Summer reading #5

After visiting Newfoundland this past July, it made sense to wrap my head around this important part of the province's history. The one thing that sticks out to me is how close I came to seeing some of the bad policies in action, even though it is 10 years after the cod fishery was stopped. This is a picture of a shrimp boat, heading out of Twillingate Harbour. There are about half a dozen of these big boats working out of Twillingate. They are the mainstay of the harbour activity these days. Problem: The shrimp boats use huge, weighted "dragger" type nets that scrape along the bottom and scoop up everything off the ocean floor, because that is where the shrimp are feeding. It is this very same kind of big boat, government subsidized dragging that killed off the huge numbers of cod in the 80s. Because the gov't gave in to political pressure to help make it happen, all in the name of jobs for Newfoundlanders, the cod fishery was ruined. The draggers dig up the plant and animal detritus that is the basis of the food chain for cod and other species. Now, ironically, the same destructive, dragging method is being used to harvest shrimp, which is even more valuable than cod once were. Hello people? The cod used to eat the shrimp. Now that the cod are gone, you are taking all the shrimp! Will there ever be a chance for the species to renew itself?

Alex Rose says the answer will take political will-power, and a renewal of Newfoundlanders' philosophy of the future: A ban on all habitat-destroying fishing methods, a possible middle term ban on all fishing, and then a move into a quota-based system. Newfoundlanders need to envision a future that is not built around taking and taking and taking. They need to diversify into methods of renewal and enterpreneurship in other sectors. Tourism is one example.

I am now more aware of the issues facing the global fishing business. There is more demand for fish than ever before, and more habitat destruction and deep ocean renegade fishing practices than ever before. National governments need to put fisheries on their agenda right up beside global warming.
Three stars out of five. (A bit too repetitive; confusing in places; rambling in others.)

Solo Skydive - Toronto Skydiving School

One day I decided to jump out of a plane...

The instructions were to push myself out sideways, and then spread eagle into an arch, while counting, "Arch thousand, two thousand, three thousand, four thousand, check thousand." My jumpmaster, Baxter, shouted into my ear moments before I jumped, "Smile for the camera!" This is how you smile when there is a 100 mph wind in yer face. Baxter has his hand on my static line and will pull it in as soon as it detaches from my chute.

Things are happening really fast at this point. I'm forcing myself to complete my count, while the wind whips me sideways. I can feel the tug on my rig as the pin gets pulled and releases the chute from the pack.

Is it there?

Is it square?

Will it flare?

They taught us that when jumping from 3000 feet, we have about 21 seconds of free fall time before hitting the ground. After completing our count, 6 seconds were used up. By that point our chute should be fully open and we begin a visual 3 point check, "Is it there? Is it square? Will it flare? (Flare refers to the control check where I grab the control toggles and pull them down to see if the "brakes" work.)

If the control check is good, then I was free for the next 4 or 5 minutes to fly around and enjoy the view before landing. I was in radio contact with the ground, and he instructed me where to steer as I neared the ground. "Right toggle.... left toggle....more...more....and let it up.....Landing position.....OK....and......flaaaaarrrrrre" Those commands are what brought me into line and then slowed down my forward motion at the last few moments for a soft, easy landing.

The control check is extremely important. I needed to know as soon as my chute opened that it was controllable, otherwise there could be lots of risk of not being able to land safely. I could land slowly, but would have no control over where I landed (e.g. slamming into a building, a tree, a power line, or landing in the middle of Highway 48 - none of these prospects are good!) 

If, during the "Will it flare?" part of the control check, there was a "low-speed" problem and I was unable to steer the chute properly, then I would immediately have to cut the main chute, using the emergency release handle on my right strap, then pull the reserve handle. This is not something you want to delay, since as soon as you cut away the main chute, you begin a free fall!

The other possibility is a high-speed problem. During the check count, I look and ask, "Is it there?" Obviously, if there is no chute there after a 5 second free fall, I've got 16 seconds left to quickly cut my main chute and pull my reserve handle. If my answer to "Is it there?" is YES, then the next question, "Is it square?" helps me evaluate the condition of my chute. Possibilities here are, 1) YES it is square - continue to "Will it flare?" and control check. Possibility 2)  - NO it has twisted lines. Solution: reach up and untwist yourself by pulling your hands against the straps. Possibility 3) - NO a corner is slightly collapsed. No problem, go on to control check and the corner will open up. 4) NO my chute looks like the proverbial "Ball of shit," meaning it is hopelessly fouled up and tangled. This would also be accompanied by the strange sensation of still falling fast and a big blast of wind all over me. This is a high-speed problem, and to delay making a decision here would be fatal, since there is only about 15 seconds of time before impact. Actually, I would have only about 5 seconds to make a decision, because if I waited too long to cut my main chute, there wouldn't be enough time and altitude for my reserve chute to fully open. So, as we were learning about this, it dawned on me that I was actually going to be fully responsible for my own safety in the event of an emergency. There would be no one there who could help me, rescue me or save me. "You are completely responsible for what happens."

Taken about 300 feet above the ground or so. I'm listening to the ground instructor's last minute instructions to guide me to the landing place. As it turns out I ended up landing just beside the runway and almost took out the photographer because I ended up zooming right towards her!

This the look on my face when I realized what I have just done. It was worth the wait and all the training! I want to share this experience with someone else now.... I wonder who will be "up" to it?

Summer listening #1

This group has come around again, and again, it seems. Simple mix, earnest and intense playing, catchy ideas and tunes. I first realized I had something to listen to when I heard Funk #49 on the radio. As I listened I heard familiar sounds, as if the band was copying Boston, The Eagles, even Led Zeppelin. But no, it's the other way around - Joe Walsh, guitarist in the James Gang, had a lot to do with the band's sound. Walsh went on to join The Eagles and also has had a significant solo career.

Summer reading #4

Mark Boyle, an Irishman living in England, spent a year without spending money, to try to show that money is actually not necessary for survival in the modern world. Underlying Boyle's adventure was a firm belief that money was, and is, a system of convenience. It served a good purpose at first, but eventually became an end in itself, with the added problem that it creates an illusion of security, where we no longer rely on personal relationships and good faith in our local community.

Boyle set himself up with some rules to guide his actions. One interesting rule is that he will not willingly use fossil fuels. Therefore he went off the hydro grid completely. There are many interesting facets to the outworking of that rule alone, well worth the read.

Boyle admits that dumpster diving is not a sustainable way to bolster what's in your pantry, but he explains that he feels responsible for reducing the amount of waste, which the retailers of food - who are out to make profit, and bound by arbitrary food freshness regulations - do not want people to know about.

Most of Boyle's food came from what he was able to grow himself, or barter for by volunteering to work on a local farm, or by foraging wild plants that often grow in our area, are edible and which we no nothing about. He is also a vegan.

For those of us interested in reducing our wastefulness, Boyle reminds us of the burgeoning "freeconomy" movement, which is based trade. Two examples of web sites devoted to this are justfortheloveofit.org and localskillswap.com.

Actually, I was inspired by some of the lessons Boyle learned along the way, one of which was to be less critical of the choices others make, and to really embrace the Pay it Forward philosophy. What Christians refer to as the providential grace of a personal God, Boyle understands as a general principal of the universe: if you give back to mother earth, and its creatures including people, then at the right moment it will give you what you need.

Not an exciting read, not for everyone, but very thought-provoking and full of gems!
4 stars out of 5

Summer reading #3

The book reads like watching the movie: you switch from one chase/fight scene to the next; you're always wondering, "who is this person? are they friend or foe?" The Bourne Dominion was worth the read, keeping me in suspense to the end, but not as thrilling as the fast paced movies. A gift from my mother in law : )
3 stars out of 5