Mike Pearson's Adventures on a Pale Blue Dot

Poison Toads In the darkened swamp of human souls, Where twisted roots and shadows play, Lurk the poison toads of misery, Beneath the guise of night and day. Their eyes, like coals of bitter fire, Gleam with envy, spite, and greed, Spewing venom, thick as mire, From their mouths where lies breed. Oh, the poison toads, in their royal robes, Crowns of nettles, thrones of stone, They croak commands and issue probes, With voices like a grinding drone. “Bow to me,” they hiss and sneer, “Bend your will, your thoughts, your spine,” In their swamp, there’s naught but fear, Where freedom’s light can never shine. They trample joy beneath their feet, With warty hands and grasping claws, Delight in making others weep, Feeding on the pain they cause. Each toad, a master of deceit, Their words a poisoned lullaby, Draining hope with every beat, As dreams beneath their gaze do die. In the mire of their making, They sit on thrones of mud and bone, Each croak a heart that’s breaking, Each touch a chill ...

This year, two of my friends have lost sons in forest industry accidents. I'm going to a service tomorrow for the latest one. Two terrible accidents at two excellent companies. Two young men's lives lost at work.  My dad was a logger and loggers were always at the house or out in the yard. Logging stories and lore filled the air to mix with cigarette smoke and chain saw exhaust. Dirty trucks full of tools, oil and choker cables were the norm. Tables full of booze, full ashtrays and playing cards were  standard issue in every house we visited. My dad, Ken Pearson after a days work as a tree faller The entire Jackson Bros falling crew   on the back of the photo signed " Dis was loggin'    Da boys of 86" Might as well say"Butch Cassidy and the Hole in the Wall Gang" Jorn Skytte, Paul Tingley , Ken Pearson , Tom Hemstalk , Owen Edmonds , Doug Wooten , Neil Mulligan, and Boney Wellburn Loggers at the gate, Bob Edwardson, my dad and bull- b...

For a time traveling trip in full reverse, to times gone by I'm not convinced that things are all together better nowadays Maybe safer by a stretch, warmer on a winter blow They actually put doors on the equipment these days But all the new marvels of metal and business  Had an unseen cost We might never figure out all that was lost Here is where you want to go http://www.wdmoore.ca/audio- video

First off...I was taken by surprise when I walked onto the previous site of the car show and found Philippine Days in full swing. That was a bit disorienting...but luckily I could see bright red sports cars across the way on the north field. New setup for this year. Then it rained. Lightning and thunder over downtown Vancouver. I worked to keep the rain off the camera lens and still get images of the few diehards that showed up in the face of threatening weather. It became obvious after a bit that not all the cars that I usually see were here...in fact they were going to another site at the bottom of Lonsdale...the site of the old boat shops. This was as result of the city giving the original site to the Philippines Days people. When the car folks complained, the city said to move the date of the car show....Which kinda defeats the whole Fathers Day thing. I went for lunch, and lo and behold the sun came out....so naturally I had to go back and make another pass through both si...