The World According to Glissando

Author: Glenn Hansen

  • Can science save us from ourselves?

    Can science save us from our self-inflicted climate and environmental hemorrhaging? As I pondered climate change I got “outside the box” and started looking for answers beyond stopping the use of fossil fuels. Some don’t want to stop because of, as usual, money and profits. Changing our behaviour would be easier than a technological solution, but humanity’s avarice and lust for power (pun intended) makes it almost impossible to do this.

    The possibility of a carbon capture system that pumps carbon dioxide underground has been put forth, but there are numerous problems with this approach. You would need a massive number of huge facilities and significant infrastructure to remove carbon from the atmosphere. And what would the effect be on the planet putting carbon dioxide into it?   

    But, some sort of Herculean technological breakthrough could still be the answer. It is possible. For example, maybe there is a way to “vacuum” carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere and funnel it into space, which is infinite, so therefore would likely do very little or no damage to the universe. Why not?

    Yes, continue to vigorously pursue clean sources of energy. However, this will take too long to avoid disaster for reasons that range from technological implementation to political and business resistance. What is needed right now are brilliant people who will come up with some other viable option to “clean” the atmosphere. We need scientific and technological “outside the box” thinking geniuses in large numbers working on some sort of mechanism to remove carbon emissions from the atmosphere and save the planet. Unfortunately, humanity will never really be up to the task of changing its behaviour. That’s the reality.

    By the way, some are thinking going to Mars will give us an escape hatch. Well, let’s say in fifty years this becomes possible in some way. Do you really think there will be enough room for eight billion people to use this hatch? No. You already know who will be the only ones to escape.  

  • Can’t see the forest for the trees

    There’s a famed expression you “can’t see the forest for the trees,” originated by Englishman John Heywood in the 16th Century. This brilliant idiom is still as relevant today as it was long ago. Today the “trees” are jobs and profits. The “forest” is the world and how we are destroying it and ourselves by continuing our voracious consumption of fossil fuels unabated. Oh well, when our species self-terminates, at least we will be able to say “many of us had jobs and a few of us had great wealth.”

  • Time for Big Oil to Be Held Accountable

    Canada, and indeed the world, should sue the big oil conglomerates for damages and compensation because of their reckless and wanton behaviour of continuing to produce and sell toxic fossil-fuel petroleum products which are currently destroying our planet’s ecosystems and causing incalculable physical personal injury to people. The continuance of this behaviour ultimately threatens the viability and future existence of the human species.

    Let us remember that the oil industry previously utilized lead in gasoline long after lead had been recognized as a serious detriment to human health and it took legislation to make big oil stop using it. Even after legislation, it still took over two decades for lead to totally disappear from gasoline.

    It is time for the oil industry to be held accountable as they voraciously and greedily acquire wealth for a few at the expense of the well-being of the general population. They may only care about life and profit in the present, but many, many more would like to see a good future life for themselves, their children and grandchildren.

    I, for one, as an example, am tired of the forest fire smoke all summer long, so it is time we recognize big oil as the real culprits creating this and so many other health and environmental problems currently plaguing us. If it does not stop, it is only going to get much worse. Let’s do this. “Order in the court.”

  • War

    I find it very disturbing how leaders try to distract from their problems at home by starting wars. It is sad, but so true. They try to use war to galvanize the people against a foreign country so the people forget about their own leader’s failures.

    Three current cases in point: Donald Trump of the United States; Vladimir Putin of Russia; and Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel. They are conducting their wars because it is in their own best interests. It’s that simple. Surely, as a species, we can do better, can’t we?

  • So, how much are you actually going to pay for that $500K house you’ve just “purchased” with mortgage financing?

    Are you familiar with the phrase “a sucker is born every minute?” While P.T. Barnum is credited with coining this phrase, in fact he may well not be the originator. Historians squabble over this, but that’s another story. We’re talking about houses. You know, the “castle.” When you purchase a home with a mortgage, most of us fall into the context of the “sucker” phrase. It is actually a major rip-off.

    Let’s start here. You have just purchased a $500K house with a mortgage. You’re excited. You’re happy. You’re living the dream. But is it really a dream come true? Well, to start with, over the term of the mortgage (often 25 to 30 years), this house will cost you $1.25 million because of the interest over a long period of time. This is the true cost of that house to you. It’s important to keep in mind, as well, that over the first seven or so years you’re paying for mostly the interest on the mortgage. Very little is applied to the principal. Your mortgage company is giving itself a big, up front bonus and you get zinged if you are forced to sell.

    So now your house, which is valued at $500K, is actually costing you at least two and a half times that amount. Is this a good deal for you? The financing company playbook says “yes” because it will accrue value over time. However, life being what it is, there is no guarantee. You have the hope though it will increase, and greatly. At this juncture let me point out that you really do not own your house yet. The mortgage company does, and if you fail to pay, you will lose it. It is only when you have paid out the mortgage that you become the true owner. It’s a lot like cars or anything you buy on credit.

    Now, let’s talk about all the money you will spend on the house to try and keep it looking nice and livable. You need so much stuff to maintain it on an ongoing basis. Where to begin? There’s the yard that needs to be landscaped and maintained. Add to this the cost of maintaining both the interior and exterior over a long period of time. And, of course, there are the various taxes. We’re talking about a long, long and expensive list. Do you think your appliances are going to last 25 years? How about the roof? The carpeting? The windows?  

    This house is going to cost you a fortune. That’s the reality. The initial $500K is just a drop in the bucket. Meanwhile, if you fall on hard times and can’t pay that mortgage at any point in time during the term, you will lose the house. That’s when you realize what a sweet deal the holder of your mortgage has. You have spent all this money on your “castle.” Now you are going to lose it and all the “alleged” value you were accruing. The mortgage company has no problem getting all of their money back. You have to realize that they only loaned you the original $500K. They’ve already got some of their money back from you (through deposit and payments) and depending on the scenario will be able to liquidate it quickly at lower or even much lower cost to get all of their money back or even still make a little money. You have taken almost all the risk, not the mortgage company and you pay through the nose if you default.

    Even if you don’t default and pay off the mortgage, how far ahead are you really. It is true, houses are money pits. Buying a house is presented to you as a shiny, value accruing investment you should take on. Now, I’m not saying you should not necessarily buy a house because in our dishonest and corrupt financial system a house has its place. I just think you should understand the true implications of buying one. It comes with huge expenses (did I mention house insurance, if you can get it), and it needs a lot of TLC (money), especially if you want to possibly sell it down the road. This is just the tip of our truly rigged financial system where a few make a lot of money at the expense of a lot of people. We’re indoctrinated with this system from the day we are born, so it can be hard to “see the forest for the trees.” Hey another phrase. I wonder where this one originated. Going to have to check it out. When enough people say “enough is enough” and “we’re not going to take it anymore,” that’s when change will come. Then there’s inflation, not so good for most of us, but very good for the ultra rich to make even more money. That’s a topic for another time.

  • Haiti’s Horrid and Tragic History

    I’ve been looking at the history of Haiti. I wish the world could get together and help Haiti in meaningful ways that would resolve their problems. It is horrid and tragic the way past European colonizing empires (Spain, France and England)) along with the United States have badly mistreated this country.

    Haiti became the first free independent black nation in the world in 1804 after successfully repelling the colonizing empires. In retaliation, these countries blockaded the country to totally cut off their access to trade thus destroying their economy; forever it seems. As for the United States, they supported this blockade effort because the country was afraid that this “black freedom” could reach American shores where slavery was very much a part of the American way of life. Blacks were, of course, thought of as being inferior lesser people by white people.

    Further to this, France demanded compensation for the loss of “their” colony and would only secede French sovereignty to Haiti without further attempted conflict by demanding Haiti pay a massive monetary reparation that would adversely affect the country to this very day. Additionally, to get the funds Haiti needed, they were forced to borrow from French banks. This debt would not be paid off until 1947. 

    Helping the people of Haiti would be the right thing to do, but don’t count on it happening. The world is greedier and more heartless than it has ever been and still covets acquiring land and resources regardless of methodology. Humans also continue to be tribal.   

  • Battle of Alberta

    It’s the Battle of Alberta, and not in sports vernacular. So, you want out of Canada, eh, Alberta? You know what? If that’s what you want, I will not stand in your way. You’ve had the good fortune of being a rich province because of your petroleum resources, but this is apparently not enough. You want even more. You are hard done by because you have been blessed with sources of revenue “lesser” provinces do not have.

    I could give you a lot of reasons why you should not leave Canada, but, l won’t. I am tired of the endless selfishness of the relentlessly growing number of special interests saying “me me me” and “more more more”.

    I will simply say this, the vast money printing machine you currently have is because of petroleum. As per usual human behaviour, not much thought is given to anything past the near future. The good times will always remain. Right? Truth is, everything is very temporal. The oil train may be your pipeline to wealth now, but it is going to come to an end.

    The end of the good times will come one of two ways. First, humanity continues using petroleum products and suffers the consequences of this ill-advised behaviour which is the decimation of the planet resulting in the eradication of the human species. The second way the Alberta gas tank could be financially drained is if humanity changes its ways and decides to stop using petroleum and adopts whole heartedly non-destructive forms of energy that does not destroy the planet. I am not a seer, so I don’t know which way this will go. Rest assured though, future generations will know.

    Either way, Alberta’s riches will come to an end. It is temporal. You just don’t see it now or you don’t want to see it, but this is the reality of life. When one of these two events occurs, where will all the big money for Alberta come from, assuming humanity moves away from petroleum? It’s a moot point if the other possibility happens.

    You may be rich and feel very important and hard done by right now, but this situation can and will change. History offers ample examples. What then, Alberta? What will you do?

    So, there it is Alberta. If you want to leave I will even do what any courteous quintessential Canadian would do, I will open the door for you. The choice is yours. I am tired of all the threatening and bullying be it from a province, a country, business and industry, a dishonest financial system, a special interest or a big tech billionaire. Enough is enough. I’m tired of being a peaceful pacifist. The pen is my sword.        

  • Dreams/Beggars Bazaar

    Dreams
    We all need dreams
    Dreams give us hope for tomorrow
    Dreams help forget today’s sorrows
    Dreams
    We all need dreams

    Dreams
    We live for dreams
    Dreams give reason for going on
    When we feel hope is all but gone
    Dreams
    We live for dreams

    Without dreams there’s nothing to find
    Without dreams we’d be prisoners of time
    Without dreams we’d all lose our minds
    We have to believe in dreams

    We were travelling in a distant land
    Hidden deep beneath the desert sand
    All the land was deeply tanned
    The sun had scorched the barren burnt earth

    In the ancient town's misty town square
    Many buyers and traders were there
    Shops were set up with such flair
    To display wares of priceless worth

    Gypsy bands came and went through the town
    Cloaked in mysterious gowns
    The auctioneer auctioned off the crown
    There were people from lands near and far

    From the haze a wizard appeared
    Cast away the shadows of fear
    Made the magic to me so clear
    In the midst of the Beggars Bazaar

  • Shadows of My Heart

    Social media brings us such darkness
    Some of humanity can be so heartless
    I’ve got to get away from this madness
    I’ve got to run away from the sadness

    Behind my veil
    There is a tale
    A winding trail
    Tears are hiding in the shadows
    In the shadows of my heart

    Why are we so cruel, hurt one another
    Steal light to connive, conceal from others 
    I’ve got to get away from this madness
    I’ve got to run away from the sadness

    Behind my veil
    There is a tale
    A winding trail

    Behind my veil
    There is a tale
    A winding trail
    Tears are hiding in the shadows
    In the shadows of my heart

    How do I find that spark
    Bring back light to the dark
    Bring back hope to my heart

  • Millennia Project – A Philosophical Perspective Volume One

    ‘Tis a wicked world in which we dwell, yoked by wicked men whose lust for gold and power knows no earthly bounds. Anyone can be felled like a tree in the forest who stands in their way. It is as true today as it was a millennium ago and will remain true a millennium from now. Seek peace beyond the gilded gates of this place we call home. 

    War is not driven by the sanctity of any god; it is driven by the failures, frailties and callousness of humankind.

    ‘Tis worthy to note, history is seldom written by the hand of the vanquished, rather, it is written by the hand of those who conquered the vanquished.

    What is true for one may be fiction to another, even when the truth is brightly illuminated, as it is subject to the prejudices and self-fulfillment needs of the recipient.

    The problem with religion is not religion; the problem is the manner in which it is manipulated by a flawed humankind to justify self-serving means to an end.