Water for All

I think the fluoride thing is bothering me. It has for sometime. Everytime it comes up, which is always on my facebook feed, I'm hit with suspicion. I'm often suspisious of things trending, like the juicing trend.*

Its the furor behind it. Don't get me wrong, furor is such an important thing when it comes to societal change. Passion and drive get things done before sloth or laziness.

In my home town they've just gotten rid of fluoride in the water and through out the discussion I've raised a weary eyebrow to it all. But before I let my skepticism say something foolish on facebook (heaven knows there's enough of that as it is) I wanted to do some research. I am not a scientist, I studied History.

Fluoride is an element of the periodic table. It is naturally occurring in water sources in some degree or another. This includes well water If you want more facts on fluoride, then I recommend actually reading all of this document made by the WHO World Health Organization). I know we, in our modern/smart phone facebook era, are used to out snap facts about just about anything, but it is important to read the long documents. For me it boils down to this. Fluoride/sodium fluoride is in everything. It is, in small doses beneficial to teeth. It has yet to have long term side effects on humans proven. **

Those who were involved probably thought they were doing a great thing for they're community. Get involved. Be a part of something.

Of course I would understand this all better if it was really just about the 230, 000 dollars the township will be saving on Fluoride. For some people, they want the freedom to chose. Those who do must boil and purify they're water for forever because the world is full of many more periodic table elements that are happily water soluble and don't need a township, province or country to introduce it to our drinking water.

What was made worrying about it was that two groups of people were being affected by the misinformation and the lack of equal weight of the argument

Perhaps because water is so much more immediate and visible. You MUST drink water, you must wash and rinse in water. More then food, which has become more pleasure than necessity, more than air which is something so easily forgotten because it is not in front of our eyes in a liquid or solid form for us to grasp. Perhaps it is this that creates a furvor behind it. But people must research both sides and it feels like there are forgetting so many other issues because of it.

Again, I'm not a scientist, but the blind following, the lack of questioning, critical  thinking behind the whole thing, and leading people to accept that your side is truth, without an proper explanation, without really digging in and researching the information before presenting it. Those that are worried that we are to much sheep to the system, who gather people under broad wings and say, we are the free ones who will guide you. Take the red pill.

But why? Why should I take your red pill?

But why couldn't those preaching fear be equally feared? Why shouldn't they be questions. They will say as much as the government that they are thinking of the people. They pitch their enemy as some green ghoul with long reaching hands coming for your children, like old school propaganda from an innumerable number of wars in our history.


If it were about  the corrupt villain of government who is somehow some drooling tyrant, with goblin hands, who wants everyone in the world to be stupid and full of cancer, then I wonder if we're not taking it so far in the other direction, but down the wrong path, like its a silly distraction from more important things. Those who want to be a part of a community, perhaps time would better being spent making sure that it is all sides presented, and the motives of it are genuine.

Perhaps it is there where my skepticism came from. I've seen it before. Doomed to repeat, even at such a small scale. Question everything, no just normal, but what people claim to be strange too.

Don't follow a movement because movements are the thing to do. Perhaps it is just me, but it is all something we must consider.











*juicing is great for those people who's health mandates it, either for digestion issues or serious dental work.

** there's another blog that has plenty of links and discusses the information from both sides. Click here!

Bewildering Error

I found something strange in a book I'm reading about Teedie Roosevelt. A large geographic error. They had  a paragraph about Iceland where it shoulda been Scotland or Northern England. Weird. and made twice. It was something unusual and kind of frustrates me. I wonder why. My research on the google shows nothing.

Also, I've been listening to the Drawing of Three, by Stephen King. I nearly gave up on it, but I find it really good. Rather inspiring.

Falls, Eas Chia Aig and the Caledonian Forest

Went on a wee walk to Eas Chia Aig waterfall. Rather then elbow our way through the quick passing tourists and troops of climbers scattered all over Glen Nevis, we decided to try something a little out of the way.

 It was filled with towering Caledonian Pines, a tree that is every bit a part of its landscape, and so distinct, it feels a shame to put the speedy, foreign trees next to it.

The two trees on the left most of the frame are the silhouettes of Caledonian, or Scot Pines. 

Upward View of Scot Pine and the fancy Botanical plate image of one. 

While Walking Highlands indicates its closed for Hydro, its been completely stripped at the crown, left bare with only caved road ways to its peak. Hopefully it is restored. The less traveled ways are the finest ones. Less hurried and choked with the busy humanity we seek to be shook of.

A wee map!

Tree Hands

Man in the woods

Waterfall carvings. The power of water and time.

I like the aniqued look, though the portion of hydro dam put in. Discreet compared to the skinned mountainside out of view.  

Water's edge.

Retro Tea and Science Beverage

Bought a tea set.

I liked it for its cover, even better when I found out it was from the 1968 and that on etsy it was going for 37 pounds. Got it for a tenner and it pours like a dream, which should be the gold standard of any tea pot. Anything less is pissing down one's pant leg.

It functions and is funky! Check that saucy spout.

Got a Mug. Sci Show logo. I wanted to support and so I have. I dig the colours, the mat and it will fall among my favourite. No more drinking vessels for a long time now though.

Art for Tonight

The thing that springs to mind when listening to the first half of The Drawing of Three. I feel like he'd be Cajun though.

Its been a drawing kind of day.

After watching a documentry on USA's National Parks, including Yellow Stone

What started as a gunslinger turned into a farmer.

Blistering Solos

After two days of vigorous cleaning, painting, sanding, rearranging and shining up, I've had a few hours. It's been spent, largely, listening to metal and folk music, though very little Folk metal.

My two groups of choice have been Lord Huron and something between Iron Maiden and Metallica. Both genres seem to have a way of reinvigorating me mentally.

Metal has always tapped into they youthfully fervent need to express, and folk is my older self enjoying how that idea of self expression doesn't have to be done through blistering solos  and thrashing drums. Although I do recommend it once an a while.

Those who say "it's not music its just noise" I'm sure can't find the rhythm or melody in the inesity and that is just fine. It always reminds me of a racing heart.

But away, I've had a few wee adventures. Been out to the Silver Sands of Morar, and seen some lovely coral based beach, though it were not bikini weather, that's for sure.

Went east to visit me mummy in-law and had lots of sun and nice chat. I discovered on the way over that I am, in fact a snow snob. I have every right to be. I've seen my first snow plow and it was a tonka truck compared to the ones back home. It was no where near any snow and when we did, at long last, come across a rather thick patch in the mountains, it was in the opposite direction of the little buggers travels. I haven't seen the worst of the worst when it comes to snow weather in the mountains and I know mountain weather is a beast to be reckoned with. BUT. If its really only in a few isolated areas, then that Tonka Truck should have the sweetest gig of backing up and over the hill umpteen times a day.

I got two lessons on driving in standard. No innocents have been maimed on side walks yet, but its early days and I have high hopes. My teacher is a pretty patient man, though.

Another adventure took me on a walk with the Friends of Nevis Historiacal walk of Fort William. Very interesting little tidbitty adventure with a few friends thrown in for fun. A few slices of info I knew. The geology was fascinating, and it was really nice to feel the learning engine rev again. I learned a fair bit about the area, though I wished there had been more about the Scottish Wars of Independence for a pretty big battle with Robert the Bruce happened not to far from Inverlochy.

Ach Well.

Also Also! Started more bloody cushions. As if I needed more. But it keeps me hands busy. I was listening to The Drawing of Three by Stephen King on audio book in the mean time.

I have to hammer something out this evening though. I've listen to enough Maiden lyrics and mad rifts that I want to build a wicker man in my stories some where. And my Pieces novel is looking more provocative with its history, guns and Death, the great equalizer of Men.

Book I'm currently reading with my eyes: Gloryland by Shelton Johnson, park ranger in Yosimite national park. Its a very interesting read. Came to him via the Ken Burns documentary about National parks, which is something most people should really take a gander at!

Room Prepped and new second hand stuff discovered!

How John and Hank Green are Changing my Life

It clicked two nights ago, when I dreamed I was taking a group picture of John and Hank Green, a friedly picture, with my best friend Nicole present. I remember everyone kinda fell, but the camera man said the picture was excellent, and I've never been so excited to get a picture. I was there, with two people who've inspired me.

For well over a year, I've been following the vlogbrothers. Only a year really which is a shame considering how much there is about them out there. John Green is a novelist with two movies out, based on his books.

I have a burning desire to learn everything. I want my brain to be filled with the thing I don't know, to fill me up until I am bursting at he seams. These two seem to be very much the same and they take that knowledge, passing it on to others. What a great thing. What an amazing idea. Share, share knowledge to better each other, and use what knowledge and inspiration to build a foundation.

I supposed when we find people on the internet and expect to be, but those two seem to be just genuinely nice people. They balance the matters of reality and nerdiness, while doing what they love best. But they do what they love, which is inspire the world to be the best them that they could be.

And to learn, and to make learning accessible and free for those who wish to seek it. They've created a platform from which to launch the mind, while holding respect for being good people, with ideas and values beyond forwarding themselves.

Really, Thank You Hank and John Green for your efforts in learning. You continuously inspire me to be the best me I can be, not just for myself, but for the world.

Check out one of their many projects and see if they inspire you!