November 8, 2016

Tomorrow it begins.

After more than 18 months of campaigning, "mud slinging", name calling and generally childish behaviour, my home country of the United States will choose a new president.  The sad part is, both candidates have said very little on what their plan is for the next 4 years and spent more time trying to convince the undecided voters why the other person is a poor choice for president.  Perhaps substance isn't important in this "Reality TV" age...

Anyway, what started out as an entertaining process into how the Republican and Democratic parties work, including watching the "best" the Republican party could muster be taken down by a loudmouth in the form of Donald Trump and a highly skewed Democratic party process that favoured Hillary Clinton almost be derailed by Bernie Sanders, has drug on far too long.

Who ever wins tomorrow has their work cut out for them as my home country is as divided as I've ever seen it.  The "Melting Pot" has turned into regions of division, special interest groups who feel that there way is the only way and if you disagree then you're not "American" and are part of the problem.

I see "religion" shunning people who live a lifestyle they disagree with even though the bible says to do otherwise.

I see hate escalating when it comes to race.  I find this unsettling, scary and I don't see how this will be "fixed" any time soon.  Politics won't fix any of this and only a miraculous change of heart will.

I see differences being a source of division instead of a source of strength.

I see fear being spread as a way to control peoples thoughts and actions as it's more effective and faster than education and coming up with a solid plan for the future.

Mostly, I see people unwilling to work together for a common good.

In 1858 Abraham Lincoln delivered a speech after being selected by the Illinois Republican Party to be their candidate for the US Senate.  In that speech he spoke of a House Divided, which was in reference to the states being a mix of free and slave states.  His contention, which was considered radical at that time, was that at some point this division would end because a "house divided against itself cannot stand".  Mr. Lincoln, in this speech, did not feel the house (Union) would fall but rather the division would end somehow.

The United States is once again a House Divided and I believe that the division will end one way or another.  The question is, what will the House look like.  That will depend greatly on the will of the people and to some degree the person chosen to lead the country.

May God bless who ever is chosen and give them wisdom that has yet to be seen to bring the House together.

Gerald Trees
Musings And Observations Of An Adventurous Life Seeker

Greed, Fear, Curiosity and Scams

My email spam filter picks up at least one "attempt" my email scammers to relieve me of my money each day.  I'm sure most of you find the same thing happening at least once and a while.  These scammers play on three powerful human emotions, Greed, Fear and Curiosity.

In the Greed category the most common attempts either involve winning a bazillion dollars in a lottery that I've never entered or helping a Nigerian businessman set up shop in my country by helping him bring in his gazillion dollars in exchange for a bazillion dollars.  All I need to do to claim my fortune is send money and all my banking information, including password.

In the Fear category, you have the phone call from a Microsoft "technician" telling you that your computer is "infected" and sent them a warning.  Of course they can help you out and fix the problem but they need information to "verify" who you are.  Of course that information involved either banking or credit card information.  There's also a "fee" for their service.  Personally I love to talk to these characters as I own an Apple Mac and they get quite frustrated and occasionally angry when I attempt to convince them that I don't have Windows.  Waisting their time is the best best payback.

Another Fear related one involves a phone call or email from your countries tax agency telling you that either you or your legal representative must call immediately or they will begin some form of legal action.   In this case you own taxes and must pay immediately to avoid legal action.

Both of the above are happening more all the time as they have a good chance of success.  The typical person really doesn't understand how computers and the net work and have a fear of being "hacked".  Most of us also have a fear of the "Tax Man" the legal system and will do almost anything to avoid both.

In the Curiosity category, which is relatively new as scams go, you'll receive an email informing you that FedEx or UPS attempted to deliver a package and that it will be sent back unless you set up a delivery time.  Information on your package can be found in the attachment included in the email.  Well you have a package and it's a mystery because you weren't expecting a package so the urge to click on the attachment to find out what it is strong.  Unfortunately the attachment is usually a malicious program designed to take your computer "hostage", including all you data, and it will be released for a fee.  Simple, subtle and unfortunately effective.

One of my favorite scams actually happened to me this week.  At least the attempt was made.  I recently listed one of my motorcycles for sale on a Canada wide listing website and the next morning I received a text form someone wondering if it was still available.  They wanted to buy it "immediately" if it still was and the included their email.  Red Flag #1.

I noticed the area code of the text was unfamiliar and a quick search indicated that it likely originated from the Boston area, a different country and on the other side of the continent.  Red Flag #2.

I did reply to his email address and told him my motorcycle was still available and that I was aware he wasn't from British Columbia.  He replied with an offer that was $800.00 more then what I was asking and that one of his "agents" would be arranging shipping and payment. Red Flag #3.

In this type of scam, the offer of more money is the "hook" and if you take the hook you'll either lose your item or be asked to pay for shipping up front and what you pay will be added to the sale price of the item.  Either way you'll lose something.  My reply to his offer was "That's an interesting offer.  I'm surprised you've not been able to find a similar motorcycle near you for a similar price."  So far I've not received another email.

I still have it and my money.  By the way it's still for sale...

The "moral" here is to be curious about everything and avoid giving in to Greed, Fear and in the case of Curiosity be aware and avoid being "played".

Gerald Trees
Musings And Observations Of An Adventurous Life Seeker

Just For Today

Occasionally I run across something that simplifies and helps.  Something that will be placed where I can see it every day.  Today is one of those days.

This was written in 1925, by the way.

Just For Today

1. Just for today I will be happy.  this assumes that what Abraham Lincoln said is true, that "most folks are about as happy as they make up their minds to be."  Happiness is from within; it is not a matter of externals.
2. Just for today I will try to adjust myself to what is, and not try to adjust everything to my own desires.  I will take my family, my business, and my luck as they come and fit myself to them.
3. Just for today I will take care of my body.  I will exercise it, care for it, nourish it, not abuse it, not neglect it, so that it will be a perfect machine for my bidding.
4. Just for today I will try to strengthen my mind.  I will learn something useful.  I will not be a mental loafer.  I will read something that requires effort, thought and concentration.
5. Just for today I will exercise my soul in three ways.  I will do somebody a good turn and not get found out.  I will do at least two things I don't want to do, as William James suggests, just for exercise.
6. Just for today I will be agreeable.  I will look as well as I can, dress as becomingly as possible, talk low, act courteously, be liberal with praise, criticize not at all, nor find fault with anything and not try to regulate nor improve anyone.
7. Just for today I will try to live through this day only, not to tackle my whole life problem at once.  I can do things for twelve hours that would appall me if I had to keep them up for a lifetime.
8. Just for today I will have a program.  I will write down what I expect to do every hour.  I may not follow it exactly, but I will have it.  It will eliminate two pests, hurrying and indecision.
9. Just for today I will have a quiet half-hour all by myself and relax.  In this half-hour sometimes I will think of God, so as to get a little more perspective into my life.
10. Just for today I will be unafraid, especially I will not be afraid to be happy, to enjoy what is beautiful, to love, and to believe that those I love, love me.

Sibyl F. Partridge.

Gerald Trees

Musings And Observations Of An Adventurous Life Seeker

Fear is THE obstacle to living!

Fear is an emotion that's in all of us.  It can be controlled and manipulated for our good or cause us great stress and limit us.

The key is FEAR CAN BE CONTROLLED.  

The question I ask myself all the time is "who's controlling my fear, me or someone else?"  

If it's someone else, then I'm being controlled by that someone and that someone now has all the power to manipulate my thoughts and actions.  That's scary.

That someone can be parents, friends, politicians, the media and someone you've never met.  That someone can be anyone!

If I'm in control of my fear, the power is all mine.

How do I take control of my fear?

1.  Turn off the news!  

2.  Be curious. 

"Curiosity will conquer fear even more than bravery will." - James Stephens

3.  Just do it!  

For me this is an ongoing process and struggle.  The more I push through the easier it gets and the more I live.

Take control of your fear and enjoy the life that comes with that control.

Gerald Trees

Seeking An Adventurous Life