Ignorance is bliss?

The other day I got in to an argument with some friends about modern slavery. They denied the existence and said sex slaves do not count. There are currently 27 million slaves, and how do sex slaves not count?

Being as interested in the world as I am, the fact that there still is slavery is well known to me and many of my friends. However, not everyone knows about it which leads me to wonder about the old saying ignorance is bliss. Are the people who deny slavery happier? Does the world appear a pretty place if sex slaves are not real slaves? I can't really answer that, since i'm not ignorant about it. I don't know if anyone would really answer that question.

Another thing that really bothers me is when people admit there is still slavery but don't admit it is in their country. Slavery is a thing for underdeveloped country, third world countries and not countries with a well established justice system. The truth is that there are slaves everywhere, right under our noses. Diplomats will bring youth back to their home country, when their visa expires they do not get them a new one which leaves the youth under blackmail. They do not get paid and yet they can not go to the police because they are now in the country illegally.

This ignorance is bliss, does not only go for slavery, there are so many things out there in the world that people deny are happening. But does this denial accomplish anything? No, awareness needs to be raised for these issues. How can we stop something from happening when people won't admit it is happening?

The Abolitionist Hymn

We ask not that the slave should lie
As lies his master, at his ease,
Beneath a silken canopy
Or in the shade of blooming trees.

We ask not "eye for eye," that all
Who forge the chain and ply the whip
Should feel their torture, while the thrall
Should wield the scourge of mastership.

We mourn not that the man should toil;
'Tis nature's need, 'tis God's decree;
But let the hand that tills the soil
Be, like the wind that fans it, free.

Facts: www.un.org

Team Phoenix

A Congenital Heart Defect (CHD) develops early on in pregnancy and causes the highest amount of infant deaths within the first year. There are 35 different types on Congenital Heart Defects but out of every dollar donated to the Heart and Stroke foundation only one penny is sent to CHDs.


The Problem
CHDs are not well known, they're mainly only known to people who have been affected by them. And yet everyone knows about childhood cancers that actually cause less deaths than CHD's.


Some Things To Think About
Almost HALF of all donated blood goes to CHDers
1 in every 100 babies have a CHD
1 in 10 of those will have a fatal CHD
Some CHDs aren't found until adulthood, or until it's too late for anything to be done
Over 1 million babies born worldwide each year will have a CHD
Congenital Heart Defects do NOT have a cure, there is only a bandage for this.


For more information/support: http://jointhefightchd.webs.com/

You know I've seen a lot of what the world can do

And it's breakin' my heart in two

--Cat Stevens

Blue Jeans

I wear my jeans all the time, they're comfortable, convenient and suit me. I think jeans are one of the greatest inventions. They're durable, they match everything, anyone can wear them and they come in such diverse styles.

The word jeans actually comes from French bleu de Gênes, the blue of Genoa. Named after sailors in Genoa, Italy. In the 18th century it was made completely from cotton and worn by workers. In the 19th century, it caught the attention of coal miners, especially one named Leob (Levi) Strauss. From then on, the use of jeans only grew until now, when almost everybody has a pair.

She wore blue jeans and a rosary

All her friends think she's a little crazy

She wears a smile, heart on her sleeve

--Kid Rock

Winter Isolation

Well I got homesick for the first time tonight. I don't know if you'd really call it that, I just really miss my friends right now. It snowed, and the snow stayed on the ground. The first conversation I had with my best friend was about snow ball fights so this really makes me think about her and all the good times we had. And of course that now we're over 17 hours away from each other and not going to see each other until April.

With my friends back home we would fool around in the first snowfall. We wouldn't care if we looked like children, we didn't care what people thought of us. We did whatever we wanted, and I miss that.

I’d rather stand on the edge of a cliff

And hang my toes over a bit,

And then jump when they dare me,

Even if it scares me and I get hurt.

I’d rather build my wings on the way down,

Do my best not to fall to the ground

and than laugh at my mistakes

‘cause there only lessons I’ll learn

--Paul Brandt

I feel as though I am changing, which is of course expected. It makes me worry about my friends back home. When I go back in April, will it be like I never left? I talk with my best friend almost every day but I miss hanging out, shopping, goofing around and just being ourselves. I haven't found any one here who I can act around them as I do with her. I worry that I will have changed too much for our friendship to survive. And that scares me because of how much she means to me.

People say that the friends you make in University are the friends you have for life. I believe I found my life long friends in high school and I don't want to lose them. I don't regret going so far from them for schooling, I needed the distance from everything else. I don't know how I'll make it four years with hardly seeing them, without having someone like them here.

Into the Wild

So I was watching Into the Wild again the other night. It's going to be one of my most watched movies and most read books. The courage that it must have taken to just walk away from life is inspiring. I keep wish I had his courage, I already have his philosophy. I have three more years in my University program but maybe when I'm done I'll finally have the courage to take off. I don't think I would do it the same as he did. For starters, I'm from Canada, and I don't like the cold. I'd make sure I had things in case of an emergency, not things like a phone or money but i'd let someone know I was going.

Two years he walks the earth. No phone, no pool, no pets, no cigarettes. Ultimate freedom. An extremist. An aesthetic voyager whose home is the road. Escaped from Atlanta. Thou shalt not return, 'cause "the West is the best." And now after two rambling years comes the final and greatest adventure. The climactic battle to kill the false being within and victoriously conclude the spiritual pilgrimage. Ten days and nights of freight trains and hitchhiking bring him to the Great White North. No longer to be poisoned by civilization he flees, and walks alone upon the land to become lost in the wild. - Alexander Supertramp

I like the idea of being a leather tramp but there are so many words for it; vagabond, gypsy, wanderlust, beatnink, nomadic...They all come down to the same things; wandering and no possessions. I wish that having possessions did not mean as much in our world as it does. I think i'd like to live in a simple cabin, built from natural things, have no electricity, wood stove for warmth, candles for light, feet for travel, garden for food, no phone, no computer...just freedom.

Beliefs

I was raised as a Christian and I didn't start to question it until High School. Once in High School, people would question my belief, mock it and try and show me that theirs was better. At first I fought them, I stood strong that I was right and they weren't. However, now that I am away from all those influences and no one cares what I believe, I have become interested in other beliefs.

When I was in high school I really butted heads with a Wiccan. I had once said that I thought witch craft was wrong and she took it as a personal insult. At that point I was still strong in my beliefs but I didn't care to convert people to mine. If she questioned me I would answer. For a long time after that I didn't want anything to do with Wicca because of my experience with this person. Now I see that we were both just young and trying to do what we thought our belief required.

Now that I am away I have really gotten into neo-paganism. If that friend could see me now and discuss our beliefs it would be so different then when we were in high school.

I think it should not matter what a person believes, it should not effect a friendship and I wish that all those fanatics would back off. Unless their beliefs are actually harming you or someone it is none of your business. If everyone sticks to their own beliefs there would be a lot less problems in this world.

Oh, life is bigger

It's bigger than you

And you are not me

--REM

Wanderlust

I'm starting to read On the Road by Jack Kerouac. I've wanted to read Kerouac for a while now but never actually got around to it. Some say that Christ McCandless was the modern Kerouac, I love McCandless' story so I hope I find this one interesting as well.

The urge I have to leave everything behind is only growing as I do. At first it was just someone else's idea, something I never would think I would actually do. However, now I wish I could do it. I'm so tempted to do it and I can't wait for summer so I can go somewhere new. The urge to travel and to keep moving and finding new experiences is growing. I know that it can be dangerous, especially for a girl, but I'm willing to crash. I'm willing to go out there and have things go wrong, to learn from my mistakes.

smooth as we drift

laughing with glee

willing to crash

--Deca Caszm

Bucket List

Well I made this quite some time ago and have been adding to it over the years. It is finally complete and I have started working on it. The things on it are all over the place but here ya go:

Visit:

1. Rio de Janeiro

2. Tara, Ireland

3. Georgia

4. Laura Ingalls Wilder Museum

5. Uganda

6. Venice

7. France

8. Auscwitz

9. Taj Mahal

10. The Holy Land

11. Graceland

12. The Louvre museum in Paris

Go:

13. Skinny dipping

14. Sky diving or para sailing or bungee jumping

15. Cliff jumping

16. Swimming with sharks

17. A day without food

18. On a missions trip

19. Crowd surfing

20. Scuba diving

21. For a ride on a giraffe

22. On a safari

23. Up in a hot-air balloon

24. On a cruise

Read:

25. An entire Encyclopaedia

26. The Bible all the way through

27. War and Peace

28. My complete list of 100 books to read before I die

29. All the American classics

See:

30. The giant trees

31. An active volcano

Be:

32. Someone’s mentor

33. A ‘big sister’

34. In two places at once

35. An extra in a film

Eat:

36. A whole box of Oreos

37. A food you’ve never heard of

38. A grasshopper

Learn:

39. Another language

40. How to ballroom dance

41. How to ride a motorcycle

42. How to sail

43. How to fire a gun

44. To play the bagpipes

To do:

45. Bike the world

46. Save a life

47. Pull an all nighter

48. Date a hippie

49. Spend a month in another country

50. Take a month to relax, travel, and find self

51. Adopt a child

52. Pet a spider

53. Buy a teddy with black frills

54.Start a group/club

55.Change someone’s life for the better

56.Blindfold my eyes for a day

57.Buy the tackiest shoes

58.Meet a band

59.Watch (participate in) run of the bulls

60.Write a book

61.Get a college/university degree

62.Start a food fight

63.Steer wrestle

64.Climb a mountain

65.Shave my head

66.Stand up for a stranger

67.Buy food and give it to someone else

68.Help in a soup kitchen

69.Give birth

70.Raise a child

71.Make the first move

72.Send a message in a bottle

73.Plant a tree

74.Shower in a waterfall

75.Teach someone illiterate to read

76.Make a complete and utter fool of yourself

77.Drive a convertible with the top down and music blaring

78.Create your Family Tree

79.Learn to bartend

80.Run a marathon

81.Set off a fire extinguisher.

82.Pull a fire alarm

83.Cross an ocean in a boat

84.Give blood

85.Throw a dart onto a map and travel to where it lands

86.Sleep under the stars

87.Wade in a public fountain

88.Photocopy my butt on a photocopier

89.Climb all the steps in the Eiffel Tower

90.Sleep in a hammock

91.Convince a suicidal to live

92.Carve my initials in a tree

93.Sing in front of a large crowd-horribly

94.See a tornado or hurricane

95.Buy something big

96.Write a poem or story that gets published

97.Watch movies for 24 hours straight (bathroom breaks allowed)

98. Build a house for someone else

99.Catch a bouquet

100.Fall in love

Past Lives

Lately I have been talking a lot with Kyla (The Travel Buddy) about what we want to do with our lives. It's amazing how similar our wants our which led our talk to reincarnation. Being raised in a Christian household led me to think that reincarnation was not possible. However, as I grew up and came across things it became apparent that it has to be true. It explains everything.

I really wish there was a way to probe my subconscious so I could find out more about my past lives. I feel such an urge to Scottish Nobility, Spanish Gypsies, American Hippies, African Pirates and so on. The pull is to a specific country, culture and way of life. It's not that I know about them and like them, it's a pull that I can't shake.

It also explains about why I want to do what I want to do. The past lives I had were full of suffering and oppression, and I want to be a Humanitarian Aid worker.

Kyla and I must have been siblings in a past life or very close friends. We both want the same things and believe in the same things. I think we must have been in the same life in Ireland or Scotland for that is where all our similarities are.

And if you want to be free, be free

'cause there' a million things to be

--Cat Stevens

Don't be shy

I went to look at another house tonight. I think this is the one. Four bedrooms, big kitchen, living room and one bathroom. The utilities and furniture are included in the rent and it is only six minutes from campus. The bedrooms are pretty big and have double beds. This is so exciting!! I still have to find two other people who are a definite YES, I have lots of maybes/thinking about its.

~~

Don't be shy just let your feelings roll on by
Don't wear fear or nobody will know you're there
Just lift your head, and let your feelings out instead
And don't be shy, just let your feeling roll on by

I'm really into Cat Stevens right now. His songs are short, simple and repetitive but they have so much depth to them. I really was born at the wrong time, I have more Cat Stevens, Bob Dylan and Simon & Garfunkel on my computer than anything else.

I'll try to love again

Went to look at an apartment this afternoon. It's really cute, four bedrooms and one bathroom. It's one floor and is smaller than i'd like. I'm excited for the one tomorrow, it's a whole house. I'm so excited to have a house, it feels like such a big step in my life.

~~

I still want you by my side

just to help me dry the tears that I've cried

cause I'm sure gonna give you a try

and if you want, I'll try to love again

It's so hard to trust someone, and so easy to lose trust. A split second can destroy years of friendship. How do you decide what is worth trying for and what is not? I believe Everything is worth trying for. There is no way to know who is going to break your heart, who is going to let you down or crush you. The chance that someone is going to hurt you is a part of life and a risk that should be taken.

We can't let the fear of the unknown rule our lives. Live, Laugh & Love. Do not hold back because of fear, instead go forth because of fear. I know that I trust people so easily and that's probably why i've been hurt and let down so much. I still trust really easily but I don't expect a lot of people anymore. I feel I can't take people for their word anymore.

Kids these days

I feel I must warn you, this post is going to be very much a rant.

One thing that has always bothered me is children who try to be older than they are. You know who I'm talking about. The young kids with iPods, cell phones, wearing make up, in relationships and acting like they own the world. What happened to kids playing hide & seek, building forts and being outside with friends all day? Tim McGraw sums it up in four lines in his song Back When;

We got too complicated

It's all way over-rated

I like the old and out-dated

Way of life

Nobody enjoys the simple things in life anymore. Everything is about the newest technology, the biggest thing money can buy and materialistic gain. Life has become a race to own the most, hardly anyone takes the time to do what they want to do. People say they wish they could do something, they wish they could take that trip they have been talking about. Why wish? Get up and take that trip. Stop worrying so much and enjoy life a little more.

If only we could go back to the days of penpals, family trips and board games. Instead we are stuck in a world of emails, texting and instant messages. A world where family means less and less, where there is either too much hate. Movies, TV and computers have replaced having fun with friends. Sitting around in a restaurant chatting for hours, hiking trips and camping trips with friends are not what they used to be.

Society has become so technology reliant, and I know I am not an exception. I use my computer, cell phone and iPod daily. I wonder what would happen if we lost the technology we have now. What would people do if the internet stopped working? How about if cell phone service was not to be found? Would we even be able to survive without the telephone? Would losing any of these technologies send us into an apocalypse?

I can't help but wish I could leave it all behind. Do as Christopher McCandless did. Give away all my money and hitch hike across the country. I should take my own advice, stop wishing and just do it. Maybe when i'm done school, i'll take a year to go where ever my heart desires. Any takers?

So many people live within unhappy circumstances and yet will not take the initiative to change their situation because they are conditioned to a life of security, conformity, and conservatism, all of which may appear to give one peace of mind, but in reality nothing is more dangerous to the adventurous spirit within a man than a secure future. The very basic core of a man's living spirit is his passion for adventure. The joy of life comes from our encounters with new experiences, and hence there is no greater joy than to have an endlessly changing horizon, for each day to have a new and different sun.

Chris McCandles

New Moon

*Spoiler Alert*

You may not want to read this until you have seen the movie.

Well, I have to say I was very wary of what this movie would be like. The first one was extremely lame and I laughed at how ridiculous it was. I have read all the books so I did have a certain expectation of the movies. I was not looking forward to New Moon because of the lack of vampires. I have never been a werewolf person and all the Jacob parts were not very interesting to me. I was a firm believer in Team Edward. However, the movie of New Moon has most definitely changed me to Team Jacob, Edward is just so lame in the movies. Not to say that everyone else is not lame, they are but he is the worst.

I have to say that overall it was better than Twilight, I have to ask myself if it is because a certain someone is hardly in the movie? Those of you who have seen it or read the books know who I mean. There are some aspects of it that are really good; Jasper talks, the elevator scene, the yellow porsche and of course Jacob without his shirt on. I have to admit that it held my attention a lot better than Twilight did and that I laughed more because it was funny than because it was corny.

If you enjoyed the books then you will probably enjoy this one, even if you did not enjoy Twilight. If you enjoyed Twilight then you will enjoy this, unless you are obsessed with Robert Pattinson.

Adventure Bound

Adventure Bound was originally going to be the name of the blog for next summer. Kyla, the travel buddy, and I are planning on going out West to work. We were going to do adventurous things (climb mountains, trail rides, walk on glaciers...) and write about them. However, we have started to write a story about two girls. It is loosely based on us and what we'd like out of our lives.

Please check it out at willingtocrash.blogspot.com, so far we only have two chapters and the prologue posted but we are working on the third and have everything all planned out. Please comment on it and let us know what you think, what you like and what you don't like.
Thanks!

It's all in the name

When I tried to pick a name for this blog, I wanted that summed up how I felt about the world. Something that showed that I like taking risks and living in the moment. I was going to do didntevenseethedust but i'm not racing through life. I came across this poem a while back and decided it held the perfect phrase, atastefordust. I don't care if life knocks me down, I will get back up again.

Africa by Emily Dibb

When you’ve acquired a taste for dust,
The scent of our first rain,
You’re hooked for life on Africa
And you’ll not be right again
Till you can watch the setting moon
And hear the jackals bark
And know that they’re around you,
Waiting in the dark.

When you long to see the Elephants,
Or to hear the coucal’s song,
When the moonrise sets your blood on fire,
You’ve been away too long.
It’s time to cut the traces loose
And let you’re heart go free
Beyond that far horizon,
Where your spirit yearns to be.

I came up with the title from my current favourite song, What about now by Chris Daughtry. I don't believe in postponing things you want to do. You never know when something is going to happen, so live each day as your last.

Change the colors of the sky.

And open up to

The ways you made me feel alive,

The ways I loved you.

For all the things that never died,

To make it through the night,

Love will find you.

How about today?

I believe in taking risks.

I believe in making an entrance.

I believe in the truth.

I believe in being out of control.

I believe in peace.

I believe in standing up for what is right.

I believe in love.

I believe in swimming naked.

I believe in working hard.

I believe in children.

I believe in helping each other.

I believe in being young and stupid

I believe in standing out.

I believe in teletubbies.

I believe in making a difference.

I believe in laughter.

I believe in chasing dreams.

I believe in dancing like no one is watching.

I believe in living life to the fullest.

I believe in being old and wise.

I believe in smiles.

I believe in being who you are.

I believe in strength.