known for today.

If nothing else, I would urge all parents who have children diagnosed with any of the above illnesses and their associated symptoms to get their hands on Dr. Levinson’s book, and either ask their own doctors about it, and if necessary and/or possible, get to his Levinson Medical Center for Learning Disabilities.  

n  Ken B. Godevenos, President, Accord Resolutions Services Inc., Toronto, Ontario, December 30, 2019, www.accordconsulting.com

It would be great if you would share your thoughts or questions on this blog in the comments section below or on social media.

When Defense of One Makes All Suspect

The Defender of the Faith

Author: Prakash Lothe

Publisher: Archway Publishing, Bloomington, Indiana, 2019

Full disclosure: I was duped. I honestly thought this book was non-fiction when I agreed to review it. Instead, I found myself engaged in a story that not only kept me interested in knowing how it would end but also learning a lot of history with respect to India, Hinduism, and Pakistan – all substantially verified when I did my checking with historical accounts. Prakash Lothe, a winner of the Best Marathi Novel Award of 2017 (presented by the government of Maharashtra, India), has done an excellent job of engaging his readers throughout the book, and giving, me at least, a surprise ending that I never expected. More about that later.

The plotline comes, to a certain extent, from the author’s own family experiences. The main character of the story, the Defender, was based on his grandfather. The hero of the story is based on his own father. The author himself is worked into the storyline as the astute son of the hero. All this in an early twentieth century India, under the rule of the British.

Lothe has much to teach us. We learn how the caste system actually plays out in everyday Indian life. We see how some traditions of the Brahmins literally left some women, especially widows, marked for life. We see the full extent of the wider family’s responsibility in the welfare of other members. Poverty seems to impact so many aspects of life. It determines the degree to which one lacks a proper diet, accommodations, mode of transport, education, medical care, and a career.

There are other well taught lessons that are more universal in their application.  These deal with the inter-relationship of a stepparent, parent, and child, as well as parental and sibling in-laws. As is to be expected, the root cause is ‘money’ and its manifestation as such is magnified where poverty is prevalent.

Having black sheep in the family, hiding the truth and/or bad news from one’s elders allegedly for their own good, and the typical disagreements between parent and child (primarily father and son) with respect to tradition, national politics, and ideologies – all are front and center throughout the book. Also major as a theme is the treatment of women in two different societies. 

The most predominant thread, however, is clearly woven as both a personal and societal drama between the ideologies of two different religions – Hinduism and Christianity, with Islam playing a supporting role. The hero battles the self-induced urge to abandon the faith of his father, the “Defender”, and convert to the religion of his own heroes. The outcome is not what you would expect, but I won’t spoil it for you here.

That said, the book is recommended for those who care about the plight of others. In it, one will find much to identify with and much to pause and consider with respect to how he/she relates to the issues involved.

p.s. Readers may find this account from Wikipedia of interest: “The title "Defender of the Faith" reflects the Sovereign's position as the supreme governor of the Church of England, who is thus formally superior to the archbishop of Canterbury. The original Latin phrase Fidei Defensor is represented on all current British coins by the abbreviations, F D or FID DEF.”  Lothe, has applied this title to the title character of his book, with the faith being Hinduism. 

n  Ken B. Godevenos, President, Accord Resolutions Services Inc., Toronto, Ontario, December 26, 2019, www.accordconsulting.com

It would be great if you would share your thoughts or questions on this blog in the comments section below or on social media.

Old Testament Laws regarding Carcassses

The Carcasses of the Clean Animals

Leviticus 11:39-40

Also, if one of the animals dies which you have for food, the one who touches its carcass becomes unclean until evening. He too, who eats some of its carcass shall wash his clothes and be unclean until evening; and the one who picks up its carcass shall wash his clothes and be unclean until evening.

Thoughts on the Passage

Currently I am also reading a book about life in India many decades ago. It describes in great detail the various ceremonial rituals and traditions of the Hindu faith. As one reads these verses in Leviticus, one can see some relationship between them and what the Hindus practice about being unclean, although perhaps for different reasons.

In these verses, I note three types of ‘uncleanliness’.  First, one who touches a carcass of a perfectly clean animal that has died. Second, one who eats of the carcass. Third, one who picks up the carcass. They are all unclean until evening, but the latter two also have to wash their clothes.

David Guzik says, “these laws apply to the natural death of clean animals, not to their butchering for food or death for sacrifice. Those handling such carcasses were ceremonially unclean and needed to be cleansed by washing and a brief quarantine.”

It would be great if you would share your thoughts or questions on this blog in the comments section below or on social media.

Waiting For God(ot) -- No, I Mean It, It Seems Death is All that is Left

The day after American Thanksgiving my wife and I cut our visit to our daughter's family in the U.S. short.  Word had come back that my mother-in-law was not doing so well in her long-term care facility. And my wife felt she needed to be home.

I lost my mother when she was 64. I was 35 at the time. My dad died in his 91st year. I was 59.  My wife's father lived to be in his 97th year and died when my wife was 70.  And now we sit daily for a long stretch of time -- feeding and making comfortable her mom who is in her 96th year.

She has signed all the required papers. They are not to resuscitate her when the time comes. In the meanwhile she breathes with the help of oxygen. I understand that the amount of oxygen is significant enough that the portable containers can no longer be used.  It now comes directly from a much larger machine that is plugged into the wall.

And although this is also possible in the dining room, this resident is no longer able to sit up, let alone stand up. Thus getting her to meals in a wheelchair is not feasible. It's a struggle for two staff people to get her to the washroom or to take care of her in her bed.  They are angels.

I don't mind visiting as often as I can.  I do it because I love my wife.  And I want to be there for her. Fortunately, the home has excellent Wi-Fi and I can get a lot of work done (including writing this blog) when I'm here.

Today is not a particularly good day.  My mother-in-law does not want to eat a lot. She is hardly talking. She can barely keep her eyes open. This is no way to live. She wonders how long she has been like this and how much longer this condition will continue. We're not sure if she is hoping to get better or if she is ready to die. The verdict on that changes regularly.

For all of us, it's like waiting for Godot. You may have studied the famous but absurd play by Samuel Beckett performed first in 1953.  Godot never comes for the two main characters.

But get rid of "ot" and change it to waiting for God -- and that's exactly what we have here.  We tell Grandma that it's up to God now as to how long this state will continue.  We are doing nothing to cut it short and there is nothing we can do to prolong it in accordance wth her wishes.

But the wait is important.  Not so much for her, but more for us. Death has a way of strengthening the  living.

When a parent lives into his or her late nineties, their caregiver children often range into their seventies. The toll of daily visits, feeding and just sitting next to their loved day after day (especially if due to location one child is more likely to bear the majority of the burden) often with little or no response, or signs of real life, can be taxing. Yet, children do it because of the relationship and the bond (regardless of quality) that has been established over seven decades or more.

Somehow God gives them the strength to daily set aside their own responsibilities and make that visit. It's a duty they take on even though they have no idea of how long it will need to last. The staff at the long-term care facility my wife's mother is in told me this week that in 2019 they had to say goodbye to two 108 year olds. And then of course what happens when the caregiver themselves starts to have her or his own health issues?  Just imagine a parent living to 108 and the caregiver being 85.

Maybe our forefathers knew something when they all lived together in villages, taking care of their aged at home and sharing the responsibilities. Or did they?

So we wait for Godot.  We wait for our loved one to die. There are no other options -- recovery has succumbed to age. If a setback occurs, any medicine or treatment can only prolong life for a day, a week, month, maybe even a year. But what does that life look like and who wants it?  Does the elderly person themselves want it?  Does one dare to ask him or her?

I asked my mother-in-law today, "Did you sleep well last night?" Her barely audible reply was, "That's all I do."  She's right. I added, "Then you've mastered that.  Maybe you can teach some of us how to do it."  She smiled.

As we each take turns visiting and sitting quietly in the room, we cannot but think of our own future, our own old age, even our own last days.  Will we have mastered sleep, waiting for Godot, waiting for death?  I pray my personal experience will be characterized by a sense of wonderment because I will be waiting for God, not Beckett's Godot. And Love will have once again conquered all, even death.

-- Ken B. Godevenos writing from Toronto.

It would be great if you would share your thoughts or questions on this blog in the comments section below or on social media.

How Assistant, Siri, Alexa, and Cortana Could Contribute to Society

My daughter and her husband went out to a dinner the other night and brought home a gift from the host -- a Google Home system.  (Nice friends if you can find them.)  We already had an earlier, less sophisticated model (a Google Nest Mini, now in my grandson's room) and others in the family (not in our house) have Alexa.  Of course, all of us already have Siri on our phones.

As I was watching it get set up afresh this morning and listening to my grandson (like all my grandsons) misusing and abusing the "voice" -- be it Google's (intentionally no-name) Assistant, Amazon's Alexa, Apple's Siri, Microsoft's Cortana, or whoever -- with ridiculous questions, etc., it struck me that these so-called "Assistants" could, if their manufacturers want to, be put to good use for society.

I mean they could do more than answer your questions, look things up for you, spy on you (if they do), and even eavesdrop on your conversations.  I know for certain they do the latter.

One night my wife and I were alone in our kitchen having dinner.  We were in the midst of little spat and we were verbally duelling it out fairly well.  (That comes with practice over the decades.) At one point one of us (doesn't matter who) uttered the phrase, "I love you" very emphatically.  Before the other had a chance to respond, Assistant responded, "Now that's the kind of words I love to hear.  Let me play some music for you to go along with the sentiment." Or words to that effect. Both our jaws dropped.  We were flabbergasted.  And worried.  What else had she/he/it have heard and could it be recalled at will?  Well, that's another topic -- once again, for another day.

Let's return to how these assistants could, if their manufacturing masters wanted to, help society.

I don't know about you, but I've notice an absence of good manners these days and not just from kids.  People don't say "please" and "thank you" as much as they used to.  Not verbally and not in written correspondence.  If you don't believe me, just keep track of how many times strangers who stop you and ask you things on the street -- directions, the time, etc. -- actually use the words "please" when asking, and "thank you" after you've answered.  The ones who do are likely in the minority.  My guess is the statistics are even worse for kids.

So, what's my idea?  Simply this.  Each manufacturer of these so-called "assistants" could produce a version (just like the owners of Monopoly produce various versions and make a fortune), that only provides answers if the questioner says "please" and "thank you".  Using the example of Apple's Siri (I know her the best), it would go something like this:

Grandson: Hey Siri, what is the temperature outside right now?

Siri: I'm sorry, I didn't hear that.

Grandson: I said, what is the temperature outside right now?

Siri: I'm sorry, I'm not sure I want to answer that question for you at this time. At the very least I don't  appreciate the way you asked it.  Feel free to give it another try.

Grandson:  Okay, okay, how should I ask you?

Siri: How about trying some of the words you were taught by your parents or at school when wanting something?

Grandson: Okay, tell me the blooming temperature or you'll be sorry.

Siri: No, I won't be sorry and I won't tell you.

Grandson: Fine, you win.  I'll ask someone else.

Siri: As you wish.  Or you could try saying "Please Siri, what is the temperature outside?"

Grandson: Only because I'm in a hurry and need to know.  So, Siri, please tell me the temperature outside.

Siri: It is currently minus two celsius.  Enjoy your day.

[Grandson goes off to do his own thing and returns to Siri an hour or so later with a follow-up question, having sooner or later learned his lesson.]

Grandson: Hey Siri, please tell me what time the sun will set tonight? [In reality, no young kid asks this kind of question but it's the only one I can think of at the moment.]

Siri: Thank you for asking politely but I cannot answer your question because of the way you left me after I answered your last question.  See, I remember.  You know better than to just walk away after someone gives you an answer to a question you asked.  So, can we try this again?

Grandson: Okay, you're right.  Thank you for answering my last question. Please tell me what time the sun goes down tonight.

Siri: You're welcome.  The sun will set a 4:40 p.m. this afternoon.  Stay safe after that.

[Grandson goes off forgetting to say 'thank you' but eventually he will learn, and the world will be a kinder place.]

My wife argued that this may not work because the "assistants" turn themselves off right after answering the question they are asked, or so we think.  Perhaps so, but I am sure, the manufacturer could build in a slight two-second delay to wait for the words "thank you".  And I'd be happy to help address any other technical challenges they may have.

By the way, as I was reading the first draft of this blog to my wife, I was sitting there with my iPhone at my side.  When I came to read the part with the question I gave above for Siri, "Hey Siri, what is the temperature outside right now?" it happened.  Siri responded loud and clear.  When we utter the assistant's name intentionally, or unintentionally, we are being listened to, for sure.

So, if they're going to be able to use the data they collect in courts as they tried to in a recent case where it is alleged a man killed his girlfriend in her kitchen, they may as well, in the process,
teach us courtesy, so at least we'll be polite in prison.

Just think of it.  They could advertise the new product using phrases like "The New and Improved Assistant" or the "Teacher's Assistant" or even the "Green Assistant -- cleaning up rudeness".

-- Ken B. Godevenos, writing from Toronto.

It would be great if you would share your thoughts or questions on this blog in the comments section below or on social media.

Disagreeing Without Hard Feelings (& the 5 Levels of Friendship)

The other day I attended a monthly meeting of a group -- the nature of the group does not matter at this point.  During the break, a "casual friend" of mine started telling me, much to his satisfaction, about a recent trip he took and how 9 out of 10 people he met could not stand a particular leader. I indicated that I would have been the 10th. When I explained why, he started challenging me and I countered with some direct but strong rebuttal for which he had nothing to say. I told him I was sick and tired of how so many people like he and I in so many other respects, could dislike someone so much without any valid and contextual reason.  Again he had no answer and I slid away to others in the group.

Before the break was over, he called me over and said, "Hey Ken, no hard feelings, right?  We're still friends, right?"  To which I replied, "No, no hard feelings."  As I was heading home that evening I wondered to myself, "Is that really the case?"  Is it possible for such an interaction and such strong, yet divergent feelings, to be verbalized, and acknowledged in such a way where there would be "no hard feelings" and that next time we met, it would be as if this interaction never happened?

As I started to write [which for me is great therapy for a) expressing one's frustration while at the same time b) developing one's position on a matter], it hit me that much depended on the level of friendship that two people had.  That led me to an article by Jermaine Tucker.  You can read it here. There you will find the Friendship Pyramind (see picture above) that he developed based on some of the ideas adapted from Waiting and Dating by Dr. Myles Munroe.

The Friendship Pyramid lists 5 levels of Friendship:

5. Strangers (at the bottom and thus containing the most people)
4. Acquaintances
3. Casual Friends
2. Close Friends
1. Intimate Friends (at the top and thus containing a more limited number of people)

The Pyramid also suggests what characterizes each of the levels.  We would all do well to think about these and perhaps take the trouble to both list people we know by category and then consider whether or not there are sufficient individuals in each category.

Personally, I think there should be a 6th category between Close Friends and Casual Friends -- maybe called Good Friends.  But for our purposes let's stick wth the five Tucker has provided.  Take the time to look at the characteristics of each category before proceeding to read the rest of this article.

So, what can we say about the likelihood of "no hard feelings, we're still friends, right?" when what happened to me happens in conjunction with someone in any of the five levels of friendship?  Here's my take. You are free to disagree -- no hard feelings.

With Strangers: The first thing we need to address here is whether our 'contacts' on our various social media (for the most part) are simply 'strangers' for all intents and purposes, or are they 'acquaintances'?  I'll go with the fact that the "majority" of our contacts are really strangers.  Based on that, the answer here is simple -- it is what it is.  I have found that depending on the issue, such 'strangers' will either block you or ignore you going forward.  On the odd occasion, someone may slowly return to a humane reaction to your posts if you continue to be fair and honest, not attack them personally, and comment positively on their posts where it is merited.  Otherwise, it is their choice (or yours) and it really doesn't matter, does it?

With Acquaintances: I consider acquaintances to be those that I run into in the course of carrying out my work or my life.  They happen to be where I am.  Or I have to deal with them in order to accomplish what I need to do (buy groceries, clothes, do my banking, get my vacuum repaired, etc.). Sadly, or maybe providentially, we don't often get to the point of having a "difference of opinions" on anything controversial.  Especially in the West, we stick to the weather and our local sport team when seeking a small-talk subject. Moving towards more meaningful topics like politics or religion takes a lot of careful posturing and the ability to read any clues as to a particular view that may emanate from an acquaintance.  Even then, proceed with caution.  But let's say a difference does come up -- can you both get over it?  I think the answer is "yes" -- after all, in most cases, you need their expertise and they need your business.  At best, you'll both know enough not to broach the topic in the future. At worse, you will find another provider of what you need, and he/she will find another customer.

With Casual Friends: Casual friends are those that you meet up with regularly because you both choose to attend events or activities that are of interest to both of you. Club meetings or church services are two good examples. Or perhaps you both get invited to the same parties. And if you are like me, this is where the agitation of an interaction like the one I mentioned above starts to kick in and the occurrence requires more thought and discussion afterwards, perhaps with close or intimate friends (the next two levels of friendship). And this is where you really have a meaningful choice to either let it get to you or to let it go -- because either a) you value the activity you both participate in more than winning this argument with this person or b) the person has some other qualities, and it is not worth you convincing them to change their opinions.  The relationship can be saved. Hopefully, he or she would do the same.  If not, the next time you meet, may be more awkward and a further, perhaps more consequential decision, will need to be made.

With Close Friends: These are the individuals that are supposed to have the same values, ideals, and worldview as you do. Your interests and life goals match and you're working together in one way or another to achieve the common goal(s) you both thought you had. Close friends are supposed to be connected in mind and spirit, if not also, body. First, we recognize that we have very few individuals at this level of friendship. Clearly many of our family members may well be in that category. People in our inner circle or church small groups may be there too. Long-time friends may be in this group. Business partners may be there. So when there is a disagreement in our values, ideals, or worldview, we first need to ask ourselves "Is this really a difference at that level, or is our disagreement w.r.t. methodology?" If the former, it may be time to either rethink the "closeness" of the relationship, or to decide that the relationship is so important, that the difference in values does not matter.  One example that comes to mind is having an adult child that is totally at different ends of the political spectrum than you are. And yet when it comes to family matters, work, and life in general, you and he/she have a very close relationship that won't be thrown away because of your differences.  Again the choice is yours but the stakes are much higher.

With Intimate Friends: First, I must admit, somewhat to my chagrin, that I only really have one individual in that category. You guessed it -- my spouse. We (well her more than I) are committed to developing each other's characters. We are committed to mutual honesty. After decades of living together the only thing we really disagree on is how we verbalize our disappointments.  I wear my feelings on 'her' sleeves. She considers such 'wearing' as being critical, especially when it comes to  my feelings about our children and grandchildren. And I admit, she is usually right, always helping me to look on the bright side of things, pointing out how blessed we are. All that to say that the kind of disagreement I experienced with my casual friend would not likely occur between my wife and me. But it appears that many couples are indeed giving up their relationships these days because of political and religious reasons, among many others. Still, I've seen some, who really love each other, some younger than I am, learn to accept each other's political and religious views where they differ strongly with their own. And that's the way it should be.  No hard feelings.

So, where are we? What can we learn from looking at disagreements in the light of who exactly the disagreement is with?

For starters, think about what category of "friendship" the person disagreeing with you is in. Secondly, weigh the disagreement against the value of the "friendship" or involvement you have with that person. Third, when in doubt, let it go.  Life is too short.

But most importantly, especially if you are a person of faith, consider whether your reaction will make you a better follower of your faith, or take you in the opposite direction.

I want to hear from you with your thoughts.

-- Ken Godevenos, writing from Toronto.

It would be great if you would share your thoughts or questions on this blog in the comments section below or on social media.

Black Friday Came and Went, but Global Warming Syndrome Will Hang Around.

A new survey reported on by WND on November 28, 2019 indicates that about six in 10 Americans say they are at least "somewhat worried" about global warming and 23 percent say they are "very worried." Meanwhile, Washington-based psychiatrist Lise Van Susteren who has studied the mental health impacts of climate change for a decade and a half, says it is affecting us all.

And what kind of impact may that be? She lists ""conflict avoidance, fatalism, fear, helplessness and resignation."  The latest survey was conducted by a joint venture of Yale and George Mason universities. It found it is not just "only upper-middle-class, white, well-educated, latte-sipping liberals" that care about climate change. Meanwhile the "dismissives" are mostly "well-educated conservative white men." (I guess the researcher had people like me in mind when reporting that finding.)

What does this generic "climate change anxiety" look like for some?  Here are two examples reported by WND:

Kate Schapira, a senior lecturer at Brown University, operates a "climate anxiety" booth, just like Lucy's counselling booth in "Peanuts." She's so concerned that she and her husband are not having children. She wants her "sense of responsibility to the world to shrink down to the size of one person."  And she's not flying again.

Debbie Chang organized a group counselling session on dealing with climate anxiety on the National Mall in Washington in May, and she is going with a zero-waste policy. WND said, "She keeps chopsticks in her purse to avoid single-use plastic utensils, carries a handkerchief to substitute for paper napkins, and brings a steel container with her to restaurants for any leftovers she might want."

So, why all this anxiety? One lobbyist (Alicia Cannon) says it has to do with the fact that climate change is such a "large-scale issue and it's overwhelming and you feel that it's overwhelming because of helplessness."

Okay, here are my thoughts.  Don't ever say I'm not sharing.

First, climate-change is not a large-scale issue for many millions of people. In fact, millions around the world just worry about making it through the day, let alone worry about what may happen a decade from now.

Second, it's not over-whelming unless we want it to be. We are not breathing less because of climate change. No one or nothing is choking us.  Why then, on a practical level, are we so much more anxious now?

Third, if you have a feeling of helplessness, it is because you have bought into the lie that the world will end soon. People have been proposing this event at least for the last 2,000 years (that's 200 times longer than the current prediction says we have left).  Check out the details here.  You don't need to feel helpless on this account any more than you do believing that Santa Claus is real and you've been naughty all year.  [I don't venture to guess the correlation between being a climate change fearer and believing in Santa Claus.]

Fourth, isn't it amazing that an increase in climate change anxiety or syndrome goes hand in hand with an increase in Trump Derangement Syndrome victims.  I am convinced that if ever the Democrats are in power again, you will notice the climate change anxiety symptoms will die down a lot if not totally disappear. There will always be a few carriers of it around that have suffered beyond repair. But the point is that this is a political "anti-Trump" epedimic like so many other things these days.  Things like violence on airlines and restaurants and elsewhere because people happen to be wearing red hats with a certain four capital letters on them.

So, where do I stand on the issue of climate change?

I believe God created this earth in such a way that He could say, "it is good."  I believe we have not taken care of it as well as we should have.  I believe God is perfectly aware of the state of His creation and He cares much more for it than all the tree huggers in the world combined.

I believe I have a responsibility to do my part in keeping 'me' from harming the earth. But I also believe that God cares as much if not more about our lack of humaneness that we have shown towards our fellow men (as we kill them, get them addicted, sexually abuse them,  torture them, hate them, even cheat them or take advantage of them) and to babies in their mothers' wombs (as we abort them). And probably a lot more things that we have a direct "up or down" impact on.

Let's start working on these things and let Him worry more about the the weather -- after-all, that's His Natural realm.  Our purpose is to love all life -- especially where our actual actions would otherwise eliminate it outright.  Now get out there and take a deep breath.

-- Ken Godevenos, writing to do form Toronto, Ontario.

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