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Thoughts of a Simpleton

Archive for August, 2006

The Art of Communication

Aug 29

Posted by Ron Smith in Epiphany | 1 Comment

The exchange of thoughts, messages, or information, as by speech, signals, writing, or behavior – I think that would be a fair description of the word communication. 

 

We have been doing this since we popped out of mom.  Communication is everywhere.  Communication is changing everyday.  Technology has allowed us the ability to communicate quicker, bigger, more precise and more effective.  As the methods of communication increase, why do I feel that the art of communicating is deteriorating?

 

The more places I go and the more I am out in the public the more I see the use of technology to communicate.  I walked into a coffee shop the other day to see people sipping on a coffee and chatting on their cell phones.  Another guy was on his laptop chatting on MSN.  And I think to myself “this doesn’t make sense.”

 

I love technology.  I think computers are the greatest tool ever given to us to communicate with but at the end of the day, the tongue and mouth communication approach is still #1 in my books.  Yet, this style of communication is slowly depleting.  Face to face conversation is being replaced with text, airwaves, email and webcams.

 

And when Face to face conversation isn’t being replaced, it’s been downgraded and softened so now having a conversation with someone is like being on a talk show.  You have to watch what you say, try not to offend and support where ever possible.  That’s not communication.  It’s ok to have an opinion and heaven forbid an opposing one. 

 

Another problem with communication is listening.  People think communicating is about talking.  Which is only 30% of it; the other 70% is listening and reading the other person.  They’re talking to you but what are they really saying.  Listening is so vital, yet (and I am so guilty) it isn’t practiced enough. 

 

Communicating for me is my life.  I love to communicate.  It helps me keep it real.  If I have a thought, I feel the need to bounce it off at least 5 people.  How they respond helps mold my further thinking about that thought or topic.  Communication is healthy.  It’s good to talk about what your thinking and by communicating, its helps you process your thoughts.

 

So next time your out, pick up that phone and tell the person on the other end to come see you for a coffee (or a beer depending on the time of day).    

Jasper and Mountains

Aug 28

Posted by Ron Smith in Friend Updates | No Comments

Its 12:04 PM Sunday Afternoon.  Guns R Roses on the MP3 Player, I look to my left and Chaps is driving with Drew passed out in the back.  We just jumped off a cliff on the way out of Jasper.  WILD.

Ron doing a Gainer    Drew diving

Friday night – I got off work early at Suncor in Fort McMurray.  An hour earlier my confirmation went through for me to travel on the Suncor jet to Calgary.  I called Chaps to confirm he’s picking me up and I’m off to the races.  A quick flight on the jet and I land in Calgary.  Chaps and Drew pick me up, we get some Zza, a couple casuals and were off to 17 ave (downtown Calgary) – We bar hoped for most of the evening.  Me and Chaps were exhausted from the work week and called it early.  Drew said “peace” and we didn’t see him till the morning.   

Saturday – Me and Chaps awake early, go for breakfast, call Drew, tell him to get home and we packed for Jasper.  Jasper is a 5 hour drive from Calgary – all through the mountains – it was wild.  We drove through Banff and stopped at all the tourist attractions.  The mountains are unreal but unfortunately my pictures – as nice as they are – can and will never do them justice.  You have to experience it yourself. 

Chaps mountain 1 Chaps mountain 2

Ron and Chaps on a bridge Drew, Chaps and Ron

 

After picking up hitchhikers and taking pics all day, we arrived in Jasper at 5PM.  As it turns out, Chaps whole crew from the 204 (Winnipeg) were there.  The only thing on their mind was Skateboarding – and skateboard they did.  They skated so pro. 

 

After the skate we ate and headed out.  We attended a fundraiser for a guy in a wheel chair who needed some wild surgery in the states.  Hopefully he got all the funds he needed.  Next door to the fundraiser was the place where Wayne Gretzkey hangs out all the time.  Of course Chaps and I had to have a drink there.  Drew took pictures all night.

 

Sunday – Up early again, we hit up breakfast and this really fancy place.  We were a little underdressed but we had style so it evened the playing field. 

We drove out of the city and headed for a morning cliff jump.  I threw down a gainer and Drew dropped a crazy dive. 

Will be back in Calgary this afternoon; will be taking it easy for sure as I head back on the jet to Fort McMurray Monday morning.  AWESOME WEEKEND. 

Thanks Drew and Chaps. 

Cheers.

 

   

 

Play that hand.

Aug 23

Posted by Ron Smith in Epiphany | No Comments

I’m sitting in my hotel room, looking out over the entire city of Fort McMurray.  It’s a chilling thought to think “I can see the residences of 40,000 people and I don’t know anyone.”  I don’t think we were to live this way, absent from interacting with people.

Meeting new people and developing friendships is an odd thing.  Someone, who was once a stranger, is now in the known.  This person for who you now know has value.  The stranger has a name, a personality, feelings and passions.  You give this person value. 

As this friendship continues, you start to interact more and closely.  This one time acquaintance now is acquiring merit with you.  Their opinions and views mean something in your life.  You start to take note and respect their judgment.  You are even venerable to this person.    

And this is where I believe people get scared.  Just as with love interests as with close friends, there comes a time when this person could and is going to hurt you.  The question you have to ask is “will you anti up again?”  Can poorly ended friendships from the past deter you from future friendships?  Could you imagine living an entire life afraid to know anyone for the thought that they might leave you? 

That wouldn’t be much of a life to live.     

So our moral dilemma is that people will come in and out of your life all of the time with the ability to teach, love and hurt. 

It’s good to meet people – make acquaintances.  But don’t be a fool.  Think about what you talk about with people, what you let known.  Play your cards closely and wisely but remember that it is better to play a hand than to think about what could.   

 

The Sopranos and the Kingdom

Aug 21

Posted by Ron Smith in Epiphany | 1 Comment

While in Fort McMurray I am determined to do two things: Read the Old Testament and watch the entire 6th season of the Sopranos. To date, both are coming along quite steadily. 

As I read and watch I can’t help but notice the similarities. In the Sopranos, Tony Soprano is the head of the family. In the OT, God is the head of the kingdom.

In both stories, there is war, turmoil, strife, beauty and sin.

God appoints people into his royal family, so does Tony. In both stories, all the people pay respects to the head.

Example:

Burnt offerings are given up to God, usually consisting of a pure lamb or any type of pure animal. These offerings are seen as fellowship offerings, sin offerings, etc. In the Soprano story this occurs as well. When a person of his chosen family makes a score (earns money) they pay respects to the leader. They give an offering of money or a piece of the product.

When sin occurs in either family, the leader needs to be respected and feared, for the leader who gave, can also take. You can continue to operate as long as it is in accordance with the leader. If that line is crossed, forgiveness can be given with a price. The price is hefty but eventually it can be worked out. Some lines are never to be crossed though, the price is death.

I wonder if Jesus was among us today he would say “the kingdom of God is like the soprano family…….

Maybe?

Bill Gates = Jesus?

Aug 17

Posted by Ron Smith in Epiphany | No Comments

Click this link. Then scroll down the page until you reach “Bill and Melinda Gates.” The video is 22 minutes long and is worth every second.

Bill and Melinda are amazing. They tell it straight up and hold back no punches.
They don’t settle for the stigma of “people should just stop having sex.” They don’t pretend that unsafe sex, rape and the sex trades don’t exist. They want to help cure and prevent by taking on these stigma’s head on.

Just incase you think I am speaking about a different Gates. This is the same Gates that owns the technology you read this on; Microsoft. He is the richest man in the world. He and his wife have pulled out of their respective roles as directors of companies and are now focusing all of their efforts in the fight against AIDS.

There is a new technology being developed (right here in Canada) that when finished, people will be able to take a shot (those that are HIV infected) and it will prevent them from passing on the disease.

This is the biggest advancement ever in preventative treatment.

It isn’t that expensive (even if it wasn’t; its Bill and Melinda’s desire to make if free). The only problem is getting THE WORLD on board with their redemptive strategy.

On a side note; I think Bill and Melinda sound so radical. Their language flows with me. They want to bring power to the people to fight this disease. They command equality and they know the need for the world to work together (for once). I think this is truly amazing for man kind. Bill and Melinda are pleading “stop being so selfish, help your nation, help your neighbor and help yourself.”

I give them two thumbs up!

Talkin Trash in Fort McMurray.

Aug 16

Posted by Ron Smith in Epiphany | No Comments

What a crazy week this has been. Wednesday I was informed that on Monday (that being two days ago) I would be flying out West to work for a couple weeks. I see no problems with this, oh, unless you mean I had to be moved out of my apartment by Sunday night. Thanks to a good supporting cast I managed to complete the move and I am on my way. (PS – all of those who helped me move are being given drinks on my return)

I arrived in Calgary at 4PM. Chaps awaited me outside. We did a little shopping, a lot of site seeing and then out for dinner. I wanted to live like a Calgarian for the evening, so I dressed in black, threw on a Cow Boy Hat and traveled to the most Calgarian Bar in Calgary. I rode a mechanical bull. Enough said.

YEEEEE HAAAAA The Pimps.

Cigar with Chaps

4:30 AM the next morning, I hopped on the Suncor Jet and flew all the way up North to Fort McMurray. One word for this place:

Different.

My manager from Sarnia met me on the Jet and then took me on a tour of Fort McMurray. In Sarnia we have refinery plants; here they have refinery theme parks. Refineries are as far as the eyes can see. I would have taken pictures but that’s not prohibited. The dump trucks are also wild. I had to watch a video on how to avoid these things (Apparently they have the habit of running pickup trucks over and not even realizing it).

The craziest thing here is the work shortage, yes Sarnia, work shortage. They can’t find people to work anywhere. At Tim Horton’s (employees start at $15 an hour) have no one to work so the line ups are WILD. At McDonalds I was confronted by a talking trash can. It opens, thanks you, takes your garage and compresses itself. They figure its cheaper to install these because they cant hire anyone to do.

At Wal-Mart all of the cashiers are machines. You have to scan your own stuff. House owning in a night-mare. Sam (my boss up here) took me on a tour of the “rich area.” Houses going for $1.5 million would go for $300 000 in Sarnia (and only if it was on the water). For $300 000 you can settle into a cozy 2 bedroom trailer park home. And why do people do this you ask? They don’t call it Fort McMoney for nothing.

My hotel is dope. I am downtown and the Keg Steak House and Bar is connected to my hotel. I am on the top floor so my view is wild (pictures to follow). They have an awesome coffee lounge so I am sure I will be utilizing it to the fullest to read.

I miss Sarnia already, it’s my home. There are talks of a possible move up here so I have a lot of thinking to attend to. But not until I get back from Europe with Granddad.

Cheers.

Chill Times, New Adventures

Aug 15

Posted by Ron Smith in Epiphany | No Comments

Last weekend I got to relax with my good pals Dave and Jesse. It was good to hang out with out with them again.

Sibbs and Davie

First, we went and played Laser Tag. I got shot, a lot. And yes, it hurts.

Laser Tag

Then we went boating. Dave just got a new one so what the heck. I would like to point out that Jesse was unable to get up on wakeboarding and Nicole was able to on her first try.

On the Boat

Last week was wild. It started like another week. Monday morning I worked. We had a video conference meeting between Sarnia, Denver and Fort McMurray. In the meeting it was revealed that I would be heading out west to work.

So since I have to go out west I won’t be present to pack and move into my new place at the end of the month (which I just acquired with Nathan Colquhoun and Jordan Parker) I had to move out this weekend.

This has been a big pain the ass.

Thanks to all those that partook in the short notice move. I owe you all a drink.
Last night I got to relax lake side at the Toshs. That was awesome. We all sat and talked and some encouraging words were said for my up coming adventure.

I will be out west until the end of the month, move everything into my new place and then set sail for a vacation with my Grandad. Woot!

Elders as mentors….

Aug 9

Posted by Ron Smith in Epiphany | No Comments

I am young and the older I get and the more I interact with people older than myself I realize more and more that I don’t know much. I don’t mean historical knowledge either (which is also very weak) where older people win by default because they were around.

When I was in high school and college I was surrounded by people such like myself. In college I was around the same people; day in and day. With that sect of people it seemed as though I knew a lot (since we all studied one subject together and discussed and studied it profusely).

I will say that my knowledge far exceeds many adults in regards to computers but that doesn’t make those people worthless in my life. There is so much more to learn in life than what I can pick up from a book or find on a computer screen. As it turns out, now that I work in an IT department it appears I have a lot to learn in regards to computers (and the older people here can work me over in what they know).

Older people know the score. They understand how life works. This isn’t true of all older people though. There are those 3 times my age that haven’t done anything different with their lives since they were 20.

But you know the types I’m talking about. Those older people that don’t have to brag or continually inform you about what they know. There just doing there own thing. And if you watch closely you will observe how much they are learning from others around them. I notice that these elders who are rich with knowledge about life are continually watching life all around them. These types of people are at full capacity with knowledge, advice, wisdom and discernment. The good stuff too; not the flakey crap that you read in magazines.

Their very humble and they don’t get uprooted when others are being boisterous (which is probably good for me). Their patient; they speak about matters that matter and speak only when they need to.

There is so much you can learn from these types of elders. Watching them in action allows me to see where I need some home improvement. I have been lucky enough to catch these people in action and I hope to someday to mimic their ways. Hopefully.