Split winter

I am visiting my second home at present, Minneapolis, Minnesota. It is quite a change from Texas, especially as we creep into Winter. After dinner I went for a walk as I usually do every evening. I suspect most of the locals thought me crazy. Seeing a person going for a walk, when they are all wrapped up in their wollies and coats, snug in the cars and homes. Well I like the cold. It is invigorating, refreshing and gets the blood cursing through your body. As winter ramps into full swing the difference will become extreme, but the ability to live in both the mild so called winter of Texas, and the real winter of Minnesota will be a great experience.
The other great part of traveling to another state in the US is hearing another point of view. Minneapolis is split down the middle when it comes to felling a Bush or voting for Kerry (of sorry that is not a choice, but you know what I mean), so you actually hear a lot of people talking about the issues, instead of spouting the fear and rhetoric of the extreme right. This is refreshing, just like the weather, a burst of cool air, it clears the cobwebs and brings in a fresh point of view.

Election, art and sunsets

We voted yesterday. I was amazed how many people were voting. I truly hope that all the early votes are for Kerry and not for Bush. I am also hoping against hope that people are voting Democrats for the Senate and House, so that if Bush does stay he is hamstrung by a Democratic House and Senate. That will at least minimize the damage. It can't prevent the stupidity,that is built in, but it can stop major legislation that further destroys the economy and the environment.

Going for a walk last right at sunset once again amazed me. The sunset last night was spectacular to say the least. The color and scope of the light in the sky was indescribable. A constantly changing range of pinks and yellows. Mainly pinks. The intensity and depth of color was breathtaking. Nature again trumps any invention of the human mind. In contrast we went to a rather unknown art gallery in New Braunfels earlier in the day. Firstly finding a real art gallery in New Braunfels was amazing to begin with. Finding one that has original art from Monet, Manet, Pizarro, Van Gogh, Rodin, Pollock and many others from the early 1900's was even more amazing. However, no art, no matter how great in the eyes of the art community could touch the images mother nature presented last night.

A state of cowboy

I recently got to see Bowling for Columbine. It was interesting to say the least. It is clearly one sided, but that said the message is still valid.

A key question that Michael Moore asks is why is there such a high incidence of gun violence in the USA and not in other countries with just as high a gun availability as the US. His answer seems to be that the US culture is one based on fear. While that seems to have a solid basis, I will offer another cause. It is the cowboy culture that is prevalent in the US. Starting with the current President, we have a underlying shoot first, ask questions later mind set in the US. This explains many key differences between the US an most European cultures and the one in Canada. They are all much more consultative and pondering. The underlying mind set is to gather the information, discuss and consider it, and then act. While this often slows down the process, the results may be more stability and better long term decision making.

The Cowboy mind set has also lead to the get it done as quickly as possible,clean up the mess later approach often seen in the US, especially in business. While this works for a short while, eventually it will come back to haunt you and bite you in the proverbial butt. The US constantly has a thirst for a quick fix, e.g. tax cuts to boost the economy, instead of long term investment in education, international trade development and the environment. As long as we act like cowboys we will get shot!