Monday Moaning: Past Present!

Monday Moaning: Past Present! 

I know it all sound so idealogical soon as one might read this title. But the reality might be different as there are many views or opinions from how we see it. And going straight into the arena and put myself out there. We have been looking at it in a wrong way.

The past is something that has already happened and is our basic knowledge from which we move forward. It is a base line we follow but deviate from every single day as we all have a feeling that we do not want to come to a standstill and keep a foot in the past. We look back as if it is garbage that has been thrown away or something we do not want to go back to.

As we gotten smarter, though that is something that can be argued about just the same, we like to think we know better and are doing better in this present. And I have once said that the past is the present for the future.

But in what way is that true if we leave it for what it is. Think about the past as something to forget and create new basics. In reality though we seem to be adding layers upon layers and confusing ourselves to where some idea came from.

No, this is not to say we should just erase our past as it is what made us what we are today. Right or wrong we moved on but are afraid to commit our mistakes and turn back time if it was asked of us. Instead we force ourselves forward and are most likely bound to be making mistakes in the process.

True that the past is not the present and never will be but it was a foot print left from which was set in motion a change.

So what is the past to you?

Is it old and dusty and full of nonsense, or can we still learn from it? Is everything from that time really so bad as we say these days or is it our conscious not wanting to admit a wrong.

The past is the present in a way it was given to us faults and all the good, it does however depends how we use it. Toy with it like a spoilt brad for a minute and then throwing it away as boring. Would you be the boy or girl keeping it safe as a treasure only to look at it when things go wrong. Or the nerd who would dissect learn and also see that is wasn’t all bad and that the bad was changed or change it for the better.

What’s more is that the future can’t give you any certainties that the past holds.

How come we are looking away when we make a mistake and simply put it off as the past. And when things go right it is the present.

Fickle as we are we stare back at our past and rethink our present in the hope to change the future.

And it becomes funnier when we would admit that something was done better in the past but we come up with arguments that we should still change it. That we as a community can’t and should not run back to something that worked in the past.

Who would come up with things like that?

The past can be perfectly implemented into our present day if we so truly want it. It is not as if we are going back in time, we just adept our daily lives to something that worked in the past. For some reason or another we are not able to and be all full of air and bright ideas and say we are smarter than our ancestors.

How one looks back at the past is for each and everyone of us different.

Our blueprints may differ but no one dares to look at them and start up a conversation.

The best example is the education and health care in this country. How it got worse over time through ideas that never seemed to work. And while people say we should go back to how it was, no one is wiling to admit defeat and there wrong. Second there is not a soul who is wiling to take the blame.

Is the past something to have come back?

Not everything was as great as it sounds by our grandparents, but we should not disregard them as ancient and dumb ideas. Or thoughts that could never work here and now.

In the end even the past does not old all the answer for today, and it is on those issues we need the most answers if we want to have a fighting change for a future. Improving is one thing, holding on to something strong or things that work perfectly most certainly is not wrong but we are not holding on to it often enough.

This is a rambling of an old man, sure enough but I am pretty sure my old values with some adaptations are not  old fashioned to say the least but are looked at is if I am from the stone age. IN a time where community and society was a common good we are now fighting to get it back while innovations push us another way.

The past is our present we kept hidden on the attic without ever taking a good look at it. Our eyes set on the future while we stumble across our present achievements.

What will become of our future if we only see what might be but never what is or was.

Best Wishes
Ranting crow

Monday Moaning: Crunching Numbers!

Monday Moaning: Crunching Numbers! 

It very well be a returning item this kind of moan but the reality is that the most numbers despite the our so sophisticated computers and brains it takes at least a year to fully understand the numbers. Registering everything may take time but are we not full of ourselves when we say this is the era of information and the speed in which we can generate outcomes to publicizes to the outer world.

For medicine I can understand we take a little longer before we have any real data and the numbers to say it either works or does not. Though the testing of that is pretty much still done on the person instead of putting it all through a algorithm in a computer. Our phones get faster and data is sped around in speeds we can’t even start to imagine. But a dedicated computer takes years to calculate and crunch some numbers involving registration.

All registration is done through the digital mediums, hell every damn citizen of this country, next to their passport also have a digital ID to use for tax and all other national related things like parking. And even than in this day and age they can’t tell within an hour how many have a parking ticket.

Could it be some town still live in the stone age and does everything on parchment and use a courier on foot like ancient Greece.

To be honest the reason for this rant is because of some numbers that have been made public and the ugly truth of humans and the fact that the sightings of people are being told as untrue.

One must understand this is a dig at the government and a very personal view on the war in Syria and the presumptuous people who look down on us commoners, who and as it turned out in truth were concerned about their safety.

The large flow of fugitives that flooded Europe and sure even now people will still look angry at me when I say these things. But my mind also said back when it started that the flow will be a good hiding place to send in suicide bombers and what not. And though many said this the government said that was untrue.

Until now where the public has ben notified that some extremist have landed in Europe while hiding in the flow of refugees.

These numbers came to light because of a backdrop at the digital registration and checking of identity. Fair enough there was no way to check the same identity in Syria since it was pretty much closed down. Even than a light should have been turned on when you look at who came over.

Seriously this has been observation that anyone else could have been doing with their own eyes and create some conclusion no matter how one sided it may look. I had this discussion before with someone about a couple years ago when it all started.

I was said to be cold towards the refugees who were in need of help. And I also had said that we can’t help others if we can’t even help ourselves or have things in order for us. It would only add to the chaos. And though every word we uttered was said to be unfair and untrue.

Apparently we weren’t so wrong.

The numbers that are being named are that in the beginning of the refugees flow the majority was male. Take note it was about a 65%. For a country at war to watch the male population flee first is looking at a bunch of cowards who leave behind their women and children in a war zone. To watch them abandon ship, home and country and not even consider family is low in my opinion. To think they even complain the most but were not willing to fight for what they lost is beyond me.

Should they not defend the retreat of women and children?

Funny to see though, that the central bureau of statistics can add a number of only half a year old because they can now say that in the beginning of the year the majority though still weird in my eyes is that now the refugees consist of 55% women and children. It is barely more than half.

Conclusions are yours to be made but why does one number take up to 5 years to be created and the next one is only half a year old. I am not saying we should not help but we should look at who we help and how.

Theories about conspiracy are old and if we ever will understand the human brain we might discover we are not so smart as we look and like to be fooled.

Question being if we are being fooled right now? Were we being fooled back then and get a convenient warm blanket to sooth some aching with a small apology in the form of ‘you were right’ but now it has turned out better?

I know this is rambling and some kind of spewing with the adding of a conspiracy and the fact we are being lied to.

Ooh right that is nothing new right. We already know we are being lied to and we even let it happen. And at the same time gives us reason to think up conspiracy theories and other crap. Because we like the intrique.

Okay getting of topic.

Crunching numbers.

The other reason for this rant is the nursing homes. About half year ago they were controlled, checked, weighted and had their faults written down into a thick pile of paper. Each home got a grade and there was a nasty discovery though the numbers were kept secret.

About a month ago the numbers came up and some homes were put down as failing and disgusting. Whether it was about a dirty toilet they found or the fact people were eating with shit on their hands it all was put into the papers.

Once the children or grandchildren found this out they started asking questions and now the homes listen.

Alternatively their has been a little snag. Though they pretend to be listening behind the scenes they already have been moving wanting to get their grade up as the home knew about them in march. The study took about 4 years.

In 4 years a lot can change and now they are changing it within the 5 months. Adding more managers who sit behind a desk to control and inspect while cutting cost by throwing out real nurses who are there for the patient.

Yes when it comes to numbers we are all about that and go to such lengths we forget about the people.

Crunching numbers is something that only reflects what happened in the past but we use them as if they are fortunes and things of the present. I am pretty sure that when we something is strange we will want to change it directly instead of wait for the numbers to appear. I might even go as far that the homes that were put down as bad had been struggling to improve way before the report. And might even have already yet their grade is 4 years old and is counted as the present.

Yes my Nonna is one of those homes and the nurses are doing one hell of a job and yet due to the numbers these great men and women have to make way. 20 people over the age of 80 have to move and already have been moved while negotiations with relatives are still going on. And in the future the changes they will have to move more than once is growing. This is a number given already and ridiculous as it may be they stick to it.

Maybe in the future we will hear that we have been punching in the wrong numbers.

Not to mention about the medicines where people complain when they get different meds every single month. Side effects of a cheaper pill and they were told to shut it and pretty much fucking swallow whatever the insurance told them to take.

Each patient was told to be a liar and it was all a bunch of bullshit. Until last week a doctor came forward with some colleagues and showed the numbers of the patient and the result of changing pills to often. These patients turned out to be right, but for some it is to late, they have a permanent side effect turned chronicle.

To listen to a human being is asking for a very personal view on things and we already know we are not all the same and think the same. But there must be some truth in their words we should listen to instead of waiting 10 years for a report to finish and come up with number that is old and lost all meaning. In this day and age of technological advancement we sure are slow minded.

We are a silly bunch. We compare the past with the present.

So go lucky number 13.

Best Wishes
Ranting Crow

PS. Still trying to find my flow back.

Monday Moaning: Sporting Danger!

Monday Morning: Sporting Danger! 

The title can be considered a play of words and a tiny bit joking. Still the truth may not be far from it and hide the small group of thrill seekers that set a trend for newer generations.

Facts in this matter are kind of hidden in our way of life and thinking. Searching for thrills we do make things more scary, higher or faster within the boundaries of what is considered safe at that very moment.

It may be that last bit that changes and is a personal thought. I happen to know I mentioned this before in one of my moans. If you think it is safe to walk through a red light does not mean I think it is safe. No matter how well you look to your left and right. This behaviour at the same time is an example to the younger generations, who in their minds see less danger in the first place.

So here we are creating higher and faster rollercoasters, waterslides. Add the extra rules in order to keep it within limits of safety and sport with death, or at least have the feel of living on an edge.

And here is me, a crow who once searched for thrills hanging of cliffs free climbing being all responsible. Or is it that I got smarter and stopped defying death. Not really as I picked up my mountain bike again and is racing downhill without a helmet (I take full responsibility).

It is obvious we all think different on the subject. Whenever a death occurs, whether it is a base diver hitting a cliff or a rollercoaster visitor swept from its seat it is also very obvious how we think. The base diver took a risk and the adventure park with the rollercoaster is faulty for not keeping safety in check or had not done maintenance. But is that fair to say these things when we are the ones seeking that thrill and what if they followed every protocol (responsibility again).

Still we are not pleased because I am sure that the one who died had the ride of his life before his or last one and even thought eh wanted to go faster or higher. We seek to sport a game with death but god if a person dies.

And after all that we quickly forget and move higher and faster once again.

This is pretty much the other side of a story as well where we do not listen to rules and warnings and move along anyways. But does not mean that despite warnings you are willing to take responsibility for the risk at hand. Why shout and scream death and murder when it goes wrong.

I love that adrenaline rush, I do. I plead guilty in al accounts and even have moved past restrictions whenever I felt it was safe enough to take that risk. Knowing full well I would never be able to hold anyone accountable for my own mistake if things go wrong.

Now the news reached me of a 10 year old dying on a water slide. The slide was for 14 year and up and had a minimum height. Sure enough there is a on going investigation to see if protocol was followed. One thing to mention is a ID card can not be asked when your in swimwear. Where to put that thing right. A lie is easily made up.

And no not saying the pool or park has done everything right, it is just keeping in mind our very own nature. And looking at myself when I was that age. Riding scooters when your years to young to do so, but with some height you already look older.

We sport danger and love it.

Through age and gathering some knowledge we cool down a little and take it slower. But we have done it and the youth wants to go beyond our boundaries of danger. The only difference might be when we throw in the responsibility tag into the equation.

Not to mention that with new techniques we also create different kinds of danger even the kind we do not want to visit. To be put in danger due to the irresponsibility of someone else is the worst thing that could happen to you.

What I am trying to get at is the Pokemon Go hype. Though we take risks I see an increase in dangerous situations and even have found myself in some.

Cycling is a danger to begin with, it holds risk of being scooped up by a car. Luckily here in this country as a cyclist you have more rights and protection by law. It is when you get hit by a car it is easy and assumed that the car drove to fast. Whether the bike drove through a red light or not would not be an issue.

With the game that is going on you see more cyclist if not the sporting kind looking at their phones rather than keeping an eye on traffic. It is good to mention that driving and being on your cell is illegal and can get you a fine of around 200 bucks. So why can you on a bike still hold a cell?

To sport with danger is one thing, to be irresponsible is just beyond stupid but it is not being fined, let alone have them get a slap on the wrist that is idiotic.

Do we still see danger when we look around us. Or do we only feel danger when we assume a terrorist attack during a gay parade.

Which by the way did not happen last weekend and was one big ass party for the LBGT community here in Amsterdam. I know I am getting of topic but it was great to see a boat full of different religions, or a boat with people above the age of 75. Last one to mention was the boat filled with foreign policemen and women, army , or government officials from countries who would kill them instantly if they were found out to be gay.

Back to the question on how our danger perception has either evolved or weakened. Does less things thrill us or do we need bigger highs on adrenaline.

These questions do come to mind when looking at life in general, have we lost our fun and love for life or did we let it take over to the point of boredom where everything is done instead of done ourselves.

Just your Monday Moan from the
Ranting Crow.

Monday Moaning: History Refurbished!

Monday Moaning: History Refurbished! 

I think the title is just to funny and may have your brains already trying to figure it out and even come up with some amazing ideas of what it could mean.

The truth is quite simple when you hear the moan I came up with this week. It is something I may have addressed in other ways before but after a talk with some elderly ladies in my Nanna’s nursing home and great laughs olden times relived have shed light on the ideas we uphold as new and experimental or even revolutionary.

Mind you that the ladies may not have the greatest of memories left, they still were able to smile when others recognized their stories.

This generation of youngsters think they hold all the knowledge when it comes to changing the world. Often enough call the older generations as the bad guys for ruining the planet. And they may have a point in some ways as we did industrialize way to much, not to mention we are still doing so even with their new ideas.

Older people had to build a completely new world if you think about how divided the world was after the wars. During the wars things started changing in rapid speeds and only after the second world war did we had time to rebuild for a better future no matter how bad it was.

Time were definitely changing and new inventions may have ruined our thought process and never thought of the possible negative outcome.

Enough of this rant though and back to the older people, their lives of when they were younger and watching the world being rebuild. Together with the  refurbished ideas of the new era.

So one of them is the simplest and is about the biological hype that is going on. How everything has to be grown naturally and biological, not to mention environment friendly.

Just the mentioned to my Nanna makes her angry in a way. It is for one about the prices asked and the days they ate from the fields. That veggies were very much season produce and with smaller grocery shops wide spread and always fresh.
This is unlike the times we have now where food comes from over productive greenhouses to feed the large population while people are still starving elsewhere. Though that may be another moan for a different Monday. Fact still is that the expensive greens these days were normal veggies in their younger years. And even in my younger years, and I am not that old.

Is this not something we done and threw away and introduced as a new idea and must for this century.

Plastic is the biggest polluter we have ever created but it was new and innovative the time it was introduced. And this newer generation may have a point we need to change that and discard plastic bags from shops. True enough it is what is happening. In the mean time paper, linen or hemp bags are being produced again, since they are environmental friendly.
Though did you know that before all those plastic bags we had paper bags? Those you still used in commercials or films. Inconvenient was the lack of a handle. So they were not so good to carry around. Yet we threw them away for plastic. Then there are the stories of the older people.
How they wrapped beans or other veggies in newspapers when you wondered the market. In those times it was normal to RECYCLE newspapers for this. After that they were used to light the fires.

Yes there is stuff to learn from these old brains and it is sad we are proudly giving ourselves pads on the back for our revolutionary ideas.

Times are changing and though it is a good thing we should not forget how we got here and see the good things our seniors have done. Because even now we the new generation are most likely introducing things that will harm a future.

We speak up on how we need to change and come out of our homes and connect to people. It is just in our nature and thanks to new gadgets we learn the newest of generations to communicate through screens only.

This is a personal observation, but in my neighbourhood where old people still rent the homes is or rather was a sense of community and slowly while they are been going to nursing homes or dying of old age the homes are being sold to young and very high educated people. And the doors stay shut. Hardly any communication or interaction with any of their neighbours.

One would be hearing old stories where people would just walk next door, pull a string and enter without thinking for a cup of tea and a talk. Sidewalks filled with people interacting and discussing, some working and helping with chores. And how these old people if living on their own still can’t go to their neighbour for a cup of sugar. The look on their faces, or so the story goes is just surprised. Sugar or salt is not something they have in bulk as I still do and other than that the other reaction is how they would repay them? Of course it is about money again.

We talk about understanding and helping our fellow human beings but for some reason we always need to think about what there is in it for ourselves. Selfishness is something that has gone as well.

I miss the old days and if you think they were ancient, the most of these stories above are no older than a 50 years. Yes only a little over 50 years ago we were still being responsible and a real community. Half a century is all it took to understand that we need to be like those times again.

It makes ‘old times’ or the ‘when I was younger’ seem closer all of a sudden then the latest generation likes to think.

Internet is only like what 40 years old? Just like the mobile or car phone. Not to mention a television is but close to a century old. Before all this people gathered in churches and squares or at home to talk or relay the news.

Times are changing as we refurbish the old and tried and call them new.

There are so much more funny stories and things that sound better than they are now but these are all on more personal level and closer to a home. Just think coffee. Grounded freshly in a shop. It is one of the new trends just like tea. Soap was just the same or sugar by the ounces since they did the shopping daily just to be outside and find some interaction. And nowadays we see health shops, grocery shops and small supers pop up everywhere, smaller more user friendly, green/biological and with better service. Oh how good the old days must have been right?

Best Wishes
Ranting Crow

Monday Moaning: Paid Work!

Monday Moaning: Paid Work!

Last week was about how we sell ourselves to the highest bidders and pretty much never have enough or how we are working for that little pay we do get with fear of losing that little we do have. Work ethics have changed ever since that big crisis in the bank sector that effected all of us. It is not to say it will stay this way, though I would like to add we do get accustomed to situations as the generations grow up.

It is going on everywhere in the world where new generations get used to new rules or other general ideas that have been implemented throughout time. Whether we talk work or even religion we see people change and wanting different times because they see it could have been done in other ways. Once the people get enough of the exploiting we surely will rise once again.

But for now we just do as is said for the sake of having a job.

And you must be wondering where this is going again as last week was all about this crap. Just let me tell you it is only getting started as the story that is unfolding is even weirder.

The title can be read in two different ways. You ether get paid for work or as I will address in the next case you have to pay to be at work. Did your mouth just drop t the floor?

You read it right. Pay to have a job or be at work.

Now the job in this case is mailman or woman. So walking down the street delivering hand mail and these days’ small parcels. There is no weight limit that your own bike can hold, so it will be pushed to its limits until breaking down, bending wheels as the rims can’t hold the load. Grinding down your shoes with every mile you walk in wind, snow or rain.

This just get you some compensation after all the bike and shoes and pants are your own. They need washing and maintenance and thus the boss will pay you about 16 bucks a month. This so much is fair don’t you think? Still getting a shirt, that is the uniform or a coat for the wet and cold days may be included, you still need to wash it yourself. That would be one coat and 2 shirts.

Working 4 days a week would make it possible all thanks to the new mail and internet systems at work hand mail has gone down by what, 50%?

Bills are send through email as well or can be checked online. This is assuming each and every one even has internet. Go figure how it has become a part of our lives.

Going back to the mailman story.

This is a two part rant. As above how we assume we all have internet we also do so with smartphones and the worst thing is that there is the assumption we all have the latest model as well. Just this way of thinking coming from regular people might be considered okay. After all the phone has become a part of society a common good we all fiddle with day In an out. Having each year renewed with a new phone is a norm for the younger generations. They pretty much do not know any better anymore. (See how the first part came back here)

So despite the new generation finding it perfectly normal to walk around with the most expensive and newest of phones there is an old generation that is okay with an old phone and even a cheaper contract as they do not call so much or use less internet MB.

But the moment a boss assumes each and every employee has a new phone, to me falls in the category of harassment or stupidity. Not to mention that the few contracts for employees is only for a select few and of the older guard. Other youth are hired per hour from the agencies.

Back to paying to be at work.

My age is one that falls in between generations and I am appalled by what is happening.

Think of this.

Age 40, working 4 hours a day 4 days a week. Phone is an old windows phone.
Job prescription. Mailman.

Contract for phone is a simple 100 minutes call/text and a 500 MB. Can’t help it, since I hardly use the thing to begin with. Price 3 and half bucks a month.

Nothing special right. Though here comes the kicker.

New job requirements. Android version 5 or up or Iphone to install an app to scan parcels for delivery. With eyes on to the future also might become the person to collect the numbers of the water or gas meters and maybe become the neighbourhood watch. (2 hours max per neighbourhood with a 4 hours max per day). Contract with enough MB (1000 at the least).

That might become an issue. Though they did think of this, the company that is and it is even considered okay. They will pay you an 8 bucks a month compensation for the phone contract. If you do not have the required phone to install this app you can get a new contract at blabla dot com.

Restrictions are as told with the versions and no Windows phone allowed. If one is unable to comply the company will see if relocation for another job is available. We are still mailman right and sorting is done automatically for the majority of the mail and parcels. SO basically they are saying. Go with the program or get lost.

So care to do the math with me.

For now I am paying 3 and half bucks. I get an 8 bucks for compensation so a total of 11 and a half bucks could be spend. But my boss forces me to use a phone I do not want. One way of looking at that might be to have a second phone just for the job but that will only cost extra just like getting a new contract with a phone that easily get you to pay a 20 bucks at least.

In the end the calculations shows me that I need to pay at least an 8 bucks extra a week just to be able to do a job.

Sure the new generations is fine with this, they all have the newest model and biggest contract, but not that middle aged man/woman who doesn’t care about a phone.

This kind of intimidation, having to pay just to do a job is even seen as normal.

Does this mean I am losing the plot here, am I the crazy one who is not willing to pay to hold my job.

I have seen most of them give in and to be honest, I wonder why the company could not just make a scanner. I guess there is a new norm established that says we all have to bring our own tools to work.

Best Wishes
Ranting Crow

PS I am slowly getting used to the new situation, so I am hoping to be back like I used to be.