Acoustic Living


Over the years, I've ranted and waxed philosophical about many different things: spirituality, community, public apathy, priorities in life, passions, disappointments and so forth. Throughout my writings, I have endeavoured to be a bit of a catalyst for catharsis for my readers (as I often stress - these are my thoughts, and we each need to have our own. However we also need to listen to other's points of view, even the apparently outlandish ones, to continue personal growth and to be inspired, angered, shocked and comforted.), as well as to provide myself with an outlet for reflection through promulgating my musings.

Clearly I can observe changes in my self as I review previous entries. This leads me to the present, in which I find myself enjoying life and happy. What I will outline next is the present philosophy by which I am living my life. It is a hodge podge of ideas, some my own, others borrowed. I call this "ACOUSTIC LIVING".

• change is the only constant in life, and it must be accepted
• the main thing is to keep the main thing the main thing
• do not allow technology to isolate us from human interaction and community
• believe in karma and act accordingly in life
• do what you like and like what you do
• do not base your comfort on mechanical and powered conveniences
  
• push yourself and enjoy the sensation of being mentally/physically spent
• eat good food, not fast food
• enjoy vice but do not indulge or allow addiction to have a grip on you - exercise caution, common sense and reason when approaching this!
  
• read more, watch TV less
• remember that you are a part of the world, not the centre of it
• accept the consequences of your actions
• challenge your assumptions and do not hold on to your views out of vanity
  
• live to live, not to be immortal; life is a qualitative not quantitative journey
• do not become a Sisyphus
• be active, not apathetic in every part of your life/community
• make the link between Art, Music and life, weaving them as tightly as you can into your being
  
• choose a bicycle as your main mode of transportation when you can
• meditate and take time to listen to your body
• keep a gratitude journal
• possessions should facilitate adventure, and not be to buy happiness or a sense of social standing
• screw the status quo and commercialisation
• accept that no failure is absolute, and often offers us some of life's greatest wisdom
• everything has its beauty, but not everyone sees it
• do not try to be or pretend to be someone that you are not
  
• be the change you wish to see in the world

....and that's pretty much it! Do with it, and your lives, as you will and may you find happiness regardless of the road that you travel!

Letter to Bicycle Times Magazine
( www.bicycletimesmag.com )


Hurrah Bicycle Times!

I've been an avid but non-competitive cyclist all my life and have longed for a publication such as yours: one for the common cyclist. So many mags are hung up on all the micro-weighted bells and whistles of the high tech competitive world. Such things, while fascinating to read about, are usually beyond my needs and budget. My ten year old DeVinci Taos mountain bike and Electra Relic cruiser carry me well over the local bike paths and trails throughout Edmonton and the Rocky Mountains, and life is grand!

It is my hopes that Bicycle Times will be a magazine dedicated to what I call "acoustic culture": living simply, living well, living harmoniously, living with purpose and, most importantly, living to live! I look forward to reading your future articles on bicycle advocacy, seeing events being held throughout North America, learning how to fix and care for my bikes better and, ultimately, to gain a greater sense of the commuter and non-competitive bicycle community that exists in Canada and the U.S.

In closing, I would like to suggest an article on winterizing your bike and commuting in the Canadian and northern U.S. during the winter months. Alack - the winter of discontent is always mere months away!

Cheers!

My Latest Letter to the Editor
Edmonton Journal


I am a very fit 40 year old who enjoys running, mountain biking, rock climbing, etc. This being said, I feel that, as far as health care costs go, we fit folk are not carrying our share of the load with our smoker brothers and sisters. Smokers pay high taxes for their vice and generally die earlier than others, thus contributing to the Healthcare system through taxes and freeing insurance companies (and all the other services required by the elderly) of further financial committments. Guys like me often require medical services that directly result from our activities, whether it’s surgery, physio, pain killers, massage, etc., which is covered by insurance companies and result in rate increases. Personally, I have had countless rounds of physio for different injuries, a pin put in my toe, two arthroscopic surgeries and surgery to mend a broken jaw. I’ll obviously require new knees and hips in the future. So me and my kind should be shunned, just like the smokers confined to the exteriors of buildings in social ejection. Sneer at me as I ride my bicycle, jeer as I go to the gym!

My proposal: tax running shoes, bicycles and all fitness apparel. And if we want to be really fair, let’s also tax fast foods, televisions, video games and Blu-rays. In fact, we should have a national registry for all of these things where we pay an 18% tax on the initial value of everything that we own that may contribute to mortality.

…of course, we could also get rid of the Stelmach government and begin to applying common sense to the way we live and simply enjoy ourselves, no matter our manner of doing so.

Luxury is Relative


It seems such a waste that wealth and luxury seem to go hand in hand. I just returned from a six day camping trip in Mt. Robson, B.C. and Jasper, Alberta with my wife, daughter and another couple. Despite the fact that our first two days were gorgeous, sunny and hot, followed by four days or torrential rain and frequent high winds, it was a fabulous time. Yes, we were wet, ate camp food, smelled pungent, were covered in filth and slept in tents, but that’s what it was all about. As I looked at many of the campers around me with their gigantic fifth wheels and RV’s, I shuddered. Granted, I’m an arrogant bastard who can be quite a snob when it comes to my perceptions of how things should be, but it all seems so unnecessarily excessive. Honestly, if I had the money some of these people possess, it would not be spent on toys, status symbols and the other trinkets of the Winnebago or Royal Robbins Warrior casts. Money, in my opinion, is something to facilitate “living”. Honestly, what trophy ever compares to the process of winning it? What do trinkets from Prada, Hummer or any other “to be seen in” items add to the quality of one’s life? Nothing. They are simply status symbols that make people who own them think that they possess a higher position in life than proud peons like my self. I see them and think “superficial suckers”.

If I had loads of money, much of it would go to charity, because if I were lucky enough to have an excess of funds, I’d want to do something that gave those in need a bit of a boost, and I’d want to go more hardcore into things that leave me with memories, a sense of challenge and to basically push myself toward the abyss to see what the deal is. I would volunteer in Africa, Asia, etc. in hopes of giving a hand to educators in that area. I’d do more hiking, mountain biking, climbing and kayaking. Even in pursuit of these things, I would not always buy the most expensive, showy gear out there. For example, I would be quite content to continue riding my 10 year old Devinci mountain bike because it is sufficient to my level of ability. I would invest in a few climbing courses and gear so that I could move out of the rock gym in the summer and try some bigger faces, but I wouldn’t splurge on Arcteryx simply because of the name.

I guess the real nature of my ranting is seeded in the general malaise and inactivity of many within my fellow species. I see so much waste (in my snobbish opinion of course!), and won’t deny my general reprehensive inklings toward the wealthy. I guess that I’m am just a wee bit bitter in that I often feel much of what I wish to do and pursue will be missed out because I don’t possess the financial means to do them. I know that this is very bourgeois on my own part as there are millions on this planet who are more concerned as to whether they will eat today or be killed in a random car bombing. This world is so incredible, yet we continue to make life more and more complicated. Be grateful and do what you like, and like what you do!