Bit more than a gator could chew!

When you dream of security, you may assume that police officers will be well-enough equipped to keep the peace.  As a policeman with no animal training,  how would you coax a fierce, over-sized alligator without a chair? As the two meter long creature decides to park itself in the middle of a busy highway and hold everybody up, you might think this would pose a new challenge to traditional highway patrol.  If it was you in uniform, could you keep your cool and also calm the public chaos?

In San Antonio, Texas, such a gator incident occurred on April 30, 2007.  Of course, no police procedures to deal with wild alligators lay hidden in the glove compartment training manuel.  Since these creatures are protected, quick drawing a pistol like they do in the "wild West" wasn't going to be an option.  The gator appeared moody and territorial, and didn't like the idea humans and their machines had taken over the highway.  What the gator himself was doing on the highway, wasn't verifiable.  He clearly wasn't volunteering any explantaion.  

Just when the policeman thought he might have been getting though, using basic verbal psychology, and cautious hand gestures, the huge gator moved to assult the police car, and bite a chunk from the bumper.  That certainly put the policeman in place. He didn't wish to get bitten.

Once a group of police officers arrived as reinforcements, they effectively employed a lasso and metal poles to coax the alligator into a drainage ditch leading to a neaby lake.  That was more than the creature could chew.  Witnesses described the scene as, "comparable to fumbling comedy." How often do you see a group of serious policemen challenged and overly-cautious to keep the peace with one troublemaker? 

State game warden David Chavez couldn't explain why a gator would be drawn to noise on a busy highway.  This act appeared to be out of its character, unless the animal was curious perhaps or, seeking a true, drier change of scenery?  Pollution and environmental devastation have been known to cause disorientation in animale sensory perception.  What is clear is that the spectacle offered rare photo opportunities for anyone close enough and gutsy enough to take a shot. 

Unconventional conception

Many Canadian couples dream of having children. They'd prefer not to adopt, opting to conceive naturally. A startling Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) investigation reveals increasing numbers of Canadians turn to the black market in their quest to conceive a baby, illegally buying human eggs.

As part of the research, six Canadian women advertising their eggs on the Internet were contacted. Within days, three wrote back with an offer and each said they were willing to undergo treatment that could net as many as 20 human eggs. Their price ranged from Cdn $5,000-$7,000. How this fee structure evolved is unclear.

Dr. Roger Pierson, a fertility doctor in Saskatoon, was beside himself. "We would assume there would be a subterranean traffic in eggs and sperm based on telephone conversations, but to have it written down is beyond my comprehension..."

As an effort to prevent cloning, the Assisted Human Reproduction Technology Act was passed in 2004. Curiously enough, it's not illegal for women to sell eggs, but it is illegal for anyone to buy them. Anyone convicted of buying eggs can face a fine of up to $500,000 or 10 years in jail. To date, no case has arisen in a major dispute. Nonetheless, hushed financial settlements remain commonly accepted.

Its widely known that egg donor in Canada have been compensated. Sellers don't apparently donate their time and body for the money, but rather, to help childless couples. But given physical and emotional tolls, compensation is requested. For obvious legal reasons, buyers and seller will sign documents for clinics to say that no money has been exchanged, then, turn around and do it in the nearby parking lot, like a kind gesture of good karma.

Concern had been expressed by decision-makers that women of lower socio-economic status would stoop to selling their eggs as an easy way to get money. Rather than legitimize what is already happening, the legal system seems to cover it up and focus on the negative impact it may have on more vulnerable populations. Weird approach, when policy-makers selectively turn a blind eye. Unconventional conception itself isn't breaking the law, but people will go great lengths to make it happen.  Who controls who gets what compensation remains personal and private.

8 verses for training the mind

In honour of the 14th Dalai Lama's 2007 Australian Tour, the general public will soon have opportunities  to hear and meet one of the most recognisable people in the world today, the spiritual and political head of the Tibetan people, His Holiness.  This event causes me to reflect on why its healthy to learn to step back from what we're taught to feel happy for no apparent reason.  Whenever your mind may evolve toward thoughts of negativity or worry, it is such times when you can learn to calm a restless or mischevious mind.  Take initiatives to gain access to your higher self.

I would invite you to consider the following:

The Eight Verses for Training the Mind

By Geshe Langri Thangpa

With a determination to accomplish
The highest welfare for all sentient beings
Who surpass even a wish-granting jewel
I will learn to hold them supremely dear.

Whenever I associate with others I will learn
To think of myself as the lowest among all
And respectfully hold others to be supreme
From the very depths of my heart.

In all actions I will learn to search into my mind
And as soon as an afflictive emotion arises
Endangering myself and others
Will firmly face and avert it.

I will learn to cherish beings of bad nature
And those oppressed by strong sins and suffering
As if I had found a precious
Treasure very difficult to find.

When others out of jealousy treat me badly
With abuse, slander, and so on,
I will learn to take on all loss,
And offer victory to them.

When one whom I have benefited with great hope
Unreasonably hurts me very badly,
I will learn to view that person
As an excellent spiritual guide.

In short, I will learn to offer to everyone without exception
All help and happiness directly and indirectly
And respectfully take upon myself
All harm and suffering of my mothers.

I will learn to keep all these practices
Undefiled by the stains of the eight worldly conceptions
And by understanding all phenomena as like illusions
Be released from the bondage of attachment.

Corrupted offers

Perhaps you've been negotiating with the aim of improving your circumstances.  You're willing to risk what you have or where you are, in favor of hopefully getting something better.  If you find yourself willing to compromise, that could be the difference between sensing real progress and getting nowhere.  Yet, the idea of jeopardizing not getting any perceived positive result may tempt you to consider corrupt offers, which would entail going against your principles and accepting or overlooking dishonest practices.  Consider this points while contemplating your next move:

1) Is your tactic a survival strategy?  If you're willing to compromise your self-respect or beliefs, then its important to consider the reasoning and prospective consequences.  Do you have reason to feel threatened? You may not be compensated enough to sell yourself short or sell yourself out.  You may have new options.  After all, the other person may have something to hide.  If you have been asked to compromise your beliefs, then you may have reason to question the basis for the other person's position.  S/He may be 'upping the ante' as part of his own survival strategy.

2) Would you be better off avoiding the situation? Some individuals aren't intentionally cruel, but they may be unaware of the impact and effect of their words and behaviour.  The absense of unintentional cruelty doesn't negate the effect their behavior has.  If you don't have to negotiate with this individual or need not accept their terms, you may be better off taking a new route.

3) What can you learn from the other person's offer?  Only you can define what is reasonable in any negotiation.  Consider the power dynamic.  Bullies may be people who feel disempowered or insecure, and only feel superior when they take steps to walk over others.  Ask yourself what you can learn about the other person if you take the risk to decline their offer.  A hypocrite may express concern if you turn down his offer.  The issue worth noting is this person isn't concerned about you.  Rather, he may be concerned about the implications of not being taken seriously. 

4) Would it be advisable to let time pass?  You may feel like you could strengthen your position if you had more time to collect new information.  Whenever possible, its wiser to take more informed risks.  The pain or frustration, and foreseeable costs of prolonging an uncomfortable or unresolved situation, must be weighed against the potential benefits of fully present and empowered. At a later time, you may decide you're ready to take the risk or, decide its not in your interest and be more certain of your reasons why.

5)  Can you measure the limits of honesty?  Even with the best intentions, you may not grasp what compels people to stop "playing it straight."  Reality is the world is filled with hypocrisy, ulterior motives, lies and agendas.  People will 'bend the rules' because they feel they can get away with it.  They will stoop to levels you may not desire to follow.  Seeking to understand their motivation may be less important than dis-associating yourself before they get into big trouble.  Taking the risk of becoming implicated in legal or other areas of corruption is reason to move away.

More than just a quick fix?

Travel is not longer a dream luxury for most people as it once was. If you become tired or bored of your regular routine, then you may be apt to take steps to create happy memories through travel. You don't have to go very far from what you know, but a change of scenery is supposed to help you relax and return to your previous life refreshed.  To invest in life experiences is an accepted way to teach yourself to savor life. Does travel symbolize more to you than just a quick break from stress or an invigorating adrenalin fix?

Now, a quick survey reveals that large numbers of people do not believe they can afford to live life to the fullest because they're convinced its beyond their reach. More than half of people asked what they'd do with $15,000 replied they would spend it on a holiday rather than pay off debts or contribute it toward a mortgage. Does this mean people prefer to deny reality? I think of a magnet I've seen which reads, "life is uncertain, eat dessert first." Do you feel that way about instant gratification?

The ways people travel have changed and continue to change. We have gone from the horse and buggy to steam trains to high speed travel. When possible, people are choosing to go away more often, but for shorter breaks. More people would opt to work 4 day weeks and have longer, regular weekends. Even the Internet has significantly influenced the way people think about travel. We are all taking steps to redefine what is possible within our means or outside them.

More and more people will book and pay on-line and also arrange vacation experiences at the last minute, as opposed to planning far ahead. Does this reveal an increase in electronic customer confidence or does it reveal that people have less time in lines to see real people to book trips? The flexibility to search whenever, 24 hours per day, seven days per week, is good news for people with the impression they have less time to spare.

Booking tradtional travel has evolved to include thrill-seeker activities that become a way for weary people to get an energy boost that remidns them they're alive. Why not look up a half-day sailing trip, take a bungy plunge, short-term skydiving course, rally driving, diving experience. Even space tourism is coming to the masses which means the sky will no longer be the limit. Why not try everything at least once? Prices are often less than you think. Ask companies like Lonely Planet with over 600 destination country books alone. Where the will exists to travel, a way can be found, within almost any budget.